VassarOuarteny - Vassar, the Alumnae/i Quarterly

SPRING 1988
Vassar Ouarteny
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ALUMNAE AND ALUMNI OF VASSAR
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Margaret Lee
’
B9, painting student
COLLEGE
HOLD YOUR
CONFERENCE
AT
Vassar!
Inc.
Lauder
Estee
of
courtesy
Photo
Estee Lauder
sales
Inc., the cosmetics company, held a series of six one-week training conferences for
force during June, July, and August of 1987 on the Vassar campus.
The many organizations which have held meetings
Vassar include the
the IBM
and the
Society for Values
Corporation,
in
their
at
Higher Education,
the National Humanities
Faculty,
Country Day School Headmasters,
Air Conditioned
Superb
Meeting Space
/ Residential Accommodations / Professional Staff
Recreational Facilities / Audio Visual Services / Reasonable Rates
CALL OR WRITE:
Elisabeth Schalk ’63
Office of Summer Programs
& Conferences
Box 77, Vassar
Poughkeepsie,
NY
field
College
12601, 914/452-7000
x2960
CLASS NOTES POSTCARD
“Check it out! That raisin
month
was
we hoofed with last
Mary Jane Pritchard from ’74.”
Turn this tab
for information
Let
hear from you
us
Nevus about class
For the
next
be testing
notes
and
sending
a
two
new
method of
office, well be
into each issue of the
appropriate class
hope that this
the cards
year,
a
back will be mailed
to
collecting class
of address. Instead of
magazine. Four times
readers
Quarterly will
cards from the
binding them
receive
the
years,
changes
out
newsgathering
notes
to
the
correspondents. It’s
process
contribute
our
will encourage
news
we
more
more
often.
Please remember, the information doesn’t
need
to
be
earthshaking
unvarying cheer. We
you’re faring in the
important
write. We
to
you
want
or
want
ways
when
you
marked
that
you
truly
to
by
know how
to
seem
most
sit down
keep
to
in touch.
Salve,
Mindy Aloff ’69, editor
P.S. These cards
can
be mailed
correspondent. For address,
see
directly
to
your
Class Notes.
Vassar Quarterly
VOL. LXXXIV
NO. 2
SPRING
1988
FEATURES
3
A Historical
Overview; The Black
From the turn of the century, when
complex
16
passages of Black students
by college
account
trustee
a
at Vassar
Experience
Black student “passed,” to the
today. A comprehensive and personal
Christmas ’45-4.
June Jackson
Alumnae Voices from South Africa
Three White Americans
discuss why they
were
drawn to the country and
why they stay. By Karen Petersen 76. (Also included:
a
Petersen
photographic portfolio.)
76
Pet rsen
Karen
Position
of the
AAVC
Open: Editor
Vassar
Quarterly
is seeking
Quarterly
to
a
new
editor for the
replace Mindy Aloff ’69, who
is leaving the position in August to
plete several books. The editorship is
coma
full-
time job and involves living in Poughkeepsie
or
within commuting distance. It entails
developing
and
an
annual budget and planning
overseeing the
of four issues
pages
contents and
year of
a
each, with
Views of South Africa:
approximately 64
24
circulation of 28,000.
a
to
resumes
the
are
invited
to
VQ Search
Social Life in the
students nationwide
disease, but what
send their
page 16.
are
Age
are
of AIDS
being educated about this deadly
they learning? A look
at Vassar
by Eric Marcus ’BO.
Committee,
26
Alumnae House, Raymond Avenue, Pough-
keepsie, NY 12601. AAVC is
Campus
College
Candidates with professional writing and
editing experience
see
production
an
equal
The Vassar Connection: Paul Rosenfeld,
’O7,
op-
portunity and affirmative action employer.
and Alfred
Edna
Bryner
Schwab
Stieglitz
Dennis Anderson of the
college
20th-century collection, and
art
at the
gallery
looks at the “291”
wing
of the
collectors who first understood its
aesthetic value.
Upcoming Club Events
32
The
Vassar
Philadelphia
present Sunwood Farm
nual
as
Club
its 22nd
Studio Art Matters
Crafting
a
new
major, by Yona Zeldis McDonough 79
an-
The Show
Designers’ Show House.
House project is
will
Baz
benefit for the club’s scholar-
a
Douglas
ship fund. Sunwood Farm will be open to the
public from May
day
to
Friday, 10
Sunday,
30, 1988. Hours:
to 3 P.M.;
to 4
noon
Wednesday,
7 to
A.M.
and
Saturday and
P.M.; evenings,
Thursday,
Mon-
6 to 9.
Tuesday,
Thirty-five
1923- 4
interior designers, exhibitors, and landscape
experts will participate in this year’s project.
Last
year, the
club raised
$lOl,OOO
c.
for the
Figs,
scholarship fund.
O’Ke fe,
The annual Five College Book Sale will be
held Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24,
at
proceeds from the sale
among the five
Wellesley,
Simmons.
are
divided
Fruits of good taste:
participating colleges: Vassar,
Mount
If
Hampshire
to
Georgia
the Hanover High School Gym in Hanover,
NH. The
you
Holyoke,
live
in the
Smith,
2
34
telephone, 603/643-3574.
The lines of poetry by Gertrude Kolmar,
cerpted by Yona Zeldis McDonough
were
Winter
Letters
AAVC Newsline: D.C. Books,
1987 Class Presidents and Club
workshops
Correction
Quarterly,
see
DEPARTMENTS
contact Katherine B. Kimball
the
Wired up about art:
and have books that you wish
area
donate, please
in
page 26.
and
Vermont/New
[’73], 10 Gilson Rd., West Lebanon, NH 03784;
article
see
1987
of
Books
40
Person Place &
41
Class Notes
Thing
ex-
79 in her
issue
37
The Last Page: Thirteen
by
Tom Asher ’B6
the
translated by Henry A. Smith.
Cover: Photograph by Robert Maass ’79
Leadership
page 32.
VQ
Fliss
took
postgraduate training in
pediatrics, neurology, and obstetrics, which
LETTERS
The Quarterly welcomes letters to the
Editor
editor, preferably typed, double-spaced, and
Mindy
Aloff
’69
Designer
Abigail Sturges
Copy
longer than 350 words. We
no
right
Managing editor
Georgette Weir
Dublin. In 1931 she
took her to London and
renowned
a
professor who became head of the department
of anatomy
the
reserve
and
for style
to edit letters
George Wislocki,
Dr.
married
Editorial Staff
the Harvard Medical
at
Then, with apparent
length.
produced
a
a
dren, Lewis (a physician), Joan, George, and
’66
Edith, all live in New England.
editor
Her work at the Child Guidance Clinic of
Geraldine Herron
at
Class notes editor
Massachusetts General
Sara Hill
Israel Hospital,
Books editor
psychiatrist of
Jeffrey Wallach ’B2
Little Wanderers in Boston, attest to her de-
McDonough 79
Yona Zeldis
Hospital and
and her 25
the
New
she
22 articles in
published
Dr. Florence Clothier. This tells us
of her
Welt Frank ’36
William W. Gifford
Thomas
Nancy
Harriet Fleischl
scholarly achievement.
In Memoriam:
problems. One of
Fliss Wislocki ’26
service
(AAVC board liaison)
Fliss
served
of AAVC
Vassar College has lost one of her
Wexler Quinlan ’59
true
hundreds in the Vassar family, died of
James Berry 72
quence to do
Kee ’45-4
to
stroke
a
1987. While I lack the elo-
October 29,
on
Second vice-president
greats.
