Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Denise Gause oral history

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Transcription: Patience Kramer 0:00 Thank you. Today is July 7 2022. My name is Patience Kramer and today as part of the Wilmette Historical Museum's oral history project, I'm speaking with Denise Gause. Denise attended Business School here in Wilmette in the 1970s. Denise, you know, let's begin at the beginning. Oh, where did you grow up was it around here? Denise Gause 0:28 Evanston, Evanston. Yes. Patience Kramer 0:31 And you went to school there. Denise Gause 0:33 Yes. Patience Kramer 0:35 What schools did you go to? Denise Gause 0:38 I went to Nicole Smith, middle school, and Evanston Township High School. Prior to Nichols, I went to Central School, which is on Main Street. Now that school has changed, but it was Nichols I mean, Central School when I was in elementary. Patience Kramer 1:00 You know, when you were a kid in Evanston, did you have any thoughts about what you would be when you grow up? Denise Gause 1:07 Well, not really. I really, when I was younger, because it was just my brother and I, I wanted to have a big family. I always said I wanted to have a big family. But I didn't, I wound up having two sons. And I got pregnant in high school. So I was I dropped out in the 11th grade, which was a big disappointment to myself and my family. I was raised by my aunt. And I was just kind of disappointed and a little depressed when I became pregnant and had a baby out of wedlock. So I was at home taking care of my son, and Brenda call me because she had entered the school before I and she called me and said, was talking me into coming. And at first I didn't want to come I said no, no, I you know, I think I was just having a pity party and didn't want to come and finally she got through to me and I joined her at First Business College of Wilmette [First Business & Professional School of Wilmette, located at 1150 Wilmette Avenue]. Patience Kramer 2:25 first business college. Okay, so now that would be Brenda Harris. Denise Gause 2:30 Yes. Patience Kramer 2:30 That would be Brenda Harmon at the time, I think. Denise Gause 2:32 Yes. We've been friends for years. Yes. Patience Kramer 2:35 Oh, that's wonderful. So she encouraged you to attend? Denise Gause 2:39 Yes. Patience Kramer 2:41 Well, when did you start at the school? Denise Gause 2:44 It was in the year 1972 and October. Patience Kramer 2:48 Okay.Where was it located in Wilmette? Denise Gause 2:53 It was on I believe was 1150. Wilmette Avenue. That was the address. Patience Kramer 2:58 Okay. So did you take the El or? Denise Gause 3:04 I did, but sometimes I was riding a bus as a bus aide to earn, you know, money. And so sometimes I would get dropped off with the bus that I was riding for, for the schools, different schools in Evanston at that time. And sometimes I took the train also, I would always have to take the train home. But sometimes I would get dropped off by the bus, the school bus. Okay. And when I got to the first business college of Wilmette, I was introduced to Eileen O'Gara and her family, which these are remarkable people. I mean, they took the, they took a very depressed young lady and just gave me so much confidence. Patience Kramer 4:01 Oh, that's wonderful. Denise Gause 4:03 Yeah. And she was the kind of instructor that didn't take no for an answer, you know, and I can't do this. No, she would be like, No, you're gonna do it, you can do it. And I did. The program was a very big success for myself. I took typing well, I had typing before that but she brought up my speed with no errors. And I also took Gregg shorthand when I was there, and that was very difficult. But again, Mrs. O'Gara didn't take no for an answer. And it turned out to be a great school for me and encouragement. When I finished they helped me do to do a resume that I used, and I think that resume opened many doors after that for me Patience Kramer 5:03 did was it a family run school? Denise Gause 5:06 Yes. Patience Kramer 5:07 And it was Eileen, how do I spell her last name? Denise Gause 5:11 O'Gara It was O G. I want to say EA R or was it? G A R O, okay. That's it. But it was run with her, her husband and her daughter. She had a daughter named Molly. Molly O'Gara. And they were all very, very nice people. Patience Kramer 5:41 How long was the curriculum? It was nine months, a year, two years? Denise Gause 5:46 It was nine months, nine months. Patience Kramer 5:48 And did you get a certificate after? Denise Gause 5:51 Yes, I can I find it No, no. But yes. Patience Kramer 5:56 So they she helped you Eileen helped you put your resume together? Denise Gause 6:00 Yes. And when I left that program, I My first job was Evanston bank, Evanston National Bank, which I first national, let me get their name correct. First National Bank of Evanston which is no longer there. But I worked there for five years. When I left there, I went to Shand Morahan, which is an insurance company. They insure professions, like lawyers, and doctors, architects. Anyone with a profession where they could be sued, we did insurance policies, and I typed insurance