The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.
Dr. Mabel Myers was interviewed by Anne Riley for the Fullerton College Oral History Program in 1975. Myers attended Fullerton College, graduating in 1919. She returned to the college in 1926 and taught science, geology, and nursing courses, until 1946 when she went to San Diego State University to teach. While teaching at Fullerton College she organized the geology club, which became known as the Prospector’s Club.
Two major topics in the interview are the activities of the Geology Club, and a major administrative shake-up that led to Louis Plummer and other faculty either being fired or resigning around 1940.
On the Geology Club…
Myers started the Geology Club in 1933 with eight students. They would go on field trips to areas to inspect the rocks, fossils, and Indian artifacts.
Some of their findings were donated to the school, along with a scrapbook that Myers kept. Below are some photos from the scrapbook, courtesy of the Fullerton College online archives:
On the administrative shake-up…
Myers doesn’t give a full explanation of what went on; however, she says that it was Harold Hale, a prominent local rancher and school board member who, for unknown reasons [possibly a grudge], “was the one who did his best to get rid of Plummer, and also [William] Boyce.”
Prior to Plummer leaving, he was “put over in another little office while [Frederick] Chemberlen [a new superintendent] took over.”
Myers remembers that “We weren’t supposed to…even talk to Mr. Plummer.”
Although she is careful not to criticize Plummer too much, Myers states that his administrative style was one that required a kind of subservience and loyalty.
“There was quite a bit of feeling on the part of some, that, as much as they thought of Mr. Plummer, they felt that…he resented anything on the part of teachers which would sound as if they didn’t feel he should be the representative,” Myers said. “Superintendents in that day and age were that paternal kind…He said to me one time, ‘Mabel, I didn’t think that you would go to the Board. I didn’t think you would treat me that way.’ And I just was so surprised I couldn’t believe it.”
According to Myers, although it “was really an awful experience…it does show…that gradually the ones most concerned in any organization, like a group of teachers, should have something to do with it. Should have some way to make contact other than, ‘Papa, can I do this?’”
Eventually, the teachers organized into the Secondary Teachers Organization to advocate for their interests before the Board. Myers was its first president.
Fullerton History 
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