Interviews with Bonnie Cone

This series consists of multiple interviews conducted with UNC Charlotte founder Bonnie Cone during the 1970s and 1980s. Sixteen of the interviews, recorded from December 1987 to May 1988, were conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel, former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte. During these interviews, Perzel and Cone discuss a number of topics relating to the creation, survival, and development of the Charlotte College Center into Charlotte College and later into UNC Charlotte. Among these topics are faculty and staff recruitment, fundraising and building political support, board members and donors, campus site selection and architectural design, athletics, student recruitment and college experience, Charlotte College's relationship with other universities and colleges in North Carolina, Cone's involvement in other organizations, and the development of Carver College and later Central Piedmont Community College. Interview 7 focuses on Bonnie Cone's childhood, youth, and early adult life.

Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 6, 1987 December 1
In this first of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone discusses the early years of what eventually became the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She describes the origins of the Charlotte College Center in the mid-1940s with its 274 veteran students, one of whom was a woman, and how, later, Charlotte College and Carver College made up the Charlotte Community College System. Ms. Cone relates how she came to be involved with the center as a teacher and subsequently as its director, following the directorship of Charlie Bernard. She recalls particular students and relates what they went on to do after graduation; discusses long-time faculty members Mary Denny, Pierre Macy, Edyth Winningham, and Herbert Hechenbleikner; and explains the contributions of men like Elmer Garinger, Woody Kennedy, Murrey Atkins, and Governor Dan Moore to the development of the college. Ms. Cone describes the process of achieving sufficient funding for the Charlotte Community College System, the process of passing state legislation to make Charlotte College the fourth campus of the University of North Carolina System, and the process of purchasing the land that is now the site of UNC Charlotte. Other topics include the first black students at Charlotte College, the relationship between Charlotte College and Central High School, which initially shared a campus, as well as Ms. Cone's work during World War II and her feelings regarding being a woman in a prominent leadership role.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 7, 1987 December 8
In this second of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone reflects on her childhood, youth, and early adult years. She discusses life in the early twentieth century in Lodge, South Carolina, recalling her family life, pastimes, friendships, chores, memories of playing and teaching piano, and attending school. She describes her childhood home, family gatherings, and the role the church played in her family's life. She recollects her college experience at Coker College as well as memorable teachers from both high school and college. Regarding her parents, Ms. Cone reflects on lessons she learned from them, recalls the death of her father and her mother's subsequent move to live with her in Charlotte, and comments on her father's political views on issues of party and race as well as on her own political involvement. She discusses her first teaching jobs out of college in towns like McColl and Gaffney, South Carolina and explains how she came to Charlotte and met and worked for Elmer Garinger at Central High School. Other topics include her graduate studies and teaching at Duke University; her recollections of World War I and the Great Depression; her work at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Washington, D.C. during World War II; and friendships and major influencers in her early adult years. Ms. Cone concludes the interview by describing how the land for the present campus of UNC Charlotte was obtained and why the site was chosen over others.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 8, 1987 December 17
In this third of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone recalls the early history of the university, formerly the Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina (1946-1949) and Charlotte College (1949-1965). In particular, Ms. Cone reflects on the individuals on the Charlotte Center's Advisory Board, which first met in 1947 and was composed of prominent members of the community, including members of the press. She also mentions local groups that supported the college, such as the American Association of University Women and the Altrusa Club. Ms. Cone explains the situation regarding the efforts to survive as a permanent college in 1949 and the resulting accreditation process for the two year junior college. Other topics discussed include the first school mascot; the short-lived football team; the demographics of the student body; Ms. Cone's efforts to raise awareness among high school students of the opportunity available to them through the local college; building the library collection at Charlotte College; and early faculty, such as Herbert Hechenbleikner and Pierre Macy.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 9, 1988 January 28