Wislocki, M.D., “Fliss”
Florence Clothier
First vice-president
to her in a
justice
I care
letter,
too much not to try. How I wish that Sarah Gib-
Secretary
Lynne O’Berry Cabot ’6O
Blanding, who chose Fliss
son
as
assistant to
the president of Vassar College, could say
Treasurer
Joan Strashinsky Kjelleren 71
a
few
at least quote some of the
can
that she wrote about Fliss in one of her
so
a
many years,
recent
our
AAVC leader for
in the class of
were
1926. In
of steadfast friendship. Words like
“steadfast”
Davidoff ’53
Garnsey,
letter about Fliss, Gert refers to their
66 years
director
come
to mind when we
speak of
Directors-at-large
Fliss, and Ifind those I have talked with of all
Eleanor Garrell Berger ’64
different ages
Alison Hadley Burr 77
a
qualities. Words that
valiant, .stalwart,
74
Joan Oxman Rothberg ’6l
Katherine Gesell Walden ’35
Holman
Langan
Sally Lyman Rheinfrank ’63
Dorothy Seiberling Steinberg
’43
Executive director
’5B
Elizabeth S. Gellert
Corrigan Mental Health Center in Fall
And what of her Vassar
was
naturally
winter, spring, and
Vassar
College
changes
to
summer
(AAVC).
Record
Room,
by the Alumnae and Alumni of
POSTMASTER:
Send
and
her
out
are
courageous.
good
sense,
her
complete and absolute inonly
30 years,
mostly
House, Poughkeepsie,
NY 12601. Second class postage paid at Poughkeepsie, NY.
Yearly subscriptions $7. Single copies $2, Unsolicited
manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by a
self-addressed, stamped envelope. Copyright © 1988 by
AAVC.
Typeset and printed in Poughkeepsie, NY, by Maar
Printing Service. ISSN: 0042-2851.
professional accomplishments.
never
dwelt
on
these
things herself,
student we see the
look at her
breadth
same
special extracurricular
activities
she
both in
a
and
interested
was
writing, and under
who had come to Vassar in
Flanagan,
wrote
formidable. She
was
acting
play based
on
were
in all three
hockey, debate, and dramatics, and
Hallie
1925, she
her experiences with the
Grenfell Mission in Labrador.
Grenfell had
visited the college in the 1920 s and had
cruited
25
some
students,
re-
them
among
Florence Clothier. It is exciting for me to recall
that when the Powerhouse Theater opened,
one
of the plays performed
Fliss. She
to all the
clearly
was
a
written by
was
person who
responded
stimulating intellectual and cultural
possibilities that Vassar offered.
ing
wrote
service
as
in 1956
a
letter that Miss Bland-
in order to describe
alumna
an
to
her
the college. “Mrs.
was
elected to the board of trustees
tribute that the 19,000 graduates and former
students
can
pay to any
one
of their members.
of her life will help
. . . The alumnae hold Mrs. Wislocki in such
we
were
was
to
us
all to realize how for-
have her at Vassar.
born in
Philadelphia
high regard
in 1903 and
went
on
Johns Hopkins Medical School in the class
1930. At her memorial service
Compton,
an
who was ahead of Fliss at
that
we
in
Little
elderly, but still active Dr. Bezan,
Hopkins, suggested
should think of her
as
“a genius”
as
her teachers there had. This
distinguished doc-
tor also said that the
who knew her and
are
nurses
still around still ask about her, because
they loved
her the most of all the medical stu-
dents. A tribute that doesn’t surprise
VQ SPRING 1988
in the
of distinction,
was a
person
unassuming that only gradually did
address
Alumnae
we
She served
of
Quarterly, USPS 657-080, is published in the fall,
a
members
outstanding
of the class of 1926, and when
career as
River.
connections? She
I think that a selective summary of this
aspect
to
Woodruff ’B7
The Vassar
special
tumbling
after graduating from Vassar in 1926
Assistant for recent classes
of the
one
her
staff psychiatrist at the
Wislocki
Fliss
Terri O’Shea 76
a
by the alumnae of Vassar College, the highest
tunate
Associate directors
Clark
re-
she was so
Since she
Gesek
boards and councils
mediately that here
I learn of her
Staff
Mary Meeker
were
her
Vassar context, and while I recognized im-
’46
as
I will quote from
I knew Fliss for
’4B
Michael C. Rubino 75
AAVC
of
tegrity.
Lois Baldwin Bishop ’56
Kathleen
and her
balance,
come
strong,
Universally admired
AAVC trustees
Joan Kennedy
the same words and share
use
understanding
common
’5l
Kristine Orticke 71
Kinnaird
professional honors and
Compton, she immediately resumed
professional life
areas
Fliss and Gert
Nominating committee chr.
Mary-Alice Hunter ’3B
Richard W. Roberts
many
Her
’47
Joanna Baxter Henderson
had
on numerous
in this letter I
letters.
Denise Taft
at the New
13-year-old
was a
Vassar in 1969 and moved back to her beloved
Little
House committee chr.
Publicity
her
and balance that characterized her whole life.
things
Sherrell Bingham Downes ’62
Chadsey
at
who felt she had saved
words from that great campus in the sky; but
Fund chr.
Marjorie
eloquent speakers
lated to her specialty. When she retired from
President
Bain
the
Barten,
home.
England
Quinlan ’59 (ex officio)
Dorothy Given
Dr.
family when he
’43
Dorothy Seiberling Steinberg
Board of Directors
Many of her
his life by adopting him into the Wislocki
Linda Nochlin Pommer ’5l
Liz
was
’32
Pilpel
name,
something
articles dealt with adoption procedures and
McHugh
Newhouse ’5B
Liz Wexler
for
professional jour-
professional
Brine ’4l
Elizabeth
staff
Home
England
nals and bulletins under her
Quarterly Committee
Ruth
Beth
as
years
votion to child psychology. During those years
Books writer
2
chil-
psychiatry. Her
in
career
School.
equanimity, she
children and followed
family of four
full medical
and
ease
us.
the board from
on
that upon
term she was
expiration
1944 to 1953.
of her trustee
immediately elected
as
president
of the alumnae association.” Later in this
letter Miss Blanding says, “She is
a
same
forceful
person and is never afraid to put herself
on
the
line. She does, however, have the
rare
of
opinions of
listening sympathetically
those who
never
to the
ability
differ from her, and her courage
outstrips her wisdom,
understanding,
and
her
her
kindness, her
practical,
clear
judgment.”
Fliss served
as
assistant to Presidents Sarah
Continued
on
page 38
A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW:
THE BLACK EXPERIENCE
AT VASSAR
by June Jackson Christmas ’45-4
asked me, in you
the decade
the
first acknowledged Black student
HAD
entered,
chronicle
to
Afro-Americans
have been
There
students
were
seven
admitted
in any year.
admitted. In most,
the
a
history
of
it would
brief with few characters.
fact, for nearly
never
the
Vassar,
at
10 years between
Vassar had
after
In
graduates in
the
1940 and 1950. In
until 1964,
25 years,
more
some
than three Black
years,
none
single student entered
were
to live
demanding life of being the “one and only,” a life
many remember
was
as
lonely in
unaccepting and,
at
an
atmosphere which
times, hostile. Adminis-
trators and faculty who
might have provided support
and
as
guidance
For most
or
role models
were
lacking.
of those early students, the college
munity did
not
belonging. Yet
their task.
served
provide
many
a
sense
com-
of being valued
or
of those students accomplished
Their inner
resources,
motivation, and
This article is adapted from the keynote address given by Dr. Christmas at Vassar’s Black Alumnae/i Forum
11, April 12, 1987.
3
family support
critical factors.
were
Many
places within the college and to
to find
ing friendships. Others found
were
cided to award her her degree.
which I had always believed
The Sixties changed much of this situation for the
better. The fight for African nationalism and
for
justice, equality, and
States. The Civil
inde-
of Afro-Americans
impetus to struggles
gave
freedom here in the United
in the
Rights Movement, beginning
mid-Fifties, reached its height in the Sixties. Our growing
sense
I had grown up in the Boston area
com-
mitment to learning promoted their potential.
pendence
of Black consciousness and the drive for civil
had
been
once
changed.
