Sutherland's most memorable experiences are from the days when the Coop cashed personal checks like a bank, and she was head cashier. She says she met many famous students over the years, including the Kennedys and the sons of other famous politicians.

On one occasion, Sutherland recalls that a Massachusetts' governor's son "sent his piano tuner to me with a check written out on an ordinary piece of paper." Although "now you couldn't do that" the Coop cashier says she cashed it anyway and "gave him the money."

Of her more than 10,000 working days at the Coop, one in particular stands out in Sutherland's memory, the day the Coop was held up for $50,000. Brinks Company had just delivered the large sum of money needed for the store's check cashing service. Suddenly, employees and customers thought a fire had broken out. But, Sutherland explains, it was really the robbers throwing smoke bombs throughout the store.

Sutherland and the other employees were unaware that a robbery was taking place. When "One of the robbers just picked up the bag [which was at Sutherland's feet] and ran out," Sutherland thought it was a Harvard prank.

The robbers were eventually caught and the money returned. She says she loves the Coop, and is happy working there. "Fifty years is a long time," she says. "If I didn't like it, I wouldn't have stayed."

Sutherland notes that working conditions at the Coop have improved over the years. "The Coop has always been busy, but when I first started, we didn't have a coffee break or a day off," she says, noting that she had only one afternoon off a week. "Now, we have better hours, and there are better employee policies."

Sutherland feels that Harvard Square has been transformed into "a different world." She says students seem to buy more now, "and they seem more interested in art and in having things."

Keep 'Em Cummings

A relative newcomer, Helen Cummings celebrated her fiftieth anniversary at the Coop this fall. Cummings was originally hired for two weeks at the Business School Coop at a time when "you were lucky to get work anywhere." Two weeks have become fifty years and, Cummings says, "Time has slipped away."

The stationary department employee says she enjoys working with Harvard students at the Harvard Square Coop, as "youth is wonderful." But, she dislikes the change in their outlook over the years. "Back in '37, [a Harvard student] was a man with a look to the future. Today, the same young man knows he is the future," Cummings says.

Not only have the people changed, but their clothes have as well. "Individual expression is the mode now," Cummings says, nothing that clothing styles have evolved from grey flannels, white shirts, red ties, and blazers, to "you name it."

She has seen Harvard Square become a testing ground for fashion; "If you don't see it in Harvard Square, you won't see it." She believes Harvard Square has other merits: "You stand on the street corner in Harvard Square, and you are educated if you want it or not."

Even merchandise for sale at the Coop has changed. "Once students came in to buy an apple, and I sent them to the fruit stand. Today, I send them to the computer department," she says. However, not everything changes. According to Cummings,. "where is the restroom?" is still the leading question that employees have to answer.

Cummings says that the Square now changes more with the Christmas season than in the past. "It used to be that only New Englanders and people who lived in-state would go home," she says. "Now people go home to anywhere in the world."

Cummings recalls several interesting people she has met while on the job. One of her "greatest pleasures" was selling a typewriter to Helen Keller. "She came in with Annie Sullivan, and she was the most gracious lady in the world," Cummings says. "She typed me a little note on the typewriter as if she could see every word, and I still have it."