Henry Kritzler, '38 (BardCorps)

Interviewee

Henry Kritzler

Files

Interviewee Role

Alumni/ae/x

Significant Quote

"I have often advised young people in times of economic upheaval--go back to school, sweat it out, and improve yourself until it's over."

Class Year

1938

Academic Program

Division of Science, Mathematics, and Computing; Biology

Other Program

Biology Major

Interviewer

Don Moore, '67

Description

Henry Kritzler came to Bard in 1934, after studying art at the Pratt Institute, as an “act of desperation" in order to avoid the economic hardships of the Depression. At Bard he studied biology rigorously for four years; after later receiving his Ph.D from Iowa University he returned to Bard to teach from 1961-66. Speaking of his time as a student, Kritzler recalls in depth the political maneuverings of Bard's professor of biophysics Harold Mestre who, with the help of a board member, ousted Tewksbury from the presidency. Kritzler remembers being part of a group of students who went to visit Tewksbury to get the story of why he left. Upon returning to campus the group started a student riot against Mestre, who succeeded Tewksbury. He describes his full load of studies in addition to working six part-time jobs; the days of mandatory chapel; and the reptilian, "loathsome looking [students] lolling around" who nevertheless had great academic potential. In later years, Kritzler excelled as a professor of biology at Bard, while simultaneously indulging his artistic inclinations through paintings of the campus and Hudson Valley. These paintings were later auctioned off to members of the alumni community. Of his many years at Bard, Kritzler says that the college gave him a "great advantage" and that "it was marvelous!"

Henry Kritzler died in 2002.

Keywords

Vasil Obreshkov, Donald Tewksbury, Frank Somers, Harold Palin, Harold Mestre, Emily Sottery, John Schultz, Charlie McManus '38, Bill Meyer '35, Rev. Dudley Barr, Bruce Perry, Robert Kelly, Stanley Reichell, Richard Clark, Dick Griffiths, William Boast '25, Reamer Kline

Location

Bard College

Interview Date

5-28-2000

Interview Duration

1:02:02

Recommended Citation

Kritzler, Henry, "Henry Kritzler, '38 (BardCorps)" (2015). BardCorps -- All Oral Histories. 37.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/oral_hist/37

Rights Management

The use of any image or audio from the Bard College Archives without permission is prohibited.