The college is richer because its past
people of color,
was
in-
only by Black
not
elsewhere,
as
but also by others
who had been excluded.
graduate. Anita Hemmings
be
to
probably the
was
of this story, minus the valedictory but with
ending. Since
we
and with American
At about the
heroine
happier
not the
1897 relates
York World in
the first chapter in
our
history.
Before I searched the archives in preparation for the
1984 Black Alumnae/i Forum, I had heard
this event. In
a
our
library I came
of Paul
biographer
upon an
rumors
of
inquiry from
Laurence Dunbar,
the
Afro-
American poet laureate. The inquirer sought information concerning
letter Dunbar had written in 1897
a
in which he referred to
an
girl about whom there
on
“Negroes
‘Anita
was
Hemmings, the Vassar
such
a
at Vassar” were not
kick-up.” In the file
only this
inquiry
but
a
young woman from
Boston who attended
work
as
wrote of the
returned to the Black
she
community of
book and the Vassar archives,
years
part of the Black
to New York
on
from
a
well-off family; her “dark
had fascinated her college
roommate’s suspicions
made
trip
a
classmates,
intense that her father
were so
to Boston to track down the
Hemmings. The secret
beauty”
however. Her
family of Anita
was out. The Vassar
faculty,
we
Jackson
medical
Christmas,
University
hattan,
April
4-6. She is
sition
she has
a
the
Distinguished
trustee of Vassar
held
since
Visitor
College,
a
po-
psychiatrist and health policy planner, Dr. Christmas
served
as
Commissioner of Mental Health,
Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services of the
City
of New York from 1972 to 1980. She
was
the
founder and first director of the Harlem Rehabilitation Center, Harlem
Hospital Center,
program.
Health
only
Past
president
Association,
a
pioneer-
rehabilitation
ing community-based psychiatric
of the American
Dr. Christmas
was
Public
the first of
two Black women elected to head this national
scientific and
policy organization.
president
She has also been
of the Public Health Associa-
tion of New York City.
In New York State,
Christmas has served
a
nor’s Task Force
Mental Hygiene
Planning
on
as
Mental
Planning, and
Board. She is
Governor’s
Advisory
Dr.
member of the Goverthe Council
Health,
on
the Crime Control
currently
Committee
a
member of the
on
summer
com-
marriage
passing,
to
mar-
White
or was
do not know.
was
at a time
accepted by, and entered Vassar
were
Love, listed her background
required
applica-
on
her daughter,
Ellen
English and French.
as
From the addresses where Anita Hemmings Love and
her family lived in New York
that,
as
so
Black
many
City,
one
families
might
have
conclude
done,
they
vanished into the White world.
no
The
was
the first, and she and her daughter
longer
a
part of
our
are
unknown past.
Black Affairs.
Early Years
—
The Forties and Fifties
In the late Thirties,
a
young
Presbyterian minister
Harlem, the Rev. James Robinson,
a
was
a
from
speaker
at
religious conference sponsored by the Y.W.C.A. and
Vassar.
Much
discussion
took
place
during
the
question-and-answer period about what was then called
“the Negro
problem.” As James
Robinson used to tell
the story, several students asked their Negro speaker
to
give them the
the
answers.
they
were;
what
they
going
Negro
At that time,
to do to get the
speak
college
faculty
to open
already expressed
some
for the situation of Negroes in this country.
on
Negro clergy,
were
a
social service agency; government funds
cut from the
use.
invited
prejudice and discrimination. Vassar
dents volunteered at the Negro Center,
could
His
students.
Vassar had
A few speakers, generally
to
relations?
race
suggest that they begin right where
he asked the group of students and
were
its doors to
concern
How could this country solve
and improve
Negro problem
response was to
vice-president of the American Psychiatric Association and
class
City
A community
1978.
in
was
professor
professor at
of New York Medical School in Man-
will be the President’s
and
We do know that, in the Twenties, her daughter ap-
plied for,
But she
June
few
a
of Columbia. Whether she
who was, like her,
a man
Black,
now
emeritus and adjunct medical
Boston. From that
find that for
Martha’s Vineyard. She moved
tions. As her mother had done,
due to graduate in 1897. She claimed
at-
White, but
few years later, upon her
a
physician, a graduate
or
for
neighborhood,
upper-middle
munity of Oak Bluffs
ried
situa-
one
she worked for the public library system
Boston, remained in her old
a
we
in 1893 and
came
describing
Hemmings’s having
passed
Vassar and passed for White. She had entered Vassar
that she
In
class in 19th-century
phenomenon of “pass-
when national backgrounds
was
recently published
school, but remained identified
or
where
Vassar,
only
manner.
a
of Boston.
working
He wrote of Anita
Black.
tended
also several newspaper clippings from that time. They
told of
in that
mores
the life of the poor and
Boston, the author
probably
time, I found
same
book entitled The Black Poor
as
story that appeared in the New
news
August
was
ing” and stated that many people passed in
The Unknown Past
A
she
a
a
to
for White in those
people passed
many
can assume
tion such
only recreational
But this
volunteer work
VQ SPRING 1988
revealed
was
Negro and denied both that honor and the chance
include greater numbers of people
now
Americans and by all
4
and, having earned the
honor of being valedictorian,
Vassar’s exclusivity
person who decided to deal with
herited at Vassar,
Dr. Christmas
colored girl who passed for White dur-
Vassar
years at
days,
changed and, in
was
of color. The legacy of the civil rights struggle
Gordon
story,
a
that there
of its institutions. Vassar
many
turn,
R.
a
ing all her four
hearing
apocryphal,
was
rights changed the face of America and the color of
and present
Christmas
deliberated at length and de-
according
last-
develop
teacher whose
a
to the press,
able
concern
was
were
center which
was
voiced at
stu-
segregated
a
being
Negroes
distance;
in the philanthropic mode.
The Rev. Robinson asked students and the college
to take a stand and erase its color line. The students
responded
that they
by saying
did
colored high school students. Since
a
true. He
offered to find
Medicine
any
majority of them
from all-White private schools, this
came
know
not
was
probably
Beatrix
student who would be of
a
Medicine, Dr. Hamburg is
Vassar caliber and, he thought but did not say aloud,
able to withstand the pressures of being first and only,
at least for
a
year.
found Beatrix
at her
(Betty) McCleary,
was ac-
cepted, and in the fall of 1940 entered Vassar
as
the
first openly acknowledged Negro student in Vassar’s
an
was
accepted
person rather than as
directed to her
was
Kappa
the first person of color who
was
Chain. In those
Daisy
both. She
was
was
the student body
Afro-Americans,
any ethnic
so
days, Daisy
that she
was
Betty came
admit
willingness to
there had been
to
a
To my skepticism,
of
my
to go to
and which
me
family. Going
she
Virgin
colleges,
was a
offered
replied
a
a
I
as
give
was
me more
me
trying
choose, there
Texas.
president
roommate, in
a
Betty
relations
enough
director
was
newspaper,
Dallas,
was
a
S.I. New-
Communications, where she
journalism. An award-winning
at the
Syracuse Herald-Journal,
the first Black editor at
a
Dallas
daily
the Dallas Times-Herald.
the chance to
asked
Toni Y.
with scholar-
she studied
to make a de-
scholarships, belittle hesitation
Joseph
reporter for the
’B3.
