Oral history interview with Billie Press, 1997.

Biographical Note

Educator.

Scope and Contents

Childhood, Brooklyn, New York: love of learning, lack of encouragement for women to engage in science, education as a career for intelligent women; B.A., English, 1946, Washington Square College; marriage, 1946, and relationship with geophysicist Frank Press; Lamont Geological Observatory, 1948-1955: social environment, support of wives for each other, Frank’s relationship with W. Maurice Ewing, Ewing’s demanding work schedule, class issues within the surrounding municipalities, substitute teaching, M.A. Child Development and Psychology, 1955, Banks Street College; California Institute of Technology [CalTech], 1955-1965: Frank’s decision to leave Lamont, working culture at CalTech versus Lamont, social environment; head of the Program for the Academically Talented and Gifted in Pasadena, California; Frank’s decision to leave CalTech for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1965-1977; Ph.D. in Education, 1968, Boston University; changes in American education since the thirties; comparative education research based on trips with Frank to Russia, China, and Japan; Frank’s nomination to the National Academy of Science; reminiscences of family, friends, and colleagues.

Subjects

• California Institute of Technology.
• Columbia University.
• Doel, Ronald, interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Ewing, W. Maurice (William Maurice), 1906-1974.
• Interviews.
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Press, Billie K.--Interviews.
• Sfraga, Michael, interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 1998