Weber State College History

Weber State College Medal

The Weber State College Oral History Program was created in the early 1970s to "record and document, through personal reminiscences, the history, growth and development of Weber State College." Through interviews with administrators, faculty and students, the program's goal was to expand the documentary holdings on Weber State College and its predecessor entities. From 1970 to 1976, the program conducted some fifteen interviews, under the direction of, and generally conducted by Harold C. Bateman, an emeritus professor of history. In 1979, under the direction of archivist John R. Sillito, the program was reestablished and six interviews were conducted between 1979 and 1983. Additional interviews were conducted by members of the Weber State Community.

Joseph Anderson shares his recollections and experiences as a student at Weber Stake Academy, starting at the age of 14 in 1904 to graduation in 1905. The interview took place on February 23, 1979.

John Belnap reviews his experiences as a student and an instructor at the Weber Stake Academy, including a smallpox epidemic in 1905 that kept him from attending classes. The interview took place on June 3, 1971.

Joseph Bishop discusses his perspectives as president of Weber State College, serving from 1972 to 1978. The interview took place on October 25, 1972.

Rodney Brady, president of Weber State College from 1978 to 1985, shares his recollections and experiences of Weber. The interview took place on May 30, 1980.

Walter Buss discusses his early life, and his experiences at Weber State as a geology-geography professor. This interview took place July 29, 1981.

George Campbell discusses project RESPECT and the Black Student Union/Black Scholars United program at WSU. As the first black administrator at WSU, he recounts in detail his experiences as they relate to both a local and national civil rights context. He also describes learning to respond to student needs for child care, transportation, and other logistical assistance. The interview took place on June 1, 1983.

Don Carlsen discusses being drafted during the middle of his senior year into the U.S. Navy. He describes his time serving aboard a troop-transport ship as a storekeeper until the end of World War II. He also talks about attending Weber College, at the lower campus, and spending a summer semester in Mexico. The interview took place on October 11, 2013.

Robert Clarke served in several capacities at Weber State College from 1937 to 1976, including Professor, Dean of Faculty, and Administrative Vice President. The interview took place in November 1974.

Forrest Crawford discusses the official start of The Black Scholars United organization at Weber State College in 1969 in response to some of the social and cultural unrest of the era. He describes one of the long range goals of the organization to initiate cooperative efforts with black students on other campuses. He mentions attempting to bridge the gap between students and administrators, and Weber’s experience with minority groups. The interview took place on May 1, 1979.

Verona Creer, wife of Weber College President Leland H. Creer, shares her recollections concerning her husband's career at Weber College from 1920 to 1922. The interview took place on March 7, 1980.