Carolyn J. Fink's "Nightingales in the Branches" manuscript, 1955
A Guide to her Papers
Summary Information
Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives
Creator
Fink, Carolyn J. (Carolyn
Judge)
TitleCarolyn J. Fink's "Nightingales in the Branches" manuscript, 1955
Collection No.
C626
Extent
0.1 cubic feet
(1 folder)
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
The collection contains a manuscript of
"Nightingales in the Branches", Carolyn J.
Fink's memoir about life at Indiana University after World War II.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.
Biographical Note
Carolyn Judge Fink attended Indiana University beginning in 1948, graduating in 1952 with her bachelor's
degree. Her husband, John Benson Fink, a veteran of World War II, had come to IU for
his doctorate in Biology, so Carolyn joined him, working when she was not in
classes. John graduated in 1955. While at IU, the couple
lived first in married students' housing, which was converted army barracks, then
moved into a trailer at Hillcrest Trailer Court, and finally to a new apartment at
Hoosier Court Annex.
Arrangement
The collection contains a single manuscript.
Scope and Content Note
The memoir covers all aspects of Fink's life as a student and student's wife at IU in
the post-World War II era. Carolyn and her husband, John, lived first in married
students' dormitories, then in the Hillcrest Trailer Court, and finally at Hoosier
Court Annex. Many of the stories tell about the couple's experiences in their home:
dealing with shared bathrooms, pet cats, a trailer fire, someone spying on others'
wives in their trailers, the heater breaking down on a -14 degree night, cockroach
infestation. Early in the days of the trailer park, there was some question about
whether the area fell within or without the Bloomington city limits. In order to
avoid paying higher in-town taxes, the trailer residents took the opportunity left
by shoddy records to draw the town line where it was most convenient to them.
Fink's other stories relate to trying to cook on a budget, and making some mistakes
along the way: eating cow brains, mistaking a goose for a duck, wormy fish filets,
John requiring Carolyn to finish her Limburger cheese in the bathroom.
Most of the stories center around the community the Finks found at IU. Carolyn
relates stories about shared meals and parties, shared problems and solutions,
shared studies. In addition to gatherings at friends' homes, students spent time at
Nick's Olde English Hut, George's, and the Oaks. Fink expresses appreciation for
Nick especially, noting that "You could not thank Nick, you could not flatter him;
you could just appreciate him, and be sure of getting that big round smile when you
entered."
Although the memoir revolves more around life than being a student, some stories do
relate directly to Carolyn or John's studies. There was a classmate of John's who
was old enough to have grandchildren, but who despite her intelligence and interest
in microbiology, was unable to find a job after obtaining her doctorate because she
was not a young man. Carolyn was continually doubting her decision to pursue her
bachelor's degree, but by the end was considering continuing to a master's. Carolyn
and John took one course together: a math course with a professor who was "a fine
old gentleman who later became famous by writing a history book," and was Carolyn's
favorite professor in any subject.
The memoir ends by reflecting on John's graduation and the eight years the couple
spent at IU.
These personal anecdotes have themes familiar to all students of the era, and to
students more generally: the effects of the GI bill on college demographics,
especially with regards to marriage and the place of students' wives, the hardships
that come from living on a student's budget, and figuring out by trial and error how
to own a house or a car.
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Indexing Terms
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The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
IUCAT, the IU Libraries'
online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by
searching the catalog using these terms.
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Related Material
The Indiana University Press mss. II, at the Lilly Library, also located at Indiana
University, contains correspondence with Carolyn Fink.
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/findingaids/lilly/InU-Li-VAB8976
Related Material
Related photographs may be available in the University Archives Photographs Database:
http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/archivesphotos/
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Accession 1164
Usage RestrictionsThe donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University.
For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.
The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for
non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility
for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials.
Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these
materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.
Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational
and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its
inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Carolyn J. Fink's "Nightingales in the Branches" manuscript, Collection C626, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Processing InformationProcessed by Elizabeth Peters.
Completed in 2016.
Container List
Box 1
Manuscript of "Nightingales in the
Branches,"
circa
1955
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