Writer and
Raleigh (N.C.)
journalism at the
master’s program at the
Workshop. Early in her
newspaper
News and Observer,
Columbia
School of Journalism and creative
University
career,
University
in the
writing
of lowa Writers
she
won
the first-
prize award in the MS college fiction contest; her
winning
short story, “Broken Bonds,” appeared in
J.J.C,
being personally
college.
a
letter
In response to
manner, she sug-
occasionally, but where the people themselves
scarce.
ated), except when the Fisk Jubilee Singers
group
number of
us
its Black student
body
admitted. It did not want
two Black
yet ready to integrate
a
was
performed on
a
freshmen, but
dormitory
room.
positive experience for her
entered in 1941,
school where issues about Negroes
we came
were
to
discussed
time. That included
as
Max Yergan,
more
Negroes;
or a
campus, or we had dates
speakers
II), there were
on
campus
similar
(not
so
not more
at any one
in 1941 and 1942, such
discussing minority rights;
Robinson, keeping
of
were
In my three-and-a-half years (our class acceler-
than six Black human beings
to increase
us
was
com-
Vassar, she
Syracuse University’s
investigative reporter
she later
that,
to
of WFAA-TV,
that year. The college had been
had described
prior
After graduation from
at
she
Tulsa, Oklahoma,
manager and,
easy in the midst of World War
first year. As two of
a
practices in St. Thomas,
didn’t
sure, if I
to appear to segregate the
not
the first
of the Boston Vassar Club that
genteel but firm
roommate
by doubling the
was
news
studied newspaper
helped persuade
was
after
gested that I would be happier, she
it
Hospital and
J.J.C.
house School of Public
our
having checked the box that indicated that I wanted
a
Hopkins
surgeon in the U.S.A.
orthopaedic
now
of
orthopaedic
MS in October 1985.
disappointing when,
courageous
and Johns
the first female
was
television station in
munity
and
of pride in
McCleary was
generous
from her at the behest of the
have
City
Islands.
formerly
short walk
I would be treated like everyone else, I received
a
assistant professor
as
Paula Williams Walker ’74. News director of
that
I chose Vassar.
assured by the
my
degree from
Media
Cambridge,
languages,
source
views of Vassar
positive
my part;
was
’7l. An orthopaedic
Carty
and
When the Vassar Club of Boston and Vassar Col-
It
state and national
Claudia Thomas Carty ’7l
My family wondered about the snob-
tween which I had to
on
on
earned her medical
Board certified, she
achievement that still
had heard about. Betty
at both
lege each
She
Black female
my aunt who had been
an
to Vassar would
campus.
cision. Her
me.
School,
boards.
resident at Yale-New Haven
with strengths in
to reach out to me after my acceptance,
ships,
at Yale Medical
senior, the older
Radcliffe,
history of
laude graduate in 1919,
bery they
of
the staff of the National
at Baltimore
graduate fellow
to compete with the
on
Phi Beta
recipients
Vassar, I learned
interest-science,
My plan had been
live
on
appointments
Hospitals.
from my home. But I knew that there I would have
inspires
been
Carty
orthopaedics
psychology.
a cum
Dr.
has held
change of policy. She described the
a
stimulating academic environment,
areas
of
of four ’44
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; she
bright;
“highly qualified
school and church friend in
Massachusetts.
the
of
background other than Black.
high
a
A member
one
accepted
woman
Claudia Thomas
surgeon,
generally mistaken for
outstanding Black students” from
sister of
also
governmental advisory
light in complexion, and
so
Science.
was
Hamburg has
unused to the varied shades of
About the time that
of Vassar’s
also
she
Institute of Mental Health and
asked to be
Chain members had to be both beautiful and
she
aca-
in her junior year.
of Sciences, and the board
Academy
more
outstanding student
was an
to Phi Beta
member of the
Dr.
Negro
She states that she learned
answers.
in many activities, she
She
member of the Institute of Medicine, the
first Black
though she
as
about Negroes than she had known before. Involved
a
a
Vassar College fellowships for graduate study. The
Negro.
a
But she notes also that questions about “the
demically, elected
She is
pediatric psychiatrist
a
expert in behavioral factors in diabetes.
vancement of
graduation in 1944, she recalls that
as a
problem” were frequently
had all the
an
Kappa,
article she wrote for the Vassar Quarterly
two years after her
she
Professor of
directors of the American Association for the Ad-
top-notch student
a
high school in New York. She applied,
history. In
who is
National
In his congregation at the Church of the Master he
McCleary Hamburg ’44,
psychiatry and pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of
James
up the pressure for the admission
and Dr. W.E.B. Dußois, the father
of Pan Africanism,
speaking
on
the future of Africa
in America. On that occasion, Dr. Dußois suggested
that Vassar work toward
a
goal of 100 Negro students
5
among
eve
its 1,200 student body. Dr. Dußois died
of the march
on
on
the
in 1963. At that time,
Washington
Vassar had 23 known Black alumnae. The college had
not reached the
Black students
goal of 100; that absolute number of
on
reached
campus was not
By that time the total student body
until 1972.
much
was
larger.
Although people would sometimes confuse us, three
very
different
looking people, and
in constant communication,
that
assume
we were
individuals, Betty
we were
McCleary, Camille Cottrell ’45-4, and I. It was
personalities that influenced how
dents related to
through the filters of their
us
similationist, integrationist,
of the personal outcomes
ing dates
this
among the
up in the need to support
caught
Fascism. A
against
Carole Merritt ’62. After
went
graduation, she
identity
American and in search of her
own
as
Afro-
an
family’s history.
In 1977, she helped to found in Atlanta the AfricanAmerican
of
one
Family History Association,
only
a
at that time
handful of such groups in the United
whether the
During my first
coming,”
a
Georgian
oral histories. She continued to be
speak like
an
advocate for
we
have
come.
man
and civic
into slavery.
barber
leader, Angelo Herndon
He became
and
shops,
Atlanta Life Insurance
owned
stockholder
nation.) Ms. Merritt
at
in, “gave
me
and
barber and
owner
Company,
insurance
of
found
to
proceeds
part of
the largest Blackin
company
the
states that a course on African
handle
a
on
“suggested
my
history
channel
a
for the first
for
my
com-
mitment.”
some
borhood.
me on
organizer.
as
She still believes “Vassar
model for other
College
a
as
a
community
can
be
a
role
had
Craig
on
tiring
to be told that I didn’t
complimented for being
maid.
beyond this
on
to
to
nearby for
my prom date
tried
to
being refused
were both
when
fight
admission to
a
I
was
member
a
of
Cambridge. I knew
energies for
other important tasks, such
my next
zoology
that she
But
never
being
AIDS under the
Minority
of the
auspices
we
the
when
to save
doing
as
told by
a
just couldn’t believe that I had
“it didn’t sound like
I had
exam.
paper that I had labored
a
my
near-
reminiscent of situations
directly and when
written
una-
(until
to deal with such situations
colleges.”
long
over
because
Negro’s writing” was something
a
experienced
in high school.
deep that I could
White friends until
was
not share it with my new-found
greater
a
sense
veloped. Prejudice imposed early
of trust had de-
and often and
sanc-
tioned by society
fluence health
blame which ought to be placed elsewhere. When there
policy and
incidence
ciency Syndrome
both homosexual
of
to draw attention to the
Acquired
Immune Defi-
among Black men
and
heterosexual,
and women,
and
the in-
adequacy of services and funds for this particular
group
of AIDS patients.
are
can
others of your
identity,
strengthen, and
are
understanding
an
Mitchell ’B2. As
school student, he founded
New York
City.
For
over
a
a
13-year-old high
track team in Queens,
15 years, the
Equus
Club offered
youngsters tutorial assistance,
Track
college
and
minority.
This
was
lived my last two and
cooperative
on
campus,
lived, studied, cooked,
opportunity!
Palmer House.
ate, and
Although
two persons of
hood program often operated close to the financial
Two of my close friends today, Susi
brink. The efforts of this committed Vassar gradu-
Vivian
kept it alive, for he
youth
as
his
saw
contribution,
his service to inner city
his
“pride
and joy.”
J.J.C.
Halpern Hall,
Fortunately,
students
as
were
through
there
was a
Twenty
were
of
us
one
of
place where I belonged.
