Da Sweeney
Keywords: Sociology, NYC, Art, Bennington County
Interviewed on 05/17/2018 by Kayt Gochenaur as part of the Oral History Project at Will Rogers.
Dorothy Ann “DA” Sweeney was born in 1936 in Springfeild MA. She graduated from Springfield Classical high school and went to Middlebury College, where she majored in Sociology and Anthropology and took “all the art courses”. Her college experience was wonderful. She enjoyed taking the classes she wanted to, and meeting like-minded people. After graduation with her bachelor’s degree, she traveled to NYC to attend Columbia University where she got her masters of science in social work. She held a variety of jobs, as a social worker and as a typist to make ends meet. When she was 25 she moved to Boston where she worked in a group homes for adolescents, an adoption agency, and a home for children. She then moved to Bennington county, where she worked with the United Counseling Service of Bennington County. She then went into private practice in order to spend more time with children, and less time writing grants. Her favorite thing to do was climb a mountain with her dog. She loved living in the Bennington area, and being outside. She never married, but had a full time partner. She says, “At this time her MS symptoms were getting worse, and having a private practice minimized physical strain. She took a class in watercolor paints, and soon started getting serious about pastels. She had a group of friends who painted together every week, even renting a house in Arlington, VA for a weekend of painting. “It was fun,” she said, “we never took it real seriously. But we did it as long as we could.” She sold many of her paintings, but saved her favorites.
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.
Interviewed on 05/17/2018 by Kayt Gochenaur as part of the Oral History Project at Will Rogers.
Dorothy Ann “DA” Sweeney was born in 1936 in Springfeild MA. She graduated from Springfield Classical high school and went to Middlebury College, where she majored in Sociology and Anthropology and took “all the art courses”. Her college experience was wonderful. She enjoyed taking the classes she wanted to, and meeting like-minded people. After graduation with her bachelor’s degree, she traveled to NYC to attend Columbia University where she got her masters of science in social work. She held a variety of jobs, as a social worker and as a typist to make ends meet. When she was 25 she moved to Boston where she worked in a group homes for adolescents, an adoption agency, and a home for children. She then moved to Bennington county, where she worked with the United Counseling Service of Bennington County. She then went into private practice in order to spend more time with children, and less time writing grants. Her favorite thing to do was climb a mountain with her dog. She loved living in the Bennington area, and being outside. She never married, but had a full time partner. She says, “At this time her MS symptoms were getting worse, and having a private practice minimized physical strain. She took a class in watercolor paints, and soon started getting serious about pastels. She had a group of friends who painted together every week, even renting a house in Arlington, VA for a weekend of painting. “It was fun,” she said, “we never took it real seriously. But we did it as long as we could.” She sold many of her paintings, but saved her favorites.
Interview audio may be edited or redacted for clarity and/or privacy. Audio is part of the Oral History Collection at Historic Saranac Lake.