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In Memory of Dr. Joan Iversen

~ Honoring Her Legacy Through Building A Scholarship and Sharing Our History

In Memory of Dr. Joan Iversen

Monthly Archives: April 2014

“Hands Down, the Best Teacher I Ever Had”

10 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Nancy J. Smyth in Reflections

≈ 1 Comment

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Former Student

Gavin Masterson shares how he first learned of Elizabeth Cady Stanton from his courses with Dr. Iversen. Stanton (seated) is pictured with Susan B. Anthony.

Gavin Masterson shares how he first learned of Elizabeth Cady Stanton from his courses with Dr. Iversen. Stanton (seated) is pictured here with Susan B. Anthony.

I graduated from Oneonta in 1975, admittedly, quite a while ago. Many memories have become hazy, or simply forgotten. One set of memories that remains vivid is my time spent in Dr. Iversen’s classes. These classes weren’t mere lectures, dictating the facts of the United States post WWII or whatever course you happened to be in, but amazing stories told with tremendous passion, and even more so, great insight. No one missed her classes, they were like a one-woman show! She could work a room like no teacher I ever had, smoking her cigarette with more flair than Bette Davis only wished she could. The best part was that she made each class and era of history fascinating— the day she told us the events of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, I remember calling my parents that night grilling them on their opinions and recall of that time. I was a French major, but remember less French than I do of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who I never heard of till then! Plus, Dr. Iversen had a great sense of humor, and was accessible and didn’t diminish our opinions, though she made us back them up, often expanding our visions and showing us things we hadn’t thought about.

Hands down, the best teacher I ever had. In the years since, I often wished I could have heard her opinions on all the news events that occurred since I knew her; a luxury her family and friends had! We all owe her a great debt.

~ Gavin Masterson (1975)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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Celebrating Joan Iversen’s April Birthday with Childhood Photos!

03 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Nancy J. Smyth in Reflections

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When Joan Iversen entered a room you knew it: she had a larger-than-life presence. So it may be hard for people to believe that she was really a child once, like all of us. April is the month of her birth–she would have been 82–so it seemed like a great time to share some photos from her early days. Here are a few photos we’ve found — click on each to enlarge the images to full size.

Baby Joanie with Bunny
4 year old Joanie won an honorable mention in a national children’s photo contest
A young Joan

An intense teenager… are you surprised?
Joan in a letter jacket with an unnamed beau
Joan Iversen high school portrait photo
High School Photo Joan Iversen

Of course, it was her achievements as a teacher and a scholar later in life that brought her the most recognition. Please join all of us who loved and respected her in celebrating her birth and her contributions. Giving to the scholarship that we’ve established to continue her legacy is a wonderful way to celebrate who she was. Click this link for information on how to give (including online).

We would love to hear your reactions to these photos — please add a comment to let us know what you think. Which do you like the most and why? In which can you see the hints of who she would become decades later?

***To leave a comment–see the “Leave a comment” link just under the title of this article (on the right).

 

 

 

 

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Photo Gallery

Joan Smyth around 1967
Joan Smyth around 1967
Jack and Joan Iversen - Her 70th birthday party
Jack and Joan Iversen – Her 70th birthday party
Jack & Joan Iversen - Making Her Point at Her 70th birthday party
Jack & Joan Iversen – Making Her Point at Her 70th birthday party
Joan Iversen at her 70th birthday party, protesting having her photo taken.
Joan Iversen at her 70th birthday party, protesting having her photo taken.
Dr. Iversen & two student at the DC Rally
Pro-Choice Rally, DC, circa 1985 w/SUCO Women’s Alliance members Stevi Calandra & Robin Frankel
Dr. Iversen with trees in background.
Joan Iversen sponsoring a BBQ for the SUCO Women’s Alliance at her home on Goodyear Lake
Joan Iversen at podium, Mark Delligatti to the right
Joan Iversen Receiving Alumni Award, with Mark Delligatti, her nominator. Photo courtesy of Mark Delligatti.
The Iversen-Smyth Family, in 1976 Top left to right: Terry Smyth, Jack Iversen, Joan Smyth Iversen Bottom left to right: Tod Iversen, Kristen Iversen, Nancy Smyth, Jill Iversen
The Iversen-Smyth Family, in 1976 Top left to right: Terry Smyth, Jack Iversen, Joan Smyth Iversen Bottom left to right: Tod Iversen, Kristen Iversen, Nancy Smyth, Jill Iversen

Recent Posts

  • “Your Mother Changed My Life”
  • Happy Valentine’s Day from Joan Iversen’s Suffragettes
  • Photo Moment Memory: Joan Iversen & Mark Delligatti
  • Joan Iversen “was in every other sense my real mother”
  • Happy Anniversary to Joan and Jack Iversen

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