Berg Waldman
Palmerites.
and
We have
re-
the years.
were
others able to accept Black
human beings without
Some of these
I
me as
wonderful
the only Black girl there, and
color, this
mained friends
a
socialized together.
ing limited corporate support, the urban neighbor-
was
for majority
clear to
half years in
guidance, and track instruction. Although receiv-
ate
I
heal,
interracial student body,
particularly
a
can
lucky the present Afro-
to have this
with
and
experience, culture,
empower. How
college
a
life
own
support and
group
American students
But at
result in the victim’s assuming
identity and exchange are both important
Gregory
VQ SPRING 1988
neigh-
year roommate-who was White-went for
her own), and
on
un-
with
grapple
campus and in the
the
National Institute of Mental Health, he seeks to in-
increasing
6
on
friendship and
important,
as
to
to be asked
Sometimes my personal pain at racist incidents
Harris ’Bl. As he works with the
Force
to be
had not volun-
we
N.A.A.C.P. Youth Council in
so
Task
or
to move
by skating rink
professor
and
to lose the
time, however, there were efforts
a room
sophomore
the 1969 demonstrations and takeover at Vassar,
Poughkeepsie
us
They occurred with regularity. Being
well
of
Negro,
the incidents of racism
my
citizen
questioned
for
willing participants,
were
derstanding and, equally
Earnestine Clark Boone ’73. A participant in
she continues her interest in Vassar
a
same
ble to rent
Vassar, and the Southern student sit-
heritage
time,”
a
used the
we
literate than someone’s
At the
born
was
collegewide
I
Betty McCleary and I seemed
years,
simplistic questions,
same
more
she is the curator of the Herndon Foun-
Currently,
only
“educate White folks.” At times it was
the
learning whence and from whom
won
at a
peace.
campaign, for which
but in which
life, through photographs, documents, artifacts, and
our
would be
spoke
to
vote, and excluded from many jobs.
teered
dation Museum and Archives in Atlanta. (Business-
Earnestine Clark Boone 73
war
at
comprehensive exhibit of Black
call for fairer
a
Negroes continued to be lynched, denied the
as
peace,
the transition
on
program
studies
mount “Home-
of my first
Jim Crow in the armed services. Another clipping in-
to be part of a
to
included
one
Negro soldiers and for the elimination of
the Humanities allowed her to interrupt her doctoral
Emory University
News
Miscellany
that
me
dicates that in my senior year I
States. A grant from the National Endowment for
Carole Merritt ’62
at Vassar
public speeches
to the South in search of her
major
the impossibility of find-
was
article in late 1941 reminds
treatment of
as-
each tried
we
lily-white Army or Navy officers-
we were
war”
“good
past
directed toward World War 11. While one
was
in-training,
Advocacy
activist,
or
to focus on both academic and social life when
attention
stu-
as
own
naivete. At different times
prejudice, and
exposure,
our own
responded,
we
denying
our race.
the nucleus of the Race Relations
which
Group
started in the fall of 1942 “to break
we
down indirect prejudice through meetings with clubs,
and
churches,
speakers from
spoke
own
our
groups.”
We listened
to
body and from outside. Experts
subjects such
on
to America
ness
community
contributions of the Negro
as
(Frank Wood), democracy’s unfinished busi-
(James Farmer), and, closer
to
the only Black admitted in 1942:
she
Poughkeepsie family,
old Black
coming from
was one
two years later.
The leadership of
Cracken
placed behind efforts
was
relations.
group
Prexy and
I
improve inter-
to
panelists
were
on
Conference of Christians and Jews, in which he
Week programs
participating in
College
Social
student
a
Museum
1937.
It operated until
a
photo of six of
something that troubled
Where is
Negro.
in front of
sitting
a
map of
me
of
I
background;
am
called
An identification with
Negroland?
in
us
and
hospitality; Betty
I spoke
churches and visited in homes. Besides
her mother’s
delicious
Lawrence guided
me
the
are a
of Africana Studies in America, art
history
Zimbabwe.
Africana
catalogue.
will be
sary events
and
Studies
of six and lists 39
faculty
for the
special senior colloquium
distinguished Black scholar,
a
arts col-
taking shape
residence by
library exhibits, special lectures,
a
has
field
trip
to
permanent
a
under its rubric
courses
Further details of anniver-
published
they become
as
es-
tablished.
Riot, and Reform.” Quite
titled “Race,
several
at
inviting
home-cooked
me
for
Marie
meals,
toward the then necessary beauty
an
of
array
leadership!
These
speakers
talking about
on
raised issues that only
heard in the classroom. When they
were
if the topics had
jects such
as
a
few
campus. It was rare that these
most students did not
The Black community in Poughkeepsie reached out
to
celebration
year-long
and
the features
[The
still far in the future.
was
predominantly white liberal
leges.” Among
Each of the other girls
me.
is identified by her national
Africa
programs at
The local newspaper
1951.]
us
that old picture reminded
Seeing
ex-
Vassar
a
brotherhood.
on
20th Year
established in Blodgett Hall in
was
shows
the U.S.A.
that opened
panel
calls the Vassar program “a model of
Studies,
in the 1987/88
years we were on Brotherhood
Social Museum exhibit
Africana
in
program
cellence and distinctiveness among Black Studies
was
campus and in town. I remember
on
multidisciplinary
to Mark
Studies. Joyce Bickerstaff, director of the program
a
number of radio programs sponsored by the National
quite active. In several
Vassar’s
on
Henry Noble Mac-
President
Africana Studies
in
of
year 1988/89, the 20th anniversary
an
of the few
day students. Her younger sister, Stradella Lawrence
’47, entered
made to celebrate,
currently being
are
and associate professor of education and Africana
home, discrimi-
nation in Poughkeepsie (Marie Lawrence ’45). Marie
was
Plans
academic
no
were
were
topics
raised,
in the discussion,
participate
relevance to their lives
economics, political science,
or
or
as
to sub-
psychol-
Thus, intercollegiate conferences, club meetings,
ogy.
outside speakers, and the lively
presentations by
changes
that followed
both cathartic and
were
helped us appreciate
ex-
in-
similarities
parlor, for services that could be provided only in and
formative. They
by the Black community.
and differences, but they also emphasized the gulf be-
In those days the philosophy of the “melting
I
espoused.
faculty
I
was
to think of
trying
Forties,
often urged by
was
They pointed the
majority
speakers in the
draw atten-
they
students about topics not
curriculum.
our
Negro.
way to solutions as
They
tween what should be and what was, even at Vassar.
One of the events that served this dual purpose
or
situation of Black Americans and
tried to educate the
contained in
was
students
not a
who did
of them Black,
unique
to its causes.
majority
American,
an
to be both. There were
most
tion to the
myself as
pot”
did not know how
itiated in the
other
subject
to criticism for
Several of the
(the
early
new name
Jewish.
being
too interested in
leaders of the Interracial
The criticism they received
was
tinged with anti-Semitism. At times they
in
leadership
-behaving
Among
positions by
Group
Group)
for the Race Relations
were
Negroes.
were
sometimes
were
joined
forward-thinking
these
speakers
the Y.M.C.A., who
were
spoke
on
was
a more
low
Channing Tobias of
Negro
morale in the
a
and
traditionally
by the Rev. Howard
much-admired speaker
I had gone to
a
high
weekend
a
exciting prospect than
was
going to Vassar
school with
a
pre-
dominantly White student body and all White teachers.
To go to
with
a
pecially,
of the
a
college with
a
great reputation academically,
predominantly Black student body, and,
with Black faculty-that
high points
Unfortunately
There
my
were none
college,
or
was
and remains
never
had
a
in my grammar school
is still true —I
Black teacher.
or
high school,
medical school. Think of the implicit
armed forces; the artist Jacob Lawrence, whose power-
message that is communicated to Black students:
ful series, “The Migration of the
one
sensitivity he ascribed
one
to Black
Negro,”
artists; Buell Gallagher,
of the last White presidents of
who related the
race
illustrated the
Hampton Institute,
issue to the outcome of the war;
Margaret Walker, reading
her poetry rich in the Black
experience of oppression and survival;
the great orator,
who looks like you
can
inquiry, critical analysis,
tial to academic
can
a
or
engage
cogent presentation
pursuits. No
one
impediments to teaching
learning.
viewpoint presents. Vassar might learn from histor-
ically Black colleges which have made
faculty
segregation and
discrimination; and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., describ-
ing
his people
as
no
longer quiescent, in his talk
en-
Think
and learning such
in chapel, conducted seminars and lectured in classes
an
integrated
work successfully.
dents, of barriers crossed, and of deepened understandamong us Vassarites:
a
told by
professor ‘it
didn’t sound
like
a
Negro’s
writing’
was
something
had
1
never
experienced
Memories remain of friendships with Howard stu-
ing
Being
essen-
who looks like you
educator, and scholar, Dr. Benjamin Mays, who spoke
about the dilemma for democracy of
no
in the intellectual
lead you forth in the process of
also what
esone
of my college years.
at that time-and it
could say sadly that I had
Dr.
