Elizabeth Gaetjens interview, 06 June 2013

Abstract

Betty Gaetjens is resident of Judson Place who has recently celebrated her 100th birthday. She has lived in Cleveland for her entire life, and graduated from Flora Stone Mather College in 1935. She talks about where she grew up and where she went to school. She also remembers going on various trips with her parents and later her husband and two sons. She tells about how she and her husband took their kids to all 50 states and 6 Canadian provinces before they were out of high school. A majority of what Mrs. Gaetjens said revolved around her involvement with the Great Books Organization. A group that got together and read books from the top 100 books, which has its origins in the University of Chicago. When it came to Cleveland, Mrs. Gaetjens joined the organization and eventually she became the leader her group. Often she used her experiences with the Great Books group to discuss her ideas on the importance of education, especially with finding oneself.