Last spring the UW Alumni Association, College of Arts and Sciences, and University Libraries asked alumni to send us memories of their defining moments at UW. Hundreds of alumni took part. Many were displayed during the Fall 2004 "Defining Moments" exhibit at Suzzallo Library. Browse through the memories below.

Selected memories were printed in the December 2004 issue of Columns Magazine. What follows are other memories submitted by alumni from the '30s to 2001 as well as professors.

More UW Alumni Memories

I was a history major in the late 60's at UW, graduating with my B.A. degree in June of 1970. I took many classes from Jon Bridgman, who was then a new recruit on the faculty, "stolen from Stanford" so the story went. Jon Bridgman made history come alive in his classes! He got so excited relaying Europe's history to us that many of us took any class he offered each term. There was indeed almost a cult following of him. I had been an exchange student to Germany in high school, so I was very eager to learn his perspectives on Europe's history, able to finally understand things so much better once he explained the big picture.

After graduation I went to the San Francisco area to teach. I quickly learned that most elementary teachers dread "social studies" and kids therefore don't like it. But, thanks to the good role model I had with Professor Bridgman, I knew history could be exciting...just show your own enthusiasm and love of it, and tell it anecdotally rather than have kids read chapters in a text. I taught for a total of 21 years (with 12 off in the middle to have and raise my 2 children). My favorite years were teaching about explorers, backing up to tell of Marco Polo and China's famous inventions so they knew WHY Columbus sailed potentially "off the end of the world". Also, American history came alive in my classroom with my legendary "live timelines", where kids dressed up as important people in our history and recreated scenes to put events in perspective.

When I taught Colorado or California's state history, we'd dress up as trappers and Indians and attend a rendezvous, complete with bragging contests, playing poker and swaps for supplies. Several years ago I went to Australia for a year as an exchange teacher and put a new twist on their history, with a ride on Capt. Cook's ship coping with the Aboriginals and pretending to be a convict in their early penal colony days. Jon Bridgman was my inspiration to "hook 'em right away" on how relevant and important understanding history is, and I am pleased to say I've sent many a student on with an appreciation and fascination for history.

My husband and I arrived at the University of Washington in September 1970, at the height of the Boeing depression. We thought that 17% unemployment was normal, because we met so many people who simply refused to leave Seattle. We were expecting to have two teaching assistant salaries, but wound up with only one. The UW provided us with married-student housing: a fully-furnished apartment, including utilities, across the street from campus in the Commodore Duchess for $85 a month. It was a bargain, but it still took one-third of our monthly income. By the end of our first year of graduate school, we were receiving food stamps. It was a memorable year, the tightest budget I have ever lived on. We didn't go out for a meal, go to a movie off campus, or make a long-distance phone call!

Nevertheless, we fell in love with Seattle and discovered what an excellent school the University of Washington was (and is). The UW had benefited greatly from state investment in faculty and facilities during the era when Dan Evans was governor and Charles Odegaard was president. Even in one of the worst economic times the state has ever been through, that quality showed. My husband dropped out of graduate school after one year to take a job, so our economic situation improved and we could afford to have me finish my Ph.D.

The first class that I attended was Zoology 101 in the old Architecture building's large lecture hall. The professor went through the usual first-day comments as what to expect from that class. It was the Autumn quarter of 1948 and I was fresh out of high school and anticipating what College courses would be like.

The professor described what the course would cover; all animal life but not what WAS life. What was it, he asked, that differentiated a grouping of molecules that lacked life from the same grouping that had the 'spark' of life? That question, he said, would and could not be answered in the class. "What is life?" he asked and then segued off, stage left. I then realized that college was not going to just be an extension of high school and the hair stood up on the back of my neck.

Now fast forward about 40 years when I found myself again, for the first time since 1948, back in the class now enrolled as an "access student," (aka; geezers) and taking a class entitled Architecture Appreciation. The instructor, Dr. Pundt, went through the usual first day comments as what to expect from that class. I sat there ruminating about what the 1948 Zoology professor asked as to "what is life" when Dr. Pundt asked us to observe the beautifully designed room that we were in. He then stated that classic room, although beautiful as we looked about, was of no interest whatsoever prior to 8:30 AM when class started. Why? Because we were not in the room then; it lacked life. Once again, the hair went up on the back of my neck as the professor segued off, stage left.

A magic campus and class room!!

