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The history of the University of Southern California represents the combined creativity of talented faculty, staff, and students over time. Today, U.S.C. is a world-class university. Thousands of men and women have contributed their scholarship, research, teaching, mentoring, and administrative skills to create our institution. In addition to their contributions were preserved for posterity in historical treaties, books, research papers, and written recollections. Today we live in the information age with videotaping, CD-ROMS, and digital preservation of people, events, and thoughts.
The Emeriti Center is the campus locus of retired faculty and staff who are the living embodiment of the historical evolution of the university. Their minds are the repositories of the past and their talents created it. To preserve and codify this historical mosaic, the Emeriti Center and the H. Dale Hilton Living History project has videotaped key campus contributors. Those who are videotaped are retired faculty and staff of U.S.C. who have collectively made the university what it is today. Videotaped interviews are eclectic remembrances of major campus events: the evolving academic environment, administrative restructuring, and research/teaching accomplishments.
The selection committee consists of Chair, Dr. Norman R. Fertig, Former Dean, LAS; Anthony D. Lazzaro, Senior V.P. Emeritus for Business Affairs; and Dr. J. Tillman Hall, Director Emeritus, Emeriti Center.
The Living History Project tapes are available at:
Gerontology Library
3715 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191
(213) 740-5990
The interviewees are:
| 1. | Benson, Sidney W. | Chemistry Department | ||
| 2. | Berkes, Ross | School of International Relations | ||
| 3. | Biles, John | Dean of the School of Pharmacy | ||
| 4. | Briscoe, James | Transportation Services | ||
| 5. | Christol, Carl | Political Science Department | ||
| 6. | Clements, Thomas | Earth Science Department | ||
| 7. | Dedeaux, Rod | Athletic Department (Baseball) | ||
| 8. | Dockson, Robert | Dean of the School of Business | ||
| 9. | Feldman, Frances | School of Social Work | ||
| 10. | Franklin, Carl | Administration | ||
| 11. | Hadley, Paul | Administration | ||
| 12. | Hall, J. Tillman | Physical Education Department | ||
| 13. | Hamovitch, Maurice | School of Social Work | ||
| 14. | Hilton, Dale | Alumni Association | ||
| 15. | House, Howard | Keck School of Medicine | ||
| 16. | Hubbard, John | Administration | ||
| 17. | Lazzaro, Anthony | Administration | ||
| 18. | Mannes, Robert | Office of Student Affairs | ||
| 19. | Meloan, Taylor | Marshall School of Business | ||
| 20. | Peterson, James | Gerontology and Emeriti Center | ||
| 21. | Russell, John | Astronomy Department | ||
| 22. | Strevey, Tracy | Administration | ||
| 23. | Topping, Norman | Administration | ||
| 24. | von Hofe, Harold | German Department | ||
| 25. | Ball, Louise | Keck School of Medicine | ||
| 26. | Farmer, Herbert | School of Cinema-Television | ||
| 27. | Schnepp, Otto | Chemistry Department | ||
| 28. | Spitzer, William | Dean, LAS | ||
| 29. | Burg, Anton | Chemistry Department | ||
| 30. | Warner, Nancy | Keck School of Medicine | ||
| 31. | LaRue, Gerald | Gerontology | ||
| 32. | Solomon, Barbara | School of Social Work |
[The following is a slightly updated version of an article that was printed in the USC Chronicle, on November 8, 1999 (Volume 19 Number 11), and was titled "Videotaping the University's Rich Personal Histories: The Living History Project Gathers Memories before It's Too Late."]
For those who have ever wondered what it would be like if former USC President John Hubbard interviewed James Briscoe about the veteran gate guard's memories of 30-plus years working on campus, there's the Living History Project.
After nearly 10 years of gathering the reminiscences of veterans faculty, staff and administrators on videotape. The Emeriti Center has compiled a library of 24 tapes that can be borrowed by future historians or the merely curious.
The list of interview subjects includes two former USC Presidents: Hubbard and the late Norman Topping. Others are long-time, distinguished faculty members and former deans; one is a legendary coach. And then there's Briscoe, who was one of the most recognized employees on Campus until he retired last year.
"It's an exciting list of people," said Paul Hadley, director of the Emeriti Center and a Living History subject and interviewer himself. "We hope to continue the project indefinitely"
The project started slowly, without a budget, as the idea of J. Tillman Hall, former Emeriti Center director and Professor Emeritus of Physical Education. Hall wanted to preserve on film the memories of longtime USC insiders before it was too late. After the first few filmings proved expensive, the Center began looking at less costly alternatives.
Casey Kazlauskas, former facilities Coordinator for the Information Services Division, was then a technician at the former Humanities Audio-Visual Center on Campus. "My boss volunteered me for the project," he said.
After experimenting with different video formats, Kazlauskas settled on super VHS and a one-camera technique. He filmed the interview subject responding to questions close-up, then filmed the interviewer's "reaction" shots and an overall scene setting shot. Then he edited the videotape into a seamless, 30-minute production that has the appearance of an expensive, three-camera shoot.
Now his son, Robert, a junior in cinema-TV, has taken over as the project's sole cameraman and editor, using the similar techniques.
The filming is funded for the next three years, thanks to some grants and donations from USC retirees, Hadley said. The Center hopes to produce six to eight new videotapes each year.
Last summer, Hadley interviewed Robert Mannes, former Dean of Student life. After Robert Kazlauskas set up his experiment in an elegant sitting room at the Widney Alumni House, Hadley began asking Mannes about the changes he'd seen over 45 years as a USC faculty member, including 21 years as dean.
When Mannes came to USC to teach mechanical engineering on a campus "deluged with ex-GIs," most students were local commuters. Over the years, USC began drawing more ethnic minorities and international students and housed more students on or near the campus. And then, there was the building boom under Norman Topping.
"In the 1960's, when Norman Topping was here, we'd come back from the summer vacation and wonder whether our offices would be in the same building, there was so much growth going on," Mannes said.
Mannes also talked about his decision, unusual at the time, to live near campus. "We have a big, old house, and we could have a lot of students over. I could walk to school, and if there was a program in the evening, I could go home beforehand, or meet my wife here."
Hadley responded: "I've had the privilege of being in your home, and it's a warm, beautiful place."
Like many Living History subjects, Mannes has stayed active in retirement, collecting cameras, traveling with his wife, Jeanne, and working with troubled high school youngsters. The couple still lives in their 1903 Craftsman house on Severance Street.
