Oral history interview with Harold W. Bernard

Collection

Identifier: SR 9009

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Harold W. Bernard was conducted by Roberta Watts at Bernard’s home in Cedar Mills, Oregon, on December 1, 1977, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Bernard discusses his career as a psychology professor and an author. He talks about some of the psychology textbooks he wrote. He shares his thoughts about the use of drugs in psychological treatment, medicine, and recreation; talks about the relationship between the women’s movement and the rise in divorce rates in the 1970s; and describes the changes in psychiatric treatment and diagnosis over the 20th century. He also speaks about popular anxieties about overpopulation, talks about the importance of higher education, and shares his thoughts about public school teachers. He closes the interview by discussing his retirement activities.

Dates

1977 December 1

Creator

Bernard, Harold W. (Harold Wright), 1908-1998 (Interviewee, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the estate of Harold W. Bernard. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Harold Wright Bernard was born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in 1908. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Spokane University in 1930, a master’s degree from Stanford University in 1933, and a doctorate from Northwestern University in 1938. In 1935, he and Evelyn McDonald were married; they later had three children. After completing his doctorate in 1938, he accepted a professorship at the University of Oregon, where he taught educational psychology. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his discharge, he briefly returned to UO, then taught at Reed College from 1947 to 1950. He then worked for the Oregon State System of Higher Education until his retirement in 1972, and in 1978 he moved to Phoenix, Arizona. He wrote several psychology textbooks, including “Psychology of Learning and Teaching” and “Readings in Adolescent Development.” He died in 1998.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiocassette (1 hr., 51 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Harold W. Bernard conducted by Roberta Watts on December 1, 1977. Bernard was a psychologist and taught at the University of Oregon and Reed College, and wrote several psychology textbooks.