Walter E. Massey (Finding Aid)

Walter E. Massey

1936 -

Interview Length: 222 minutes

Interview Date(s): March 13, 2002, July 10, 2002

Interview Location(s): Morehouse College,830 Westview Drive, Atlanta, Georgia, Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, Morehouse College, Atlanta,Georgia

Abstract

Morehouse College president and physicist, Walter Massey, shares stories from his segregated childhood in Hattiesburgh, Mississippi. Adopted by his stepfather at the age of 4, Massey recalls a fairly idyllic life inside the circumscribed existance of segregated Hattiesbug Morehouse College president, Walter Massey, details a trial program sponsored by the Ford Foundation which allowed him to matriculate at Morehouse without graduating from the 12th grade. Shocked by the high level of intellectual acheivement, Massey was at first daunted. But he also found his experieince highly enrinching, with exposure to great ideas, world religions and music. Morehouse College president and physicist, Walter Massey details his educational career while at Morehouse. He recalls his close friends, who all matriculated as early admits and joined Omega Psi Phi fraternity together. Massey also describes the encouragement from his professors like S.H. Christansen, and President Benjamin Mays, who encouraged him to pursue physics carefully mentored by these academic heavyweights, Massey landed fellowships and teaching positions. But while at Howard University, he saw he was not receiving a high level of education and left to attend Washington University. Educator and scientist, Dr. Walter Massey details his early experiences as a faculty member. He describes the rowdy atmosphere at the University of Illinois- Urbana/Champaign during the late 1960s. He recalls a black student body angered by the dearth of black faculty and overwhelmed by a sense of frustration due to their lack of academic preperation. Massey served as student advisor for a time, but even an offer of tenure couldn't keep him at the school. Massey jumped to Brown University for 10 years and was offered the directorship at Argonne National Laboratory. Educator and physicist, Dr. Walter Massey details his life as head of the Argonne National Laboratory. He recalls the internal and external pressures from other universities, the federal government and the Lab employees. After a round of deep cuts from the Reagan administration, Massey was forced to lay off more than 1000 employees, an experience from which he drew a great deal of praise for his fairness in making the cuts. Educator and physicist Dr. Walter Massey, details his realtionship with various federal bodies, including the White House. He recalls his close relationship with George H.W. Bush, despite their different political affiliations. Massey also discusses clashes with Congress of funding for the National Science Foundation, of which he became director in the early 1990s. Educator and physicist, Dr. Walter Massey, details his tenure as director of the National Scinece Foundation and his jump back to academia as provost in the University of California system. Taking the second in command position, Massey joined at an inopportune time-- Prop 209 ending affirmative action in admissions, huge state cutbacks among other problems, cast a large shadow over him. But just as he was poised to become the president of the UC system, he received word that Morehouse's president resigned amidst scandal. Morehouse College president Walter Massey describes the fortuitious set of circumstances which arose and allowed him to pass up the chance to be president of the huge University of California system and instead return to his alma mater, Morehouse.

48 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)