FitzPatrick, Merry Kone, 1985 October 16, October 25

File — Box: 1, Folder: 22

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

In her first interview, Professor Fitzpatrick talks about her childhood and how her family came to settle in San Marcos. She recalls her elementary, junior high, and high school experiences, including tidbits about the Blanco and San Marcos Rivers, Sewell Park, the Presbyterian Church, and attending the campus school. FitzPatrick shares information about her brothers and their careers. She describes downtown San Marcos and its local landmarks and businesses, discussing her childhood through the 1930s.

In her second interview, FitzPatrick talks about graduating from high school and attending college at Southwest Texas State Teachers College. Along with describing her college and graduate courses and certain professors like Prof. Green, Retta Murphy, James Taylor, Betty Jane Kissler, and Emmie Craddock, she discusses what the school, her first job during World War II, and her work supervising student teachers were like. FitzPatrick describes the then-social science division and its faculty, as well as campus buildings like Old Main and certain local characters. This interview covers the 1930s through the 1960s.
Interviewed by Iris Schumann

Dates

1985 October 16, October 25

Creator

From the Collection: Southwest Texas State University. Department of History (Organization)
From the Collection: Brown, Ronald C., 1945- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Biographical note

Professor Merry Kone FitzPatrick (1921–1996) was born in Edna, Texas, but moved to San Marcos when she was three years old. After attending San Marcos High School, she graduated from Southwest Texas State Teachers College with her BA in art in 1942 and her MA in history in 1947. FitzPatrick taught in the university's history department for decades. She offered courses in English, European, American, and ancient history. In addition, she supervised generations of student teachers, reflecting her own experiences teaching in Texas schools and her passion for education. FitzPatrick also fully immersed herself within the San Marcos community by serving on a number of local organizational boards, and served as the first female elder in the city's First Presbyterian Church.

FitzPatrick was recognized as one of the university's finest teachers, receiving Honors Professor of the Year in both 1985 and 1993. She advised the freshman honorary society Alpha Lambda Delta and was involved in a number of professional associations, including the American Association of University Professors and the Texas Association of College Teachers.