Mary Jane Roach Masters Memoir - University of Illinois Springfield
Mary Jane Roach Masters Memoir - University of Illinois Springfield
Mary Jane Roach Masters Memoir - University of Illinois Springfield
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Q. So you've really kind <strong>of</strong> closed the door on that.<br />
A. Closed the door on that. I'm just a biystander on that.<br />
Q. I'd like to ask you where they're going to find families to take these children, things <strong>of</strong> that<br />
sort, but I guess you're really the wrong person to ask.<br />
A. That's right. I wasn't trained for it. My orientation was toward other contributions, cultural<br />
contributions.<br />
Q. But being politically involved, have you taken any interest in the Judicial system might do to<br />
stop women from having children who are repeated failures as parents?<br />
A. No, I have not gotten into that. I feel strongly about it but I have not gotten into it as an<br />
active participant apart from supporting Planned Parenthood.<br />
Q. Again, the niche. In 1948, were you appointed or elected onto the Board <strong>of</strong> the Lincoln<br />
Library?<br />
A. Appointed by Nelson Howarth who was the Mayor at that time the Board it was headed by<br />
Gib Bunn, President <strong>of</strong> the Marine Bank, who was a remarkable man, and in a quiet firm way, a<br />
total dictator. I found that we had set up a committee to determine the site for the new branch.<br />
We went through all the shenannigans and we listened to the report from the architects who were<br />
told by Mr. Bunn: "That this is already settled, that he'd picked the site and bought it and that was<br />
it." All <strong>of</strong> a sudden I realized that I was in a situation where I was not involved in program which<br />
I was deeply interested in but I was involved in where 'a ro<strong>of</strong> was needed for our new building',<br />
and this was certainly not within my realm <strong>of</strong> expertise. Oh, I admired him very much, I just<br />
thought I was not able to make any contribution.<br />
Q. Did you bow out or did you stay?<br />
A. I was a political casualty. I would have bowed out, but I was a political casualty because I did<br />
not support the man who ran against Howarth and won, so I was <strong>of</strong>f, and it didn't break my heart.<br />
Q. How is it run? I'm a member <strong>of</strong> Friends. How is it run?<br />
A. The Friends <strong>of</strong> the Library? Grace Gilman, the librarian, started that and it was great. It was<br />
a very active organization. She put it together with Gib Bunn's help, I might add, and it was very<br />
effective.<br />
Q. In what way?<br />
A. Well, it got people active, being involved in the Library which, apart from <strong>Springfield</strong> College,
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