During my first two years as a student at the University of Washington, (1937-1939), I met my tuition costs by carrying an early-morning paper route. My customers, for the most part, lived on the western slope of Ravenna Hill, not far north of the university campus.

I was out of bed by 4 o'clock every morning, in order to hustle down to a street corner where the newspaper's district manager left his bundles under a storefront's protective cover, for customers wanted doorstep delivery by breakfast time.

Despite the need to be brisk in covering my route, I could tarry occasionally to admire the views. One favorite stop was just above the Northern Pacific Railway track, now the route of the Burke-Gilman Trail. Occasionally a freight train would rumble past, firebox aglow in the locomotive cab.

The visual experience I had that has remained with me all these years was the sight of the aurora borealis--the northern lights. The whole sky glowed with cloud-like formations. Not until I lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, some decades later, did I see its equal.

While working at Suzzallo Library in the fall of '71, I met this woman, no, this Lady! We had 2-plus wonderful years together. Its been 20-plus years, but still I say, with gratitude, she is the best thing that every happened to me!

In 1929 the military honorary Seaboard and Blade had a treasury surplus of $400 which resulted from their sponsorship of the annual Military Ball. This was a sizeable sum in those days, probably equal to about $4000 today. They considered what to do with the money and their faculty advisor, Major Greene, suggested applying it to something for the University. I was appointed to a committee of one to investigate. I consulted with the Dean who was in charge of buildings and grounds, who quickly observed that the two pillars at the entrance to Memorial Way, which had been erected a few years previously, were supposed to have two bronze plaques listing the men who lost their lives in World War I. But the University didn't have enough money appropriated to complete the job. He thought it could be done for the amount we had available.

I got the name of the art foundry that had the specifications, checked with them and they agreed. After our members approved, the two plaques were made and installed. A commemorative ceremony was held on Memorial Day 1930 attended by faculty and students including members of Seaboard and Blade. I am still honored to have participated in this small bit of University of Washington history.

It was 1934, Hitler was rattling his anti-Semitic sabers, the depression was in full force, and America, "the sleeping giant" was slow to awaken to the threat. I had completed one and a half years of service in the Civilian Conservation Corps and thought it was idiotic to even think about going to the university. But FDR made it possible with another program called the National Youth Administration. One could earn $15 a month to pay tuition at $27.50 a quarter and have enough left over to buy an ASUW ticket to watch Hugh McIllaney do his stuff.

To assist with other expenses I could wash dishes and the Ave at Sweitzer's Beanery for 2 meals, or stay overnight with a friend, or go home to Mom and Dad in my four cylinder Plymouth with "floating power" accompanied by a couple of paying passengers in similar circumstances.

With recommendations from my high school principal and band director I was able to fulfill my NYA duties with Professor George McKay, copying his musical compositions for publication. It took awhile to adjust to a seventeen credit hour schedule, so no great scholastic achievement ensued; however the second and third quarter improved after a warning from the registrar. Professor McKay was a handball expert and it drew my interest to that sport for my PE requirement, until told I had to select something else, like tennis. That endeavor was cut short when someone stole my tennis racket.

Since I was enrolled as a Forestry major, vacillating between there and the Music department, I was able to earn additional funds by working for the Forest Service during the summer, which of course involved missing a quarter. While in their employ, I learned to cruise timber, fight fires, maintain trails, repair telephone lines, chop wood, and do lookout duty on the top of a mountain.

In 1939 I finally earned my B.S. degree, an event that I have cherished for 65 years while perusing many kinds of occupations, and have insisted that my three children do the same.

I met my future husband, Rob, while we were both attending the UW. Our first date was a lunch date at By George, where we hit it off and set a dinner date...the rest is history. He played drums in the Husky Marching Band, I loved to watch football AND the band...12 years later we still have season tickets to the football games, and soon we'll be adding our two children to the waiting list. (Our daughter's favorite color is purple - how did that happen???) It was great fun dating while attending the UW; so many opportunities to meet between classes for lunch and so many inexpensive resources for student activities - canoeing, playing tennis, etc. - and yet the campus was so big there was plenty of space for us to still do our own thing when we needed to.

Oh yes, my degree was a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (1992), his was a B.A. in Economics (1993). A match made in heaven!!!

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Call for Memories
The UWAA is still collecting memories from alumni. They'll be added to this page as we get them and may be part of an ongoing display. Please use the online form here:

Or if you prefer, send your memory to:
Memories
UW Alumni Association
1415 NE 45th St
Seattle WA 98105