Don't take MY word for it...
Oral History
Administrative documents are central to my research, but nothing beats a good story. I've tracked down three former participants and listened to them recount their memories of the Experiment.
Sam Stone
Samuel Stone and his wife Bonnie were the "married couple" that was to supervise students in the Experiment. He completed his undergraduate degree at Duke in 1959, and enrolled in the Duke Divinity School the following fall. Stone found the Divinity School community to be a progressive space, and it is here that he found the Experiment.
Listen to him recount stories of Edgemont slumlords, pacifism, hot dogs in a bag, and an unfortunate character named Frankie.
Curt Lauber
Curt Lauber was recruited to Duke as a soccer player from 1963 to 1967. In his junior year, his off-campus apartment lease was running out. His roommate, who was actively involved in the Church, suggested that they apply to live in Edgemont. During the "cursory" application process, Lauber had a hard time articulating his purpose in applying. However, as an undergraduate, he was involved in civil rights demonstrations and even went to Ku Klux Klan rallies to observe. He aspired to become a teacher (which he did for 16 years) and figured the Experiment would be good on a resume.
Glenn Dorsey
Glenn Dorsey participated in Edgemont in his last 2 years of college, which also happened to be the last years of the Experiment itself.
Listen to him recount the "exciting" political turmoil of his undergraduate years, and the fraternal spirit of the Edgemont Experiment cohort.