Vassar
started
For me, going to Howard for
had been.
and
White Southerners.
was
In-
the forerunner of
ated in 1948.1 took part in the second year of the program.
they
It
was
Vassar; his daughter, Olive Thurman Wong, gradu-
almost
the few courageous White students who
between
exchanges
Thurman of Howard. He
at
it
early Forties,
Black colleges.
Black students. They did not know how much
couraged
was
the exchange program with Howard University.
much they lent moral support to the small number of
en-
our
Southern rural White, New
in high
school.
7
In 1954,
Vassar hired
member, Dr.
Henrietta
Our concern was not limited to Blacks.
us
went
Prexy MacCracken
to
psychology.
concrete action to recruit
ex-
But
with
A group of
request that
a
Nisei students, those
from their homes
on
the West Coast and forced to go
to America’s version of concentration camps, with their
confiscated by the American government.
Prexy told
directing his remarks
us,
to me as the
Black in the group, that it would be racism in
to offer
scholarships specifically
Fortunately,
group or race.
to
give him
ships for
an
out. We
we
urged
to
people of
were
ethnic
creative enough
plicants; they called for the resumption of exchanges
with Howard.
During this period, Ralph Bunche, the future Nobel
or
she had been removed to
States policy which
Germans
or
same
scholarships
Nisei students the next year. This
was a
manner,
to several
widely
activism). The Peekskill riots
from
was
singing
were
shield-
or
to prevent Paul Robeson
protested. But the overall impression
of increasing apathy, alternating with with-
one
political left,
out for racial
speaking
Whereas the
expectations it stimulated
and the
war
but also any-
justice.
in many Black Americans may have contributed to the
level of activism I have described for the first half of
the Forties, I
that Black students at Vassar in
sense
the late Forties and early Fifties received
sup-
group of Nisei students came in the
ported issue. The
Joan
ing one’s self from evil (quite different from his later
one
Japanese and did
Italians in the
able to offer
was soon
daughter,
posed the choice between lamentation
man
in the United
was
out the
singled
his
Palestine;
on
1953 graduate. The Rev. Howard Thur-
was a
had affected not only the
reloca-
a
spoke
laureate,
Bunche,
drawal, in the Fifties. By then, the McCarthy hysteria
that Vassar set up scholar-
tion center. Since the real racism
Vassar
reverse
one
student who had been forced to leave col-
any
lege because he
not treat
only
later, Vassar delegates bemoaned the failure
year
a
racial democracy about
on
Negro students and faculty.
of the college to increase the number of Black ap-
Americans of Japanese ancestry who had been driven
property
Smith, in
conference of 40 colleges
mid-
The
change benefited students in both schools.
Vassar set up scholarships for
faculty
suburban and
Protestants.
Anglo-Saxon
White
western
its first fulltime Black
Black, Southern Jew,
England
message.
Even though they
expected
were
a
different
few in number,
they
to be here. It could be said that
fall of 1943, released from internment camps because
were
of Vassar’s taking
Vassar did admit Negroes. The implicit message
The years
we were
a
were
stand and backing it with funds.
filled with efforts to make the
fighting bring about democracy
the war’s end, there
ments. The
writing
Interracial
Association,
at home. With
differences and disappoint-
were
campaign,
conducted
Group
joined by
the
to represent us
and, therefore,
thinking.”
Kurt
psychologist,
question.... Prejudices
to
Lewin,
are
solving
the
Negro
easily established and
in the fall of 1945, when
pointed
faculty
a
visiting
Sterling
of the college
was
member (too late for me, alas). Poet, scholar,
music, he
came
on
jazz, America’s classical
from Howard for
a
the next few years. He lectured
number of terms
on
a
different burden, that
the
writer
of
American folk-
most sacred values.
hope but for
The landmark May
but
must be
is
not
as
being
too
lectures
on
and
largest
were
at
the spirit of American literature and at the
jazz sessions.
Fewer people
came
to hear him
speak
of “efforts to undo institutionalized racist practices.” It
was
1946 when this concept first appeared.
Although the
Interracial
Group kept
we
education
attainable
in
Apparently the
the part of most
and effective; this
timetable
of
Thurgood
Misc had “the word” about
the minds of Southerners;
presumably they
White Southerners, whom they described
as
meant
“Ameri-
too.” When Thurgood Marshall spoke at the colwas
inevitable that
would continue.
In 1954, Vassar hired its first full-time Black faculty
Dr.
member,
Henrietta
Smith, department
chology. She has remained
at
of the department
some
during
The next few years
saw
Vassar, serving
of psyas
chair
of those years.
increasing interest in the
movements in African
colonies, African literature, and South Africa. In regard
mid-Forties, the emphasis of speakers in other settings
to South
moved from earlier efforts to educate Whites about
both “sides” of the struggle.
un-
on
peaceful
the
changing South, the nationalist
active in the
was
short. The Misc said, “There
psychological readiness
Marshall.”
cans
discrimination against
audiences
equal”
11 months later, when the N.A.A.C.P. timetable
1955, he said it
on
of their
some
1954, Supreme Court de-
17,
outlawing “separate
cision
the
of brotherhood.”
deep feeling
a
was
in
It is not for assimilation that
desegregation
Over the years his
con-
melting pot. Cul-
tural groups cannot ‘melt’ without losing
progress toward
Negroes.
editorial
must do away with the concept of the
lecture-demonstrations
blues. But he also spoke out
though
Brotherhood Week, 1953: “We
lege in October
jazz,
even
the
lore, Negro spirituals, and secular literature. He held
with work songs,
or, “I never think
color,”
part of your identity
a
Southerners if it is to be
ap-
instructor in English, the first Black
folklorist, and authority
see
sciously acknowledging your race. This dilemma
criticized
Brown
don’t
Black.” This imposes
as
received scant mention in the Miscellany News until
can-
atmosphere.”
group
expressed by “We
of denying
said in 1945 that “We cannot
A major change in the atmosphere
over
influential
an
changed by education alone. [There is a] need
change the
came
elected
was
that fostered assimilation and denial of differences,
Miscellany News during
should let them do
we
solve the economic problem without
not be
were
as
now
recognized by
in the response of
students who wrote that “our Senators
American
Liberal
Commission (RE.PC.). The begin-
ning of postwar apathy appeared
own
letter-
a
Student
one
of you
to urge the Senate to support the Fair Em-
ployment Practices
their
war
by
Africa, speakers appeared who represented
derstanding the plight of the Negro and dealing with
their
own
was over
notable
prejudices
and
we
exceptions.
An article
the need for
more
Whites to change their hearts, minds, and, perhaps,
their behaviors.
“More encouragement should be offered to girls of
their
of scholarships.
their
sense
community
VQ SPRING 1988
on
The Sixties
By the Sixties, Black people had tired of waiting for
public school students (2/7/47 Miscellany News) stated:
tain minority groups,
8
to international issues. The war
faded into the background, with some
...
especially Negroes,
a
in the form
A larger number would increase
of security
as
cer-
as
well
as
whole.” Concern
contributing
was
to the
expressed
at
a
own
They
moved to take
hands. The Civil
revolutionary struggle for
Rights
their lives into
Movement
was
a
social change. Student pro-
tests, led by Black college students in the South, began
in
support.
