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A celebration of 75 years of Roosevelt University

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75 Stories for 75 Years

Rose Hum Lee

April 6, 2020 by Heather Hartmann Leave a Comment

Founding Faculty Member, Sociologist | 1946–62

Rose Hum Lee

Rose Hum Lee was born in 1904, when Chinese immigrants like her parents were not legally allowed to own property, vote or become citizens. she joined the faculty at Roosevelt and, in 1956, she became the first Chinese American and the first woman to head a sociology department in the United States. Lee described Roosevelt as a school created to “impart the truth to all regardless of race, color or creed.”

Filed Under: 1950s Tagged With: Chinese American, Founding Faculty Member, Sociologist, sociology department

Joe Segal

April 6, 2020 by Heather Hartmann Leave a Comment

Founder of the Jazz Showcase | 1947–57

Joe Segal - Roosevelt Graduation on 12/13/13.  Photos by Nathan Mandell.
Roosevelt Graduation on 12/13/13. Photos by Nathan Mandell.

The live music sessions that Joe Segal hosted as a Roosevelt student became the Jazz Showcase, the oldest jazz club in Chicago.

After serving in World War II, Joe Segal came to Roosevelt and took over the jazz club. Through his connections in the Chicago music scene, he brought in popular local and touring artists like Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins and Charlie Parker. Today the Showcase continues to present music seven days a week — including performances from CCPA jazz students.

Filed Under: 1950s Tagged With: CCPA Jazz, Charlie Parker, Founder, Jazz, Jazz Showcase, Joe Segal, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk

Beatrice Spachner

June 24, 2020 by Heather Hartmann Leave a Comment

Roosevelt Trustee | Years at Roosevelt: 1958–82

Beatrice Spachner

Beatrice Spachner and the Auditorium Theatre Council fundraised over $2 million to restore and renovate the historic theatre. The venue had not functioned since 1941, only briefly serving as a servicemen’s center during World War II.

With the help of Chicago architect Harry Weese, the Auditorium Theatre reopened on Halloween in 1967 with New York City Ballet’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Spachner believed that the Auditorium Theatre would bring people together and build community.

Filed Under: 1960s Tagged With: Auditorium Theatre, Auditorium Theatre Council, Beatrice Spachner, Harry Weese

Rolf Weil

June 24, 2020 by Heather Hartmann 1 Comment

Professor, University President, Honorary Trustee | Years at Roosevelt: 1946–2010

Rolf Weil

In 1936, Rolf Weil arrived in Chicago as a refugee from Nazi Germany. Weil understood the struggles that came with pursuing an education and identified with Roosevelt’s social justice mission. He worked hard to make sure Roosevelt University was affordable for all students.

Weil helped plan and create the Heller College of Business, serving as the dean and later as the president of Roosevelt University from 1964 to 1988. He led the construction of the Herman Crown Center, which was the University’s first residence hall and student union, and the creation of the Albert A. Robin Campus in Arlington Heights.

Filed Under: 1960s Tagged With: Heller College of Business, President, Rolf Weil, Roosevelt University, University President

Black Student Association

June 25, 2020 by Heather Hartmann Leave a Comment

Student Organization | Formed 1967

Black Student Association

Roosevelt students formed the Black Student Association at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1969, the group held class disruptions to teach black studies and staged a 150 student sit-in at the president’s office to demand a black studies program. The BSA invited leaders like Fred Hampton, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and Haki R. Madhubuti, an author and publisher at Third World Press, to speak on campus.

Filed Under: 1960s Tagged With: Black Panther Party, Black Student Association, Civil Rights, Haki R. Madhubuti, Third World Press

Goldie Wolfe Miller

June 25, 2020 by Heather Hartmann Leave a Comment

Commercial Real Estate Broker | BS Business, ’67

Goldie Wolfe Miller

Born in a displaced persons camp after World War II, Goldie Wolfe Miller graduated from Roosevelt University as class president and valedictorian. At a time when the commercial real estate industry was dominated by men, she ran the largest woman-owned commercial brokerage in the United States with almost $3 billion in transactions.