In this fourth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone discusses the early history of UNC Charlotte, formerly known as the Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina (1946-1949) and as Charlotte College (1949-1965). The discussion focuses on a variety of topics, particularly on the Charlotte Center years, including the relationship between the Charlotte Center and other North Carolina colleges and universities. Cone recalls early faculty members coming to the Charlotte Center from local colleges, Queens and Davidson, and reflects on relations with UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University. Other topics include athletics, the predominance of veterans in the early days of Charlotte College, founding faculty, faculty salaries, the American Association of Junior Colleges, the relationship between the Charlotte Center and state regulators within the university system, and the groundwork that led to the Charlotte Center's becoming a permanent junior college.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 10, 1988 February 4
In this fifth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone discusses the transition from Charlotte Center-UNC to Charlotte College in 1949. She describes the first National Meeting of the American Association of Junior Colleges in California in February 1949 and the impact this had on her career. Ms. Cone also reflects on the difficulties of keeping the Charlotte Center open after the first two years of its existence, tension between the college and state bureaucracy, faculty and staff remuneration, the support of the local press, relations with the engineering department at North Carolina State University, recruitment of students from local high schools, advantages of becoming an independent college in 1949, service to veterans, the establishment of Carver College at Second Ward High School as a parallel college for African American students, and the financial challenges that Charlotte College faced.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 11, 1988 February 9
In this sixth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone describes the search for the current site of UNC Charlotte. In particular she highlights the role of W. A. (Woody) Kennedy, who acted as a booster for the nascent college and played a major role in finding and assessing the various potential sites for Charlotte College. Ms. Cone also describes members of the Board of Advisors, the struggle for the college to stay alive after 1949, the crucial role of local tax levies, and the building of a brick extension to Central High School, which enabled Charlotte College to offer daytime classes.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 12, 1988 February 11
In this seventh of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone discusses her recollections of Charlotte College during the process of becoming a fully realized university in the early 1960s. She focuses on the purchase of the land for Charlotte College, the alternative sites that were considered including the present location of UNC Charlotte, the expansion and accreditation of Charlotte College at the Central High School location in uptown Charlotte, and the student body during the 1950s. Ms. Cone also briefly describes the barn which was on the property that was chosen as the new location for the college, the lack of water on the Highway 49 campus, and the support that the college had from the Charlotte community, noting in particular the contributions of W. A. (Woody) Kennedy and Thomas Belk.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 13, 1988 March 1
In this eighth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone continues to discuss the importance of 1957 as the year when Charlotte College made significant progress through expansion and successful acquisition of tax levies within Mecklenburg County, allowing the institution to seek accreditation as a community college and to receive state support. Ms. Cone also recalls the history of the Technical Institute, which was part of Charlotte College, the relationship between Charlotte College and Carver College, various significant downtown Charlotte restaurants where business was often conducted by the college's advisory boards, and college life during the 1950s.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 14, 1988 March 3
In this ninth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone recalls the passing of state legislation that transformed Charlotte College into the fourth campus of the University of North Carolina on March 2, 1965. She describes the preparation process to become a university, which involved undergoing the scrutiny of three groups including the State Board of Higher Education, the 99-man Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina, and representative faculty from the three other UNC campuses at the time. Dr. Perzel and Ms. Cone discuss the controversial Rowe vs. Winn trial in which two doctors challenged the building of a separate college campus for the African-American Carver College. Ms. Cone also reminisces about the acquisition of land for UNC Charlotte, including the role of Tom Belk, and early construction on the UNC Charlotte campus.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 15, 1988 March 8
In this tenth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone discusses the transfer of power from the Charlotte School Board to the newly formed Charlotte College Board of Trustees in 1958, with particular reference to the individual members of that board. Ms. Cone also reflects on a wide variety of topics pertaining to college life, including Charlotte College basketball and the first coach Irv Edelman, land purchase for the college, notable students including brain surgeon Steven Mahaley, boosters and financial backers of the college including the Puette family, Oliver Rowe, W. A. (Woody) Kennedy, and Tom Belk, and relations between Charlotte College and Carver College.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 16, 1988 March 15