1960 and
gained
Although there
national prominence
were
and
very few Black students
campus, Vassar
on
in
picketing and
students, White and Black, joined
campus for an end
demonstrating on
discrimination locally. They participated
to
ferences whose main theme
in
the fight for freedom
was
at home.
Sylvia Drew
was a
Marian
up the
Law
con-
wrote: “We have taken
Gray (Secundy) ’6O,
struggle for
freedom without
the cost.”
counting
Ivie ’65. A civil rights attorney, she
member of the Carter administration
tor of the Office of Civil
the N.A.A.C.P.
Rights and
she has directed the National Health Law
rights
Inc., in Los Angeles.
established,
sought
from
permission
the
warden,
Elizabeth Moffat Drouilhet ’3O. She told the group: “In
my
day, when
need to ask
wanted to protest,
we
we
did. You don’t
student aid fund for those arrested
a
in the South for civil disobedience while protesting
and violence against Blacks trying
legal segregation
1963 editorials and letters appear in the
By
to vote.
Richard Roberts ’74. Assistant United States
attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Prior to this he
has also
been
a
gation. Many individual Vassar students of both
the Student Nonviolent
Southern
Coordinating Committee,
Christian
Leadership
exemplified the new
C.O.R.E.
N.A.A.C.P. continued to
A
races
actively involved and committed. In the South,
were
new
thrust
Movement,
a
The
the courts.
in the Northern Student
and work for community-based
students
town to tutor Black children to
deficiencies
of
many students
to
change.
help
them
school
public
signed up and brought the
a
poor
the
campus,
overcome
degree
of the
Vassar
graduate
Hughes
Human
master’s
degree
studied
School, where he
Duke
and
fellowship,
was
Richard Roberts 74
a
Rights
Law
Review.
He
holds
a
in international administration from
Training.
legal services
attorney, he
by
the Legal
of Northeastern New York.
public policy analysis
Kennedy
rights
Fellow and associate editor
Keith St. John ’Bl. A
Society
ad-
of Justice. He earned
the School for International
Aid
an
He has
John
the
at
F.
School of Government at Harvard and at
University.
In the field of public law, he is de-
veloping specializations in family law, housing law,
and legislative advocacy.
J.J.C.
Keith St. John ’Bl
When
system.
school chil-
administration
college
In
asked to go down-
were
in the civil
at Columbia Law
a
Washing-
and
Law Center. He
is the first Black staff attorney hired
students to provide community
Poughkeepsie, Vassar
dren
militancy.
counterpart to student organizations in
the South. It asked
service
and
fight through
developed
the
Conference,
trial attorney
his law
Charles Evans
and de facto segre-
Georgetown
Department
to the
fight discrimination
the
division of the
held
to
associate with the
Civington and Burling,
junct professor at
Misc, questioning whether the activity should extend
North,
was an
ton law firm of
permission.”
Students set up
Program,
Woolworth’s in Poughkeepsie.
picketed
first
They
she, Marian Gray, and others had
direc-
Defense Fund. More recently,
Legal
Joan Goodwin (Goodman) ’6O recalls that the civil
group which
as
attorney with
an
raised
Arts and Architecture
questions about the degree of college involvement.
At
was
a
symposium
a
assassinated
Clark
month after President
in November
the
emphasized
Kennedy
years, but not
a
civil
after much pressure
legislation, proposed
Johnson,
of
importance
Southerner,
signed
was
Kennedy
Dr. Kenneth
1963,
rights
during the
until Lyndon Baines
forced to
give
it strong sup-
port. Dr. Clark and his wife, Dr. Mamie Clark, both
psychologists,
had done the seminal research
effects of discrimination and
dren. Their work
the N.A.A.C.P. had successfully built the
to the landmark
Supreme
the
Black chil-
segregation on
of the foundations
was one
on
on
case
which
that led
Court decision in Brown
S.N.C.C.
on
1964,
was
strong feeling among
emergency
tee for Civil
in the
take
but
meeting
we
are
on
down the line.” She
Blanding
saying:
that
seriously
this issue.
a
stand. At
was
There is
more
memorandum
a
was
Kathleen Perrier Memorial
she sang with
Europe.
as
Competition
number of opera
a
acclaim. Her extensive
in 1972,
in
City Opera
her critical
won
experience
in
coveted
companies
Her debut with the New York
Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas
concert
Music
winning the
as a
recitalist,
soloist, and recording artist has included
with major orchestras.
appearances
is
one
of three sisters who have attended Vassar.
She received her
degree in
In 1984, she earned
a
architecture from M.I.T
master’s in business adminis-
tration from the Harvard Business School. She is
now
in private practice.
J.J.C.
mentioned that
“small but very vocal group of students
may,
are
not in favor of
College goes right
then asked about Carole’s
person in
take
to
After
quoted
would
happen
jail would
on our
fall ill and
be maltreated.
But I
doubt that anyone will experience this. The
can
Manchester, England.
of Music in
of
College
Any individual
worst that could
someone
human frame
Conservatory
Royal
“The college cannot
say that Vassar
jail. “The
side would be that
or
Canton,
groups on campus, and
in this college who
situation in
with
made up of hundreds of individuals, and
have
people
integration. I cannot
the
called by the Vassar Commit-
as
on
we
die,
’62, working
should take
President
Rights,
official stand
some
college
Miscellany News
an
Merritt
for distributing announcements. There
in the AAVC, that the
an
and
Sandra Jones Wallace ’7B. An architect, she
Carole
voter registration, was arrested in
Mississippi,
Brussels
vs.
Board of Education.
In early
Sandra Browne Hart ’6B. A
mezzo-soprano,
she studied at the Royal
a
good deal.”
the story.
apparently
In
a
February
1964
meeting had been called by
on
on
to write that
ing to present
she, nevertheless, called
the facts of the
case
an
a
Monday,
January 27th. Only 23 students attended.” She
went
open meet-
and to suggest that
contributions be made to the N.A.A.C.P.
Legal
Defense
Fund, and that letters be addressed by members of the
college community
to
national issue of civil
A few weeks later,
vide bail for
drafted by the president, she
a mass
pointed
but
Carole
a
the
Congress concerning
rights legislation.
check for $4OO
was
from
sent to pro-
Merritt. The transmittal letter
out that these were not Vassar
came
the
AAVC’s
emergency
College funds,
aid
fund for
9
alumnae.
Even though
this
as
was
initial response
was
one
of the kinds of
dents of that day recall
as
quieter
which stu-
experiences
being frequent, the kind of
expression which would later
in the Seventies and
cause concern on
campus
to protests of
Eighties and lead
organizations
the focus of intergroup relations and
S.A.S.
earlier,
devoted
not
was
educating White Americans,
to
nor
to
primarily
persuading
them
individual
structural changes in the college that would
students.
in 1964
creased. The support that
students
relevance, faculty, and
content and
Beginning
reinforced
numbers had in-
our
from
came
what
a
greater number
became
demands
Vassar decided in 1968 to pursue complete coeducation. In
April 1968,
Martin Luther King, Jr.,
sassinated. He had remained vocal in
colors in
fight for justice. Anger, grief, and
a
expectations combined
on
the Vietnam War
a
Oklahoma State Senate in
a
Oklahoma
in
elected to the
was
run-off election with
a
Senator
City,
LaGrange
defeated the incumbent of 22 years, who had been
the first Black elected
to
as
She
saw
the first Black female elected to the
senate as a mandate for “more
vigorous, forthright
leadership.”
Federal Trade
Commission, he
munications law and
broadcasting and
public policy
cable.