policies there. I worked there for 10 years. And when I left there, I went to work for the school district in Evanston where I retired. And I was there 27 years. Patience Kramer 7:01 Oh, boy, what did you do with the school district? Denise Gause 7:05 I worked in the Special Services Department. And we did I typed student files, student reports, like social histories, psychological, speech reports. Any reports that needed to be done for a special needs child that, you know, they needed to have a starting date and an end date. So that report would give you what the needs of the child and then at the end would be the accomplishments that the child makes. Patience Kramer 7:41 It sounds like you had a lot on your plate, just school and managing a child. Denise Gause 7:47 Yeah. Yeah. Well, you had to definitely be very confidential, because I grew up in Evanston. So of course, I knew some of the families but, you know, you had to be very, very confidential, there's no way you mentioned any of the information I may have typed or saw. It could never be. And, you know, they informed me that when I got hired, you know, information was truly, you know, confidential, any problems that children may have had or were having. Patience Kramer 8:26 So you stayed with this Evanston school district until retirement? Denise Gause 8:30 Yes. Patience Kramer 8:31 Okay. You know, it sounds like you got a really good start. Denise Gause 8:35 Absolutely. Patience Kramer 8:36 Going, going to the business school. And yeah, you know, I'm, Denise Gause 8:42 I met some really good people it was, it was the staff and the people that ran the school, they cared about the students, and they cared about you as a person. And that made a world of difference for me. Because my self esteem was rather low when I walked in, Patience Kramer 9:05 how many people were in your classes? Do you recall? Denise Gause 9:09 Well, the classes when I was there as about two or three, they weren't very large. Yeah. Patience Kramer 9:18 But that means you get really, really individual instruction too Denise Gause 9:22 absolutely. And I got that. Patience Kramer 9:26 Have you been able to maintain contact with any of the O'Gara family? Denise Gause 9:31 Well, when when I was at the bank, they contacted me because they were going to do a brochure and they wanted pictures of myself and my [aunt] and they came out to visit me and took pictures. And that was my last contact with O'Gara's, you know, I heard about their success because I believe they had an office that moved to Evanston from Wilmette and And I heard that they had great success there. But I haven't spoken to anyone that family. Would love to,you know, but I think I heard that Mrs. O'Gara has passed on Patience Kramer 10:19 it sounds like you've also made some friends at the school. Denise Gause 10:23 Absolutely, yes Patience Kramer 10:28 Have you been able to keep those friendships? Denise Gause 10:31 No, I, you know, once I was off working, and I don't I don't have any relationships that are, you know, I don't remember speaking to anybody really after that brochure. I don't recall talking to anyone after that. Patience Kramer 10:56 Now that you're retired? What are you doing? How are you filling your days? And do you have other plans? Denise Gause 11:04 Well, I'm reading, and I'm possibly going to go back to school for billing and coding. And I was thinking that I could do that on a part time basis. Just to get me up and out of the house. Patience Kramer 11:25 You know, Denise Gause 11:26 and again, and again, and again, my friend Brenda has talked me into the going there, because she's she's currently going. And the classes can be done online. So I'm pretty sure I'm gonna take that up and do that. It may be a little challenge, but I'm up for it. Yeah. Yeah. Patience Kramer 11:51 It sounds like your experience just really gave you a start in life. Denise Gause 11:56 It did. It really did. Patience Kramer 11:59 What would you say to a kid who's in high school now? And betwixt and between? Maybe they're not sure about college, not sure what they really want to do when they get out? Or if they even want to stick with it? What would you say to them? Denise Gause 12:17 To really look within yourself. And the strength is there is what I'm saying. And you have to know your own growth and, and, excuse me, your own growth and accomplishments, you know, so. And I think you'd have to really believe that there's so much you can do, but you have to be interested in learning, you know, and sometimes you can get in a rut and not want to, but you have to push yourself. I really believe in pushing yourself to succeed when when it's needed. And don't ever give up. Don't Don't ever give up. Patience Kramer 13:18 Did you use that attitude in raising your boys? Denise Gause 13:21 Oh, absolutely. I wanted [Ned] to join the Navy and came out of the Navy but he graduated from high school. And he married his childhood [unintelligible] and in [unintelligible] five years. On my other son is currently working with a special needs [unintelligible] doctors. But I don't ever except [unintelligible] from either one. I was tell them you