Whitaker, William B.

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7456#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: William Whitaker was born on September 26, 1910, in Rockville, Minnesota. His father worked for the granite industry in Wisconsin, St. Paul, and then Rockville. Whitaker graduated from Tech High School in St. Cloud in 1927. He knew he wanted to be a teacher, with a long-term goal of becoming a college professor, so he immediately began taking classes at St. Cloud State. Before he graduated, he took a year off to teach in Wabun, Minnesota, before returning to the university to finish. He graduated in 1932 with majors in English, History, and Education, then had trouble finding work due to the Great Depression. He worked as a substitute teacher, then for a bakery in Brooklyn, New York, then on a ship as a seaman. Whitaker returned to Minnesota to teach in Crosby-Ironton and Camp Hillaway for two summers, then in Brainard. He attended Northwestern University, where he received his master's degree in speech and drama. While he was on his way to his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin, he served with the Navy during World War II. When Whitaker was discharged in 1946, he finished his doctorate, and became chairman of the department of Speech at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He was called back into the Navy during the Korean War. Whitaker later continued his work as a professor.

Transcript Summary: Whitaker described his family history, as well as his education. He explained that his career goal was to become a college professor, and he found St. Cloud State a good place to start, as it was reasonably priced and very close to home. Whitaker talked about his time off from his undergraduate work to tour with a Chautauqua group, and later to teach in Wabun, Minnesota, near Detroit Lakes. Whitaker also remembers some of the professors he worked with, including St. Cloud State president George Selke and Evelyn Pribble.

Whitaker described his time at St. Cloud State. He claimed that the majority of students at the time he attended were from small towns and farming families. He mentioned George Selke's great oratorical ability and the success it had at bringing many young people from the Iron Range to the university. Whitaker said he had to work to put himself through school, even holding three jobs at one time. He also discussed his impression of the relationship between the city of St. Cloud and the college.

Whitaker talked more about his work and education experiences after leaving St. Cloud State. He discussed that the Depression made it very difficult to find work, and was the reason why he went to Brooklyn for a few years before finding a teaching job back in Minnesota. Whitaker also discussed his time in the Navy, which led him to serve in both World War II and the Korean War. Whitaker described some of his travels, including time spent in Singapore, as well some of the duties he had as an officer in the Navy.