Interviewer: Fred Senecal
Interview Date: November 1, 1985
Location: Heath residence, Corvallis, Oregon
Duration: 1:27:48
Jean (Rice) Heath begins this interview by discussing her birthplace, New Plymouth, Idaho, and her father’s career as a Presbyterian minister. She mentions her three siblings and her family’s move to Boise when she was three years old. Heath then describes her parents and their backgrounds, recounts her family’s second move to Billings, Montana when she was in sixth grade, describes her school-aged days, and her family’s love of music. Next, Heath recounts her family’s third move to Seattle, Washington when she was a sophomore in high school. She notes attending three different high schools due to her family’s moves: a high school in Montana, and Roosevelt High School and Franklin High School in Washington.
From there, Heath describes her experiences studying to be a teacher at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. She recalls that the smaller college helped her develop as a person, since at her large high schools she was shy and did not speak to other students. After that, Heath describes her disastrous initial experiences teaching in Oregon and how it drove her to pursue a teaching certificate and a Master’s in Drama at the University of Washington. She explains how failing to secure large roles caused her to quit the degree program and move to Akron, Ohio to live with her sister until she was old enough to join the Red Cross. She then describes her hopes of being sent to Europe during World War II, being sent to India instead, and her initial impressions of the country. She also mentions meeting George Heath, her future husband, at a base in Tinsukia. Heath subsequently recounts her time in China with the Red Cross, and her return to the US in 1946. She then describes the early days of her marriage to George, including a move to Gloucester, Virginia to run his grandfather’s daffodil farm. She discusses being a newcomer in the South and the cultural differences she observed, and describes the local social scene and her and George’s work as teachers in the community.
Heath then recalls moving to Chapel Hill, North Carolina so that George could obtain a Master’s degree, after which point the couple moved to Corvallis, Oregon when George accepted a job at Western View Junior High School. She describes her unfavorable initial impression of Corvallis. She then turns her attentions to her work teaching, directing, and performing theatre in Corvallis. She mentions helping to start The Barn and Readers Theatres in Albany and the Crossroads International Student Program, which connects international students to the Corvallis community. Heath concludes the interview by describing the many sabbatical trips that she and her husband have taken - including a three-month-long road trip in a Volkswagen bus through South America - and discussing her personal philosophy.
Jean Rice Heath (1919-2008) was heavily involved in the local theater scene by acting, helping open the Barn Theatre in Albany and the Corvallis Readers Theatre, and administrative work with the Majestic Theatre and the Corvallis Community Theatre. She also started the Crossroads International Student Program, and worked as a community coordinator.
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From there, Heath describes her experiences studying to be a teacher at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. She recalls that the smaller college helped her develop as a person, since at her large high schools she was shy and did not speak to other students. After that, Heath describes her disastrous initial experiences teaching in Oregon and how it drove her to pursue a teaching certificate and a Master’s in Drama at the University of Washington. She explains how failing to secure large roles caused her to quit the degree program and move to Akron, Ohio to live with her sister until she was old enough to join the Red Cross. She then describes her hopes of being sent to Europe during World War II, being sent to India instead, and her initial impressions of the country. She also mentions meeting George Heath, her future husband, at a base in Tinsukia. Heath subsequently recounts her time in China with the Red Cross, and her return to the US in 1946. She then describes the early days of her marriage to George, including a move to Gloucester, Virginia to run his grandfather’s daffodil farm. She discusses being a newcomer in the South and the cultural differences she observed, and describes the local social scene and her and George’s work as teachers in the community.
Heath then recalls moving to Chapel Hill, North Carolina so that George could obtain a Master’s degree, after which point the couple moved to Corvallis, Oregon when George accepted a job at Western View Junior High School. She describes her unfavorable initial impression of Corvallis. She then turns her attentions to her work teaching, directing, and performing theatre in Corvallis. She mentions helping to start The Barn and Readers Theatres in Albany and the Crossroads International Student Program, which connects international students to the Corvallis community. Heath concludes the interview by describing the many sabbatical trips that she and her husband have taken - including a three-month-long road trip in a Volkswagen bus through South America - and discussing her personal philosophy.
Jean Rice Heath (1919-2008) was heavily involved in the local theater scene by acting, helping open the Barn Theatre in Albany and the Corvallis Readers Theatre, and administrative work with the Majestic Theatre and the Corvallis Community Theatre. She also started the Crossroads International Student Program, and worked as a community coordinator.