- Title Information
- Title
- Marcella Frances Fagan, class of 1944
- Title Information:
Alternative
(displayLabel="Pembroke title")
- Title
- Marcella Frances Fagan Hance, class of 1944
- Name:
Personal
- Name Part
- Fagan, Marcella Frances
- Role
- Role Term:
Text (marcrelator)
- interviewee
- Name:
Personal
- Name Part
- McKlveen, Betsy
- Role
- Role Term:
Text (marcrelator)
- interviewer
- Type of Resource
- mixed material
- Origin Information
- Date Created
(keyDate="yes", encoding="w3cdtf")
- 1988-05-06
- Language
- Language Term:
Code (ISO639-2B)
- eng
- Abstract
- In Part 1 of this interview with Marcella Fagan Hance, she recounts her acceptance
to Pembroke College in 1940 and her experience as a "day hop" or "city girl." She describes
the effects of World War II, including rations on food and gas, a social life that included
few men, the Pratt & Whitney aircraft company's attempts to recruit student workers, and
the activities of the Sewing Club. Marcella relates stories about dating practices at Brown,
juggling her studies with paid work, the four-year physical education requirement under
professor Bessie Rudd, and posture pictures. Part 2 of the interview focuses on the 1940s.
Marcella describes Pembroke traditions and other aspects of student life, women's desires for
husbands rather than careers, and the importance of community service. She recalls several
experiences that made her aware of issues like homosexuality and ethnic and religious
divisions, and laments Pembroke's merger with the Men's College. In Part 3, Marcella describes
biology class, "senior sisters," and going to the movies. She compares what she calls "an
easier way of life" to the challenges of life in 1988, which include an increased pressure to
succeed and the demands made on families with working mothers.
- Note:
biographical/historical
(displayLabel="Class year")
- 1944
- Note:
biographical/historical
(displayLabel="Biographical note")
- Marcella Frances Fagan
Hance was born in Providence, RI in 1923. She graduated from Hope High in 1940 and Brown
University in 1944. As a student, she was elected to the War Council and directed Camel
Cigarette week, which sent cartons of cigarettes purchased by Pembrokers to troops serving in
World War II. Marcella earned her College Teacher Certification from Wheaton College in 1966
and taught in Illinois and Minnesota before returning to Providence in 1986. She was active
volunteer with her church, the Cub Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and the American Cancer
Society.
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- 1940s
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- City Girls
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- Employment
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- Family
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- Pembroke-Brown Merger
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- Physical Education
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- Posture Pictures
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- Social Life
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- Student Activities
- Subject (Local)
- Topic
- World War II
- Genre (aat)
(authorityURI="http://vocab.getty.edy/aat/", valueURI="http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300202595")
- oral histories (literary works)