File f45 - Krotkov, Valentina, nee Bervy

File consists of a recording of Valentina Krotkov. Topics of the conversation include arrival in Kingston, following husband's appointment to Queen's Biological faculty (1930s). Family-raising.Post-WWII request from Queen's to help teach veteran­packed Math courses; appointment as Russian instructor. Specialisation in Russian scientific translation courses. Sabbatical trip to Berkeley, California; enrolment in PhD programme in order to teach math; assignment to teach advanced course, requiring brush-up work as well as PhD work; success in Berkeley exams. Return to Queen's, continued PhD work under Dr. Harper. Presentation of paper before Royal Society of Canada. Social obligations (as Head of Biology Dept.'s wife), too great for continuation of studies: sacrifice of PhD work, 3/4 finished. Improvement of teaching ability following research work; belief that research is essential to excellent teaching. Subject as Queen's sole Russian instructor for a time; enlargement of Russian programme, inclusion in Dept. of German, eventual attainment of separate Dept. status. Subject's cessation of Russian instruction, continuation in Math Dept. Gratitude to George Harrower, Dean of Arts, for funding expensive dictionaries for Russian Dept. Male predominance in Russian scientific translation courses, female predominance in Dept. generally; breakdown of 'female discipline' stereotyping. Subject as sole female math instructor at one time; Math Dept.'s considerate friendIiness. Intriguing emigration story: husband's intention to marry subject, vowed in childhood; enlistment in White Navy, defeat c. 1920; evacuation, settlement in Czechoslovakia; university degree supported by Czech scholarships for Russian refugees; overcrowding in Czechoslovakia, emigration to Canada; letter to subject in Moscow (1927), inviting her to marry him. Subject's emigration at 'best time possible' (brief period of Moscow normalcy). Decision never to visit Russia: contrast between 'what could be and what is' far too painful; vivid recollection of cultural ferment in pre­Revolutionary Russia, repressed by Communists.//Pleasant 4-year period in Toronto. Stimulating cultural influence of Principal Mackintosh; less exotic period under Principal Wallace. Decline in students' intellectual curiosity; increasing concentration on marks for marks' sake. Queen's early orientation as teaching institute; change wrought by Principal Mackintosh's sympathy for research. Unique ability of research teachers to motivate others. Subject's approval of Queen's 'steady state' policy; Queen's still-united campus life, loyalty. U. of T. during 1930s. Importance of teaching career to subject's personal development. Initiation of Russian programme by Dr. Earl. Increase, acceptance, of women students in Math Dept.; controversial entrance of women into Engineering. Subject's retirement from teaching (1973) . Excitement, instability of 1960s; challenge to respect for universities inculcated by Russian professor-father; academic over-expansion. Reduced attraction of university degree in today's society; student obsession with marks, based on anticipation of competitive job market; distinctive quality of university graduates.