Miglionico-Cruse Interview, excerpt from page 9 of transcript Miglionico: All I remember is that it was a very peaceful time and that you were intimidated by your teachers. You weren't buddy buddies. And I don't remember anybody being sent to the principal’s office when you were in college. I do remember that discipline was not a problem. I mean, you were there to learn. Cruse: That was still part of the depression. In fact, it was very much the depression. They had to be serious if they were there. Miglionico: That's right. It cost money to go, so you went to learn. Life was earnest. Cruse: Was it hard for your parents to send you? Financially, I mean? Miglionico: Not really. Cruse: You see, it was for me. I had to drop out after my freshman year. Miglionico: No. I don't think we ever had a money problem. I know that Daddy borrowed money to send me to law school. But that was because he had to spend about $10,000 helping his brother. He had gotten over-mortgaged on his property and so Daddy gave him some money. You know, I can remember Mother and Daddy fussing about it. Cruse: Is there just your brother and you? Miglionico: Uh huh. And also I remember it because he came home and said that General Persons had said, "You go home and think about this loan because you ought not to borrow money to send a girl to law school." And Daddy is reputed to have said, "Well General, I'm going to get the money because if I leave her money, somebody will take it away from her, but if I give her an education, nobody can take it away from her." Cruse: What a marvelous thing! Miglionico: Well, he and Mother were always partners. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to go to law school until after I got there. Source: Miglionico, Nina. Oral History, ARH 169 Special Collection, Samford University Library. Interview with Irma Cruse (cassette tape). Transcript (23 pages) with contents page. Recorded by Cruse in Birmingham, Alabama, 1985. SUMMARY: Nina Miglionico discusses her experiences as a student at Howard College in the first half of the twentieth century.