Genealogy and Ancestor Information, and Personal Memories
of Audrey Doris Jackson Kuhn and Robert Lundquist Kuhn


Memories of Robert Lundquist Kuhn

1937 - 1940

When I entered the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1937, I never dreamed the woman I would marry some day would be a classmate of mine. Although there were ten women in my class, it was soon clear which young lady was number one. Her name was Audrey Jackson. At least in my eyes, I thought Audrey was beautiful, vivacious and intelligent. She also was very popular. I was so busy with my studies there did not seem to be time for dating. I later learned Audrey also had her eye on me. I guess the chemistry between us developed slowly but permanently because we are enjoying a long, incredible marriage. 

Audrey and I were following the steps of our fathers who preceded us in the field of pharmacy. Her father had a drug store in Minneapolis on the corner of Chicago Avenue and 41st Street. My father had a drug store in Red Wing on the corner of Bush and Main Streets. 

It was not until our senior year that Audrey and I began dating. Early in 1940, we went bowling, to some shows at the movie theatre and attended Gopher basketball and hockey games. About that time, she was my dinner guest at the fraternity house. 

On March 27, 1940, Audrey and I joined many of our classmates on a train trip to Detroit to tour the facilities of Parke, Davis and Company, at that time, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the country. Our group spent three nights in Detroit. Audrey and I were impressed with the many, research and manufacturing facilities. During our spare time, Audrey and I went bowling, and on another occasion, we attended a dance. 

When our group departed from Detroit on the fourth day to return to Minneapolis, Audrey and I elected to detrain in Chicago that noon. We found two rooms available at the YMCA. Audrey and I spent that afternoon and the following morning visiting the Field Museum, Planetarium and Aquarium. That evening we arrived back in Minneapolis. 

In early April, Audrey came home with me to spend the weekend in Red Wing and meet my parents and family.

We enjoyed playing tennis when warn spring days arrived. Audrey and I were surprised how fast the time passed. It was soon time to study for our final exams, followed by commencement.

Audrey and I graduated in June, 1940, from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy. Audrey was twenty and I was twenty-three. Soon after our graduation, the College of Pharmacy offered a Pharm-D degree in a five year program. A graduate pharmacist was required to have one year of practical experience before taking the State Board examinations. Since both Audrey and I qualified, our next priority was to study for the State Board examinations to be given in July. 

I had heard of graduate pharmacists taking the State Board exam two or three times before passing them. One exam consisted of a written exam covering our four years of studies in the college of Pharmacy. The second exam was a practical exam. In this exam, they would give us a number of prescriptions to fill. Everyone would be apprehensive of this exam because one of more of the prescriptions would either have an overdose or there would be a problem in compounding the prescription. This would require the use of an additional substance to correctly compound the preparation, especially if a lotion for eternal use. 

During the week before the exams, I went to Minneapolis and stayed with Audrey and her parents. I slept in the basement which was nice and cool. Audrey and I studied diligently every day. We had so many papers to review. We went over and over some of the more important papers.

Audrey and I were overjoyed when notified we had passed both of the exams. We had correctly filled the two prescriptions which had to be modified. A short time later, we received our State License to practice as a registered pharmacist.

Audrey began working as a pharmacist for her father at Jackson Pharmacy, 41st and Chicago in Minneapolis. I began working as a pharmacist for my father at Kuhn’s Drug Store, corner Main and Bush Sts in Red Wing. 

I was usually off Tuesday afternoons and evening. I would drive to Minneapolis that afternoon in my new Pontiac car. I would have time to spend much of the afternoon and the evening with my darling, Audrey. Sometimes I would have a box of Garrots milk chocolates for Audrey. I did not learn until after we were married that Audrey did not like milk chocolates, but her mother did. So I must have made an impression with my mother-in-law to be.

Audrey had a problem with migraine headaches. She tried her best to enjoy our time together. On occasion, she would be too sick for part of my visit and have to lie down. Then I would play cards or a game with her mother. 

It would become quite late some of those nights before I returned home. On one of those late trips home, I remember a scary experience. The highway at that time was only two lanes. A semi truck, about a quarter mile ahead was approaching. Seconds later, there was no truck. I had started to doze off and did not see the truck pass by. That was a great lesson. It never happened again. If I became sleepy I stopped for a time to rest.

 
A Summer on the Farm Fantasy Clouds Parents, home, and youth Parents and siblings
Myself Post High Memories 1937-1940 Aunt Francis

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Information on this web site was researched by
Audrey Doris Jackson Kuhn and Robert Lundquist Kuhn



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