Dossier f76 - Preston, Lillian, nee Gilbert

File consists of a recording of Lillian Preston. Topics of the conversation include decision not to attend Queen's; KCVI commercial teaching course, ambition to support music studies, eventual teaching. Interview with Dean Clark (Applied Science, Queen's) for sessional stenography position; summer employment typing Physics Prof. J.K. Robertson's book on Perth; rapid appointment as secretary to Dean Clark - 'taking a chance on a very young girl.' ACTM music diploma; ambition to teach music relinquished through dislike of teaching. One-woman Dean's office (Ontario Hall) assisted by single steno (usually lost to Registrar's Office). Dean Clark's teaching activities, retirement (1945); transfer with Dean Ellis to Hydraulics Lab (Engineering & Drawing Bldg.);tiny office, shared telephone arrangements of Secretary and Dean. Ubiquitous presence of 'Buster', Dean Ellis' dog, student habit of feeding him chocolate; first regular office coffee-breaks, facilitated by Dean Ellis' darkroom hot-plate. Transfer (resisted by Dean Ellis) to newly-built Richardson Hall; computerless task of recording marks, 'busy but enjoyable'. Position as organist, St.Paul's church; marriage (1954) to choir member. Pro­ posed retirement to coincide with Dean Ellis' retirement (1955); Dean's untimely death, full of eager retirement plans, first day of spring. Part-time continuation (not as secretary) under Dean Conn; growing number of office staff; full-time position in charge of Student Records following resignation as organist, St. Margaret's Church (1957-65). Tentative engagement as secretary to busy, exacting Dean Uffen; mutual satisfaction of good working relationship. Previous transfer to Ellis Hall (former computer centre) displaced by expanding Arts & Science faculty; office arrangements; contact with students. Change in Dean's role, once academic, now largely administrative; appointment of Associate Dean to help deal with students; Dean Uffen's teaching activities, research work on atomic waste, planned retirement to Geological Sciences Dept. (Arts & Science). Acquaintance with Queen's students during high school days. Change in student attitude from studious to political ('anxious to run the place'); former disciplinary role of the university, present lack of authority; mandatory attendance at 7/8 of classes to qualify for exams, reinforced by seating plan, daily records, Senate 'Short Attendance Committee' (practised late into 1950s). Customary life appointment of Deans, transmuted to term appointment beginning with Dean Conn. Subject's assistance acclimatizing Dean Uffen to Queen's office, community. Practical, decisive character of Engineering administrators. Lack of personal demands made on subject as secretary; belief that employer's personal responsibilities should remain his own; willingness to prepare employer's coffee as natural support service. Effect of computers, once felt as job threat, in boosting employment. Better town and gown relations before WWII (lack of bitter element present now); students as boost to local economy; residents' fear for pet cats when students supplied own sub­ jects for science experiments. Mutual dislike of students, omnipresent soldiers during WWII: difficulty persuading Engineering students (more valuable trained) to postpone enlistment till after graduation. Full-time summer sessions to accommodate veteran students; overworked staff, queered student records, e.g. 'Class of 48 1/2'. Proliferation of married veteran students, working wives, children; crowded accommodation problem; epidemic in basement living quarters (Grant Hall). First admission of female students to Engineering, 1943-4 (not a contentious issue according to regulatory Committee minutes); popularity, failure, of first two entrants; first graduate, transferred from Mt. Allison, as first woman student to sport slacks, to carry gold roses for Convocation (red roses were carried by female Arts graduates); excellence of some female Engineering students. // Dean Clark's advice to Pres. of Engineering Society on text of dinner speech: don't tell a dirty story unless you're sure it's funny - it may fall flat. Generous, eccentric Margaret Austin as creative Sunday School teacher, lenient boarding-house mistress; 'terrific' Principal's secretary Mamie Anglin. Authoritative English professor Wilhelmina Gordon: reputation for colourful driving, possession of sports car; Science students' resentment of strict teaching, insistence on formal student attire. Good salary ($11 weekly, raised to $14) throughout Depression, lack of personal deprivation; memory of hunger marchers en route to Ottawa; scarcity of summer work for students, forced relaxation of summer-work requirement portion of Engineering degree. Improvements in general status of secretaries (increased respect from employers, treatment as equals, more challenging responsibilities); subject's acknowledged, appreciated status as 'partner' in Dean Uffen's office.