In this eleventh of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone continues to discuss the development of Charlotte College. She reflects on her relationship with various news reporters, governors of North Carolina, and William Friday, president of the University of North Carolina System. She describes several members of the Charlotte College Board of Trustees as well as two of her secretaries and recalls tax levy and bond issue campaigns to support the college. Other topics include Ms. Cone's handling of press coverage and its effect on donors, the transition of Carver College leadership, Charlotte College's relationship with other colleges and universities, and the engineering program at Charlotte College.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 17, 1988 March 17
In this twelfth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone reflects on a variety of topics relating to the development of Charlotte College. She begins by discussing the creation of the Charlotte College Foundation and several members of its directors. She describes the formation of the United Religious Ministry (URM) on campus and the creation of Loy Witherspoon's faculty position, discusses the unrealized plans to build a facility dedicated to URM use, and shares her feelings about the project. Ms. Cone also recalls working with architects from A. G. Odell's firm on the design of early campus buildings, explains what became of the barn that originally stood on campus, and specifically reflects on the design, naming, and early use of the Kennedy building. Other topics include faculty salaries, composition of an early alma mater by student Bill Reid, tax levies and bond issues, Tom and Irwin Belk, a court case relating to the creation of Carver College, the influence of Governor Sanford and the Carlisle Commission on the future development of Charlotte College, and the process of becoming a four-year, state-supported institution in 1963 and subsequently the fourth campus of the University of North Carolina System in 1965.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 18, 1988 March 24
In this thirteenth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone reflects on a variety of topics concerning Charlotte College and higher education in the Charlotte area. She discusses the creation of Central Piedmont Community College through the merger of the Central Industrial Education Center and Mecklenburg College (previously known as Carver College). She shares the stories of how Charlotte College received and dedicated the bell, conducted book and plant drives, and worked to get out the vote in a tax levy election. Ms. Cone also reflects on numerous honorary degrees and awards she received and on being elected president of the North Carolina College Conference. Other topics include early opposition to fraternities on campus, the North Carolina governor's Carlisle Commission, and specific individuals such as basketball coach Irv Edelman, secretary John Kennedy, and reporters that covered Charlotte College including Harry Golden and Charles Kuralt.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 19, 1988 April 5
In this fourteenth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone returns to the topics of the bond issues and tax levy elections to support Charlotte College; site selection for the present campus; selection of an architect for the campus buildings and working on building design; her early interest in teaching and time at Coker College; the Charlotte Industrial Education Center, Mecklenburg College, and Central Piedmont Community College; and the Charlotte College engineering program, supported by Duke University and North Carolina State University. She and Dr. Perzel also discuss Fred Alexander, the NAACP, and attitudes toward integration during the late 1950s, and Ms. Cone reflects on racial tensions on campus in the early 1960s, mentioning students Ben Chavis and T. J. Reddy. She also recalls her relationship with student Harold Pulley, describes various politicians and businessmen who were friends of the college, and concludes by briefly discussing the school colors and mascot.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 20, 1988 April 19
In this fifteenth of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone begins by discussing her class reunion at Coker College and her involvement as an alumna. She briefly recalls her first vote for president of the United States and the effects of the Great Depression as well as behavioral guidelines that were in place for public school teachers in that era. Ms. Cone describes her fundraising efforts for UNC Charlotte, including methods of raising support for the university, the creation of Friends of UNCC, and specific donors, such as Alice Tate, Sanford Davenport, and Harry Dalton. She concludes the interview by commenting on building her house near the UNC Charlotte campus and expressing her enjoyment of living there.
Bonnie E. Cone oral history interview 21, 1988 May 3
In this sixteenth and final of a series of interviews conducted by Dr. Ed Perzel (former Chair of the Department of History and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UNC Charlotte), Bonnie Cone continues to discuss the history of UNC Charlotte. She tells the story of Mary Alexander's gift of land to Charlotte College and returns to the topics of the Owls and 49ers mascots as well as one of the tax levy elections to support the school. Ms. Cone describes the contributions of Bill Mitchell to the honors and awards program at the institution and recalls recruiting staff and faculty, including librarian Jim Ramer, professors Sherman Burson and Robert Rieke, Sam Simono to found the Counseling Center, Don MacKay, and others. She shares her evaluation of Robert Rieke's history of UNC Charlotte and how her recollection of certain events differs from what is depicted in his book. She briefly mentions the political climate relating to East Carolina University and working with administrative staff members within the University of North Carolina System. Ms. Cone concludes by reflecting on the purpose of UNC Charlotte and the role of innovation in its mission.