push, push until you succeed. Yeah. Patience Kramer 14:07 Is there anything we haven't talked about with relation to the Business College or what happened after you entered the business college that you want to bring up? Denise Gause 14:21 Well, I just think the college took my self esteem from the basement to the high higher heights. I just I don't know how to explain how low it was where I felt I was, you know was at but when I finished and if you constantly have someone telling you you can do it, you can do it and I did. And when I got hired at my first job I was like, Oh, this is pretty remarkable and and I don't know, it just opened doors for me being affiliated with the first business college of Wilmette. It opened doors and then from there I you know, it was on me my personality, to be a team player and to be willing to learn and listen and which I did along the way. I wish any child that maybe dropped out of school would run into a family like that, or program like that.Because sometimes it's needed just to bring your self esteem up. You know, when you're thinking that you're not accomplishing much, and there's nothing for you to do but fail. You just need that just extra push to say, yes you can and get it done. Patience Kramer 16:14 Sometimes, sometimes, I would [unintelligible] Denise Gause 16:20 That's it and Mrs. O'Gara was that person for me. I remember she took my tuition and adjusted it to what I could afford to pay. Again, I had never ran into anybody like that that wouldn't say, Well, you know, our tuition is 3000. And that's what you'll have to pay. She looked at me differently. And gave me an opportunity. And I took it and ran. Patience Kramer 16:53 That's fantastic. Was the tuition actually 3000 at that point? Denise Gause 16:59 I'm not sure because I can't remember what it was. I just know that I didn't pay what everyone else was paying. My tuition was not nearly what the course called for. I don't remember to be honest with you. But it was less than what what the programs were. In Evanston, I think it was Sawyer Business College. I want to say it may have been around the same tuition, possibly. But mines was suggested. Patience Kramer 17:36 Oh, that's really another act of kindness. Denise Gause 17:40 Oh, beautiful people. I can't say enough about that family. I really can't. Patience Kramer 17:47 Did the tuition to include your books and materials? Or did you have to? Denise Gause 17:51 no Patience Kramer 17:53 It didn't? Denise Gause 17:53 no. Yes. Yes. It just they just weren't wonderful people. And you don't meet meet many people like that. So it's an experience for me that changed my life. And I'll never forget them. Never.And sometimes when you have people that do things like that, it's like, you pay for it. Because then that makes me want to help young people. If I can encourage young people and let them know you, you're not defeated. Patience Kramer 18:43 Have you been able to do that along the way? Denise Gause 18:47 Yes. Yes. And I would encourage any young lady that may have gotten pregnant in school and dropped out to pick yourself up and keep going. Don't let that stop you. Patience Kramer 19:09 Yeah. Well, Denise, do you have anything more that you would like to add? Denise Gause 19:14 All I can say is that it, That's a wonderful family. If you could meet any of them just know it's going to be a treat. There are they are beautiful people. The O'Gara family. Patience Kramer 19:35 Well, and you did and are doing very well with the boosts they gave you. Denise Gause 19:42 Absolutely. Patience Kramer 19:43 This has really been such a pleasure, Denise. I wish you well with your coding courses. Denise Gause 19:53 Okay. Thank you. Patience Kramer 19:54 Great opportunity. Yes. And thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Denise Gause 20:03 Okay.You're very You're very welcome. I'm pleased to do it. Patience Kramer 20:08 Thank you. Good afternoon now. Denise Gause 20:13 Okay. Thanks to you. Thank you. Bye. Bye bye
Creators: Gause, Denise, Interviewee; Kramer, Patience
, Interviewer
Media Type: Audio; Text
Item Type: Sound recordings
Description: Interview with Denise Gause by Patience Kramer in Wilmette, Illinois, on July 7, 2022. Brenda discusses her experience as one of the first African American students at the First School of Business of Wilmette in October 1972.
Place of Publication: Wilmette, Illinois
Date of Original: 7 July 2022
Playing Time: 20:21
Subject(s): Oral histories
Wilmette (Ill.)--History
Personal Name(s): Gause, Denise ; O'Gara, Thomas ; O'Gara, Molly ; O'Gara, Eileen
Corporate Name(s): First National Bank of Evanston ; First School of Business of Wilmette ; First Business & Professional School of Wilmette
Language of Item: English
Copyright Statement: Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copyright Date: 2022
Copyright Holder: Wilmette Historical Museum and Wilmette Public Library
Contact: Wilmette Public Library
Email:refdesk@wilmettelibrary.info
Website:
https://www.wilmettelibrary.info/

Agency street/mail address:
1242 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, IL
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