In 2007, Wolfe Miller created the Goldie B. Wolfe Miller Women Leaders in Real Estate Initiative at Roosevelt University. The program supports young women in commercial real estate and now extends to graduate students across the Midwest. Wolfe Miller was inducted into the Chicago Association of Realtors Hall of Fame in 2011 and received an honorary Roosevelt doctorate in 2015.

Filed Under: 1960s Tagged With: Chicago Association of Realtors Hall of Fame, Goldie B. Wolfe Miller Women Leaders in Real Estate Initiative, Goldie Wolfe Miller, Roosevelt University, World War II

Robert Lamm

June 25, 2020 by Heather Hartmann Leave a Comment

Founding Member of Chicago | Years at Roosevelt: 1965–67

Robert Lamm

Robert Lamm is a veteran composer, vocalist, keyboard player and producer. He credits his exposure to classical music and composition to his time as a Roosevelt student.

In 1967, Lamm helped found the band Rock with Horns, later known as Chicago. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. Today the band continues to perform at venues across the country.

Filed Under: 1960s Tagged With: Chicago the Band, Classical Music, Composer, Composition, Keyboard player, Producer, Robert Lamm, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rock with the Horns, Songwriters Hall of Fame, Vocalist

Anthony Braxton

June 25, 2020 by Heather Hartmann Leave a Comment

Jazz Composer and Performer | Philosophy and Music Composition, ’63

Anthony Braxton

Anthony Braxton is one of the most influential artists in improvisational jazz. As a teacher and musician, Braxton has released over 100 albums and has earned a global reputation for his remarkable skills.

Braxton was recognized as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, awarded the MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grant, and continues to play music and support young musicians.

Filed Under: 1960s Tagged With: Anthony Braxton, Composition, Jazz, Music, Musician, National Endowment for the Arts, Philosophy

Bachelor of General Studies

June 25, 2020 by Heather Hartmann Leave a Comment

Bachelor of General Studies

In 1967, Roosevelt established the Bachelor of General Studies degree to make higher education more accessible to adult learners. Instead of counting credits, the bachelor’s program used College Board tests so students could apply their professional experience toward completing their degree.

This non-traditional adult degree program was the first of its kind in the area and became the fastest-growing Roosevelt program at the time. Distinguished alumni that hold a Bachelor of General Studies include:

  • Walter Grady (BGS ’72, MBA ’79): former president and CEO of Seaway Bank and Trust Co.
  • Patricia Harris (BGS ’80): former global chief diversity officer at McDonald’s and chair of Roosevelt’s Board of Trustees
  • Bobby Rush (BGS ’74): 14-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Filed Under: 1960s Tagged With: Bachelor of General Studies, Bobby Rush, Patricia Harris, Roosevelt University, Walter Grady

Mark Paul “Corky” Siegel and Jim Schwall

June 25, 2020 by Heather Hartmann Leave a Comment

Jazz Musicians | Years at Roosevelt: 1964–66

Mark Paul “Corky” Siegel and Jim Schwall

Corky Siegel and Jim Schwall met at Roosevelt in 1964. Although the students were in jazz band together, they did not officially meet until a chance encounter in an elevator, when Siegel asked Schwall if he played the blues. Siegel recalls that moment as finding his musical soulmate.

The pair quickly formed the Siegel-Schwall Band, which became one of Chicago’s most loved blues groups. Siegel played the harmonica and the saxophone while Schwall played the guitar, and both did vocals. Siegel was inducted in the Blues Hall of Fame in 2018.

Filed Under: 1960s Tagged With: Blues, Harmonica, Jazz, Jim Schwall, Mark Paul “Corky” Siegel, Musician, Roosevelt University, Saxophone, Siegel-Schwall Band

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