    {"id":5351,"date":"2015-10-23T15:07:36","date_gmt":"2015-10-23T20:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=5351"},"modified":"2015-10-23T15:13:59","modified_gmt":"2015-10-23T20:13:59","slug":"oral-history-interview-with-mr-robert-flanagan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=5351","title":{"rendered":"Oral History Interview with Mr. Robert Flanagan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The George Mason University Oral History Program staff conducted an interview with Mason alumnus, Robert Flanagan (BIS, 1979 and MFA, 1983) on Wednesday, October 14th, 2015. The interview took place in Mason&#8217;s Gateway Library at the One-Button Studio in the Johnson Center. The interview focused mainly on his experiences as a nontraditional student (he began his undergraduate work at age 41 after 23 years in the military), Mason&#8217;s growth and change during the late 1970&#8217;s and early 1980&#8217;s, and his affiliation with Master of Fine Arts-Creative Writing Program at George Mason, from which Mr. Flanagan was the first graduate. The interview also included his memories of the small but growing student facilities, Dr. George W. Johnson&#8217;s presidency, and Mr. Flanagan&#8217;s recent work as a columnist for<em> The Hampshire Review<\/em> in Romney, West Virginia and his trilogy of novels from a journal of his time as a soldier in Vietnam titled <em>The A.S.A. Trilogy. <\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5368\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5368\" data-attachment-id=\"5368\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?attachment_id=5368\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post.jpg?fit=3663%2C2553&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3663,2553\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"flanagan blog post\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post.jpg?fit=240%2C167&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post.jpg?fit=300%2C209&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5368 \" alt=\"flanagan blog post\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post-240x167.jpg?resize=240%2C167\" width=\"240\" height=\"167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post.jpg?resize=240%2C167&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post.jpg?resize=300%2C209&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post.jpg?resize=695%2C484&amp;ssl=1 695w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post.jpg?w=1800&amp;ssl=1 1800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/flanagan-blog-post.jpg?w=2700&amp;ssl=1 2700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5368\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mr. Robert Flanagan at Gateway Library&#8217;s One-Button Studio<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The interview is available for viewing in the Libraries&#8217; <a href=\"http:\/\/sca.gmu.edu\">Special Collections &amp; Archives<\/a> department. For more information about the University Libraries&#8217; George Mason University Oral History Program, please visit the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/sca.gmu.edu\/oral.php\">program&#8217;s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The George Mason University Oral History Program staff conducted an interview with Mason alumnus, Robert Flanagan (BIS, 1979 and MFA, 1983) on Wednesday, October 14th, 2015. The interview took place in Mason&#8217;s Gateway Library at the One-Button Studio in the Johnson Center. The interview focused mainly on his experiences as a nontraditional student (he began [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[272,104,5,121,94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gmu-fairfax-campus","category-oral-history","category-scrc-interest","category-scrc-picks","category-university-archives"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Ep5i-1oj","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11392,"url":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=11392","url_meta":{"origin":5351,"position":0},"title":"Not Just the Guy Whose Name Was on the Checks: Remembering Dr. Maurice &#8220;Morrie&#8221; Scherrens","author":"Bob Vay","date":"April 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Back in the 1990s, before the age of direct payroll deposit, George Mason University employees received a printed check at the end of each pay period. In the lower right-hand corner of the check was the signature \"Maurice Scherrens\".\u00a0 While many of us might not have known exactly who Mr.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;George Mason University History&quot;","block_context":{"text":"George Mason University History","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?cat=529"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/R0135_1996-9-05.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/R0135_1996-9-05.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/R0135_1996-9-05.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/R0135_1996-9-05.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6664,"url":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=6664","url_meta":{"origin":5351,"position":1},"title":"Let&#8217;s Get Technical! Recording Oral Histories at SCRC","author":"admin","date":"June 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The George Mason University Oral History Program has come a long way since its inception in 1999, undergoing important developments in terms of recording and editing interviews. From 1999 until 2004, oral history interviews were audio only recordings captured on audiocassette. Because there was no dubbing equipment, subjects were not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Fairfax History&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Fairfax History","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?cat=194"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/IMG_5889-e1498239359378.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/IMG_5889-e1498239359378.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/IMG_5889-e1498239359378.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9173,"url":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=9173","url_meta":{"origin":5351,"position":2},"title":"Presidents Series: 2012 \u2013 2020 &#8211; \u00c1ngel Cabrera, Anne Holton, and Looking Forward","author":"Amanda Menjivar","date":"May 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"This post was written by Lana Mason, Processing Student Assistant. Lana has an Associate of Arts degree in Fine Arts from Piedmont Virginia Community College. She is currently studying Art History at George Mason University. Lana was the recipient of the University Libraries Student Assistant Scholarship for the 2018-19 academic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;George Mason University History&quot;","block_context":{"text":"George Mason University History","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?cat=529"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Merten-Hall.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Merten-Hall.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Merten-Hall.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Merten-Hall.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9858,"url":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=9858","url_meta":{"origin":5351,"position":3},"title":"Remembering A. Linwood Holton, Jr.","author":"Bob Vay","date":"October 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"On Friday April 7, 1972, a group from George Mason College, led by Chancellor Lorin A. Thompson, met with Virginia Governor, A. Linwood Holton, Jr. at his office in Richmond. They were there to witness the Governor\u2019s signing into law Virginia General Assembly Bill H 210 separating George Mason College\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;George Mason University History&quot;","block_context":{"text":"George Mason University History","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?cat=529"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Holton_gov_conf-scaled.jpg?fit=966%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Holton_gov_conf-scaled.jpg?fit=966%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Holton_gov_conf-scaled.jpg?fit=966%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Holton_gov_conf-scaled.jpg?fit=966%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7604,"url":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=7604","url_meta":{"origin":5351,"position":4},"title":"New Exhibit in SCRC  First Class: Mason &#8217;68 and Beyond","author":"Bob Vay","date":"June 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"On June 9, 1968 George Mason College of the University of Virginia awarded its first baccalaureate degrees to 52 candidates. Prior to that George Mason, then part of the University of Virginia's system of branch\u00a0 colleges, awarded only a two-year associate degree.\u00a0 Attendees were encouraged to complete their degree at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;exhibits&quot;","block_context":{"text":"exhibits","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/First-ClassMason68.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8744,"url":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=8744","url_meta":{"origin":5351,"position":5},"title":"Interview with Dr. \u00c1ngel Cabrera","author":"Bob Vay","date":"August 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Dr. \u00c1ngel Cabrera participates in an oral history interview at the Special Collections Research Center, June 19, 2019. On June 19 former George Mason University president Dr. \u00c1ngel Cabrera sat down with Special Collections Research Center staff to record his recollections of seven years of service to the university. During\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;George Mason University History&quot;","block_context":{"text":"George Mason University History","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?cat=529"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Cabrera_OH.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Cabrera_OH.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Cabrera_OH.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Cabrera_OH.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vault217.gmu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Cabrera_OH.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5351"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5376,"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5351\/revisions\/5376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}