Perkins, Eugene and Lorraine

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7474#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Eugene Perkins was born in 1921 in Beaver Creek, Minnesota. His father worked as a superintendent in several areas in Minnesota, eventually bringing the family to St. Cloud in 1930. Lorraine Perkins was born in Paynesville, Minnesota. Her family has a long connection with St. Cloud State University, as her grandfather graduated from St. Cloud State in 1882. Eugene began attending St. Cloud State in 1939, then left in 1940 for active duty in the National Guard, which led to serving in World War II. He returned immediately after the war ended, and graduated in 1947. Lorraine wanted to be an English teacher, and began attending St. Cloud State in 1938. The two met in 1939, and married shortly after Lorraine graduated. Lorraine taught for one year in Echo, Minnesota, but once Eugene returned from the war, she stopped teaching for 20 years to raise their three children. Eugene taught in Paynesville, Minnesota, for three years while taking graduate classes at the University of Minnesota, with a focus on guidance and counseling. After receiving his master's degree, he went to Cincinnati, where he worked as a counselor and a school psychologist. He returned to St. Cloud State in 1958, where he worked as a professor and counselor. He would late receive his doctorate from University of Northern Colorado. Lorraine found part-time work in the English Department at St. Cloud and also began taking graduate classes part-time. She received her Master's Degree in 1967, and established the Writing Skills Center in 1968. She retired in 1985.

Transcript Summary: Eugene and Lorraine Perkins discussed their family history, as well as their reasons to attend St. Cloud State. Lorraine chronicled the long history her family has with the St. Cloud State, as her grandfather attended the Normal School and roomed with Waite Shoemaker. Many of her aunts and several other relatives also attended the university. Eugene mentioned they lived close to the university and his dad worked with there. Lorraine said she wanted to go to Carleton College to become a writer. But the Depression prevented her from doing so, as Carleton College was expensive. So, she decided to become an English teacher. Eugene also discussed his time in World War II, which interrupted his college studies.

Lorraine talking about her her varying living situations, including a year in Shoemaker Hall. Eugene also discussed the GI Bill, which of course brought many veterans to the school. Eugene described his time at the Eastman house, which was housing for returning GIs. Both Eugene and Lorraine oversaw and lived in for a time in Eastman House. He said the attitude held by many veterans, which was that they were very eager to learn but also were not fond of some of the restrictions and rigidity that came with college life. Lorraine and Eugene also described some of the extracurricular activities on campus, such as literary societies, sports, and different clubs such as the photo club, which Eugene belonged to.

Lorraine and Eugene chronicled their experiences after leaving St. Cloud. Lorraine talked about being hired in Hayward, Minnesota, before being married, then being told to return her contract, as they did not hire married teachers. She gave up teaching to raise her family. Eugene talked about the path that led him to pursue counseling, which eventually led he and his family back to St. Cloud. Lorraine wanted to return to school. She chronicled her work in the Writing Skills Center, which she believed was the only place for some students, especially foreign students, to get help. They described their support of international students, even to the extent that they housed some of them. Finally, they expressed their approval of the vast physical changes undergone by St. Cloud State in the 1960s and 1970s, resulting in a beautiful campus. Eugene hoped for even more changes and growth to occur, but expressed disappointment in the politics that have prevented such growth from happening.