Lester Kirkendall Oral History Interview

Interviewee: Lester Kirkendall
Interviewer: Yvonne Loso
Interview Date: February 19, 1984
Location: Kirkendall residence, Portland, Oregon
Duration: 2:04:13
 

In this interview, Lester Kirkendall discusses his career as a professor of sex education and family studies. Kirkendall was born and raised in western Kansas, graduating from high school in 1924. He then talks about his job as a high school teacher and as a professor at Teacher’s College of Connecticut. He became involved with family studies after witnessing the negative effects of chaotic or abusive home lives on children. He gradually also became interested in sexuality studies. Kirkendall discusses in great detail his several jobs as an educator in the U.S. and in Italy, as a member of the U.S Office of Education, and as the head of the Division of Counseling and Guidance at the University of Oklahoma. He likewise discusses his experiences with Oregon State University faculty and students as well as his experiences as a sexuality studies professor in the early 1960s. From there, Kirkendall describes his research and philosophy and explains his findings. The interview concludes with Kirkendall speaking about the books he’s written, co-authored and edited.

Lester A. Kirkendall was born on November 15, 1903, and was raised on a farm in western Kansas. Although he struggled with school early on, he was encouraged by a friendly classmate and an algebra teacher who helped him to finish high school as a valedictorian in 1924. He credits these people with igniting the spark that became his passion for education. Kirkendall then attended Washburn University and Kansas State University for his undergraduate degree, and Teacher’s College of Connecticut for his master’s and doctoral degrees. His focus was in family studies and sex education and he spent many years of his life as an educator in these fields. Kirkendall was employed at Oregon State University for twenty years, teaching human relations, family life and sex education. He retired in 1969. Kirkendall also wrote several books, pamphlets, magazine articles and chapters on topics related to human sexuality and family studies. He likewise worked with national organizations and spoke at several national conferences and conventions. He passed away in Corvallis on May 15, 1991.

Dublin Core

Title

Lester Kirkendall Oral History Interview

Description

In this interview, Lester Kirkendall discusses his career as a professor of sex education and family studies. Kirkendall was born and raised in western Kansas, graduating from high school in 1924. He then talks about his job as a high school teacher and as a professor at Teacher’s College of Connecticut. He became involved with family studies after witnessing the negative effects of chaotic or abusive home lives on children. He gradually also became interested in sexuality studies. Kirkendall discusses in great detail his several jobs as an educator in the U.S. and in Italy, as a member of the U.S Office of Education, and as the head of the Division of Counseling and Guidance at the University of Oklahoma. He likewise discusses his experiences with Oregon State University faculty and students as well as his experiences as a sexuality studies professor in the early 1960s. From there, Kirkendall describes his research and philosophy and explains his findings. The interview concludes with Kirkendall speaking about the books he’s written, co-authored and edited.

Lester A. Kirkendall was born on November 15, 1903, and was raised on a farm in western Kansas. Although he struggled with school early on, he was encouraged by a friendly classmate and an algebra teacher who helped him to finish high school as a valedictorian in 1924. He credits these people with igniting the spark that became his passion for education. Kirkendall then attended Washburn University and Kansas State University for his undergraduate degree, and Teacher’s College of Connecticut for his master’s and doctoral degrees. His focus was in family studies and sex education and he spent many years of his life as an educator in these fields. Kirkendall was employed at Oregon State University for twenty years, teaching human relations, family life and sex education. He retired in 1969. Kirkendall also wrote several books, pamphlets, magazine articles and chapters on topics related to human sexuality and family studies. He likewise worked with national organizations and spoke at several national conferences and conventions. He passed away in Corvallis on May 15, 1991.

Creator

Lester Kirkendall

Source

College of Home Economics Oral Histories

Publisher

Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries

Date

February 19, 1984

Contributor

Yvonne Loso

Format

Digitized Audiocassette

Language

English

Type

Oral History

Identifier

oh11-kirkendall-lester-19840219

Oral History Item Type Metadata

Interviewer

Yvonne Loso

Interviewee

Lester Kirkendall

Location

Kirkendall residence, Portland, Oregon

Original Format

Audiocassette

Duration

2:04:13

OHMS Object

Interview Format

audio