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Harry Finestone

CSUN Professor/Dean of Academic Planning, 1958-1990

Harry Finestone was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1941, and a master's degree the next year. After serving in World War II, he earned his doctorate at the University of Chicago. After teaching at several universities in the east, he came to San Fernando Valley State College (SFVSC) and taught in the English department. He was chair of that department from 1966 to 1970, and served as dean of academic planning from 1970 to 1983. He oversaw the reform of general education at CSUN, and supervised the school's Institute for the Advancement of Training and Learning. He also helped resolve conflicts following the November 4th, 1968 protests, which resulted in the creation of departments of Pan-African Studies and Chicano Studies. Finestone retired in 1990. He passed away in 2003.

Harry Finestone Interview Tracks

Delmar T. Oviatt

Dean of Instruction/Vice President for Academic Affairs, 1958-1969

Delmar T. Oviatt was born in Canada in 1931. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alberta in 1939, a master’s degree in 1942 from Stanford University, and a doctorate degree in 1949 from Stanford University. Before entering higher education, Oviatt was a teacher and administrator at the junior high and high school levels in Canada. He also taught at Washington State College and the University of Utah before moving to Los Angeles. He was named dean of the proposed San Fernando Valley campus of Los Angeles State College of Applied Arts and Sciences in 1955 by Los Angeles State College President Howard McDonald. He became Dean of Instruction of the newly-independent San Fernando Valley State College in 1958, and was named Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1962. After President Ralph Prator's resignation in 1968, Oviatt was appointed acting interim president in January 1969, whereupon he made a series of decisions that directly harmed CSUN students, including harms perpetrated by LAPD officers he invited to campus after receiving unsubstantiated reports about planned student protest activities. For more information, see Report of the Oviatt Library Advisory Working Group. Delmar T. Oviatt passed away from a heart attack in his home on December 24, 1971 at the age of 60.

Delmar T. Oviatt Interview Tracks

Ralph Prator

San Fernando Valley State College President, 1958-1968

As the first president of San Fernando Valley State College in 1958, Dr. Ralph Prator oversaw the rapid growth of an educational community. From its humble beginnings, the campus was built from trailers and borrowed faculty. At the time of his resignation in 1968, Valley State had developed beyond expectations, though with it grew social tensions affecting many colleges and universities around the country. This interview was conducted circa 1990 by John Broesamle, now Professor Emeritus of History. He passed away in 2005.

Ralph Prator Interview Tracks

Ben Rude

President of Associated Students/Alumni Association, 1957-1958

Ben Rude was a student of CSUN during its early years. After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, he attended Los Angeles State College (later California State University Los Angeles) until 1956, when he took classes at what was then a satellite campus of L.A. State in the San Fernando Valley, also serving as the first president of the Associated Students there. He earned his BA in 1957, subsequently becoming first president of the Alumni Association. He went on to earn an MA in June of 1961 from San Fernando Valley College, which had become independent of L.A. State in 1958, and started teaching there in September of 1961. He taught English as a Second Language (ESL), and served as foreign student advisor and coordinator of the ESL program. He passed away in 2005.

Ben Rude Interview Tracks

Robert Williams

Associate Dean of Students, 1957

Robert "Red" Williams was one of the founding members of CSUN. Originally Director of Admissions at Los Angeles State College and its branch in the Valley, the future CSUN, he came over to the branch full time in 1957 as associate dean of students in charge of student personnel. He later served as Registrar and Head of Counseling. He passed away in 2013.

Robert Williams Interview Tracks

Warner Masters

Director of Campus Planning, Financial VP, 1955-1980

Warner Masters, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, was born in 1920. While serving as Business Manager at California State University, Los Angeles, he advocated for the creation of a new state university in the San Fernando Valley, and then served as Director of Campus Planning and Financial Vice President. He was responsible for approving the plans for most of the buildings on campus until his retirement, and was instrumental in the purchase of Devonshire Downs. He passed away in 2008.

Warner Masters Interview Tracks

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