Previously
the House Subcommittee
he
is involved in
on
in the
In
materials
as a means
of
status
state
as
legislators,
well
as
Congress, by
and
by civil
men
governors, mayors,
college presidents and deans,
and
as
into formal
an
of Black Studies
a
beyond
minor into
a
a
its
degree-
paper, “A Search for
Cultural Center,
Black counselor, and
a
number of demands:
urban center of Black Studies,
housing,
bibliographic
S.A.S. continued to
courses.
equivalent of
an
and
of introducing African-American
Relevant Education,” set forth
a
an
on-campus
Black cooperative
budget for
activities.
mands
in
agreed and faculty endorsed these de-
principle.
Discussion,
reformulation continued
offered six
new courses
Vassar students.
Vann,
a
to
and
compromise,
the next months.
The Urban Center opened in
September
as
1969 with
its director. It
Poughkeepsie residents
Among its
early faculty
were
and
Albert
teacher and administrator in the New York
public school system, who had been active in the crisis
over
school
decentralization.
he
assemblyman,
was
Black and Puerto Rican
Business and Industry
over
Black educator, Milfred C. Fierce,
J.J.C.
groups.
for
moved beyond its previous
granting department. A position
Telecommunications,
selected from nominations made by members
of both houses of
violent demonstrations,
the expansion
The college
areas
These
and to
pressed
com-
staff counsel to
Men of America.
Outstanding Young
youth
they
as
informal seminars
on
press for
a
were
among White
Blacks,
S.A.S.
April 1969,
emphasis
selected for inclusion in the 1983 edition of
was
spread
among
Afro-American
L. Patrick Mellon ’7B. An attorney with the
at reform.
nonnegotiable demands.
for
Vicki MilesLaGrange 74
sense
issues of accountability and against
takeovers of buildings,
perspectives
in part, to his high rate of absenteeism.
a
produce riots,
by peaceful marches in the South, but by
not
Oklahoma state senator
an
but who had lost much of his political power owing,
her election
degree
change,
record voter turnout. A former assistant district
attorney
lesser
’74. In her first bid for
political office in 1986, she
a
was as-
opposition to the
Vietnam War and sought to unite poor people of all
Student protests
LaGrange
for
change.
patchwork remedies, resignation, and efforts
Vickie Miles
was
Among its
Black presence in the educational experience,
a
of unfulfilled
Government
It
prejudices.
effort in Black solidarity.
an
through curriculum
that led Afro-American students to set up the Students
Afro-American Society (S.A.S.) in 1967. In contrast to
as
were
include
their
with
organized
of
nature.
It was this atmosphere at college and in the country
years
deal
to
goals
insensitive and biased.
This
a
critical assistance
president’s
provided, many view the
on
In later years
to head
as
an
the New York State
Legislative
Caucus. A
Black music, traditional and jazz,
course
taught by
was
James McPhee, the musician; Charles Hobson taught
Carter Hutcheson ’69. The first presi-
Lynn
dent
of
Student Afro-American
the
Vassar, she earned
Hawaii.
She
M.B.A. at the
an
has held
a
variety
Society
at
University
of
of
managerial
positions in computer services and telecommunications.
Her
most recent
position
is manager
of
another
on
the Black press.
But the overall pace of implementation
for students who
saw
demands accelerated.
ings reached
Alan
a
little
happening. By
Proposals, discussion,
Simpson received
munications.
to make
clear commitment to
a
’B3.
Vice-president, Shearson
Lehman Brothers, Inc. An
international
career
political
independent major
economy,
of
(5.E.0.),
a
Sponsors
program
of Educational
in
her
her from
traders’
to trader. In
Her efforts
assistant,
February
She is the only
president in this department.
for
quickly
to assistant
1986, she
vice-president/institutional trader,
department.
Opportunity
providing opportunities
minorities to enter business.
moved
began
in finance in 1982 in an-internship under the
auspices
trader,
she
made
was
corporate bond
Black
woman
vice-
J.J.C.
began
a
came
the end of the
women
According to
the
the
president,
judgment of
It regularized
gram, clarified
some
the
a
which trustees and ad-
settlement
it “violated
minority
was
reached.
no
principle so
was
concerned.
features of the Black Studies pro-
others, and accelerated,
at a
heavy
cost
in human strain, the
As
President
remember that
continuing process of decision.”
Simpson said, “We should always
deep despair . . .
will
grip
the hearts
of many Black students in America until they
of racial equality and justice than they
VQ SPRING 1988
students
from the wider student body. By
negotiations on
ministration worked closely,
as
failure
three-day peaceful occupation of Main build-
ing. Support
far
as a
continuing Black
Studies program, 33 of the 59 Black
Winfrey
and meet-
the latest paper from the stu-
dents, discouraged by what they perceived
a
too slow
critical state. Eight days after President
product administration with GTE Telenet Com-
Karen
10
was
October their
are surer
are now.
These
students believed
Although
our
word
ing is
option
an
was
coming
the equivalent of
and
strengthen the
provide
major,
a
Norman Hodges and the well-known scholar, C. Eric
Lincoln, had been hired, faculty
were
part time. S.A.S.
and others continued to press for fulfillment of the
including full-time Black faculty.
other agreements,
The frustration that led to the takeover
building in November 1969
relative
The Catlin Report had stated that “separate hous-
or
Black Studies (later Africana Studies)
able to
now
had either broken
we
laggard in keeping it.”
were
not
was
that followed the
success
of Main
dissipated by
negotiations,
the
con-
which must be open to Black students
Vassar,
to
means
whereby pluralism
out that “no
college residence
be occupied solely by members of
can
Kendrick.
Kendrick
designated
was
as
such, it
as
the
Afro-
the
was
of
sense
identity
But it did
scene
When I spoke there in 1973,1
struck by the ability of many of the residents to
Seventies
The college
had
shaken
was
was
move
in both worlds. Kendrick gave them social support,
by the
expressed the depths
way
in which students
of their frustration, but dis-
feeling of being cared for and valued
a
part of
as
a
group,
may over the confrontation did not blind the trustees
function better. These
to the
campus, where White students could dress up as Ku
of their complaints. Early in 1970, the
validity
board called for the formation of
committee of stu-
a
dents, faculty, administrators, and
minority student
issues. The committee
to
was
student education,
minority
policies,
Klansmen
faculty
develop
project
and recommend “a statement of philosophy in relation
to
Klux
study
trustees to
and
imple-
dent senate and, finally, to the board
to
action.” At the end of the year, the Catlin Report
was
In making recommendations for change, the report
clear statement of board
a
tunity for all people and intends
ability as
“Vassar Col-
the national role of educational oppor-
lege supports
its
policy:
liberal arts
a
to do all it can within
college and
its
resources
to
bridge
including my
the generation gap and hear what
were
have
priority
all minorities for the foreseeable
over
future.” Recognizing the
and the
worsening economic
in education,
continuing disparity
status
employment,
our
other groups had done.
Even my generation
of the predominantly White
that Kendrick House
was
dents applying and accepted
ment and investment
in the first 30 years had
been middle-class and upper-middle class, many of the
students recruited in these years
or
lower-class;
a
few
the transition
some,
directed
both to
came
was
were
working-class
from poor families. For
difficult. Efforts had to be
strengthening
academic
and study
a
Regents
for
and affirmative action in
where all would feel
fortable and where violators
com-
would be sanctioned.
The board also approved three
tions:
employ-
policy. They reiterated the need
pluralistic community
a
changes
Studies, Black
Black
major recommenda-
1) that Vassar retain its traditional pattern of
freedom of choice in the selection of
rooming assign-
ments; 2) that Kendrick House not be available
dent
housing
after
July 1, 1975; 3)
stu-
as
that the house
the Hallie
renovated
sides
residential Afro-American Cultural Center and pro-
of the need
for
could be
identity
background,
a
many
students
where their cultural
place
strengthened through living
and
vided
with
Flanagan
and
appropriate
an
cial aid benefited recipients of all
improvement was
keepsie
was a
though
needs.
a
not
yet
a
department,
of
identity
the
by
association
with
Cooperative
House provided
contrary
to any
in the
housing.
they
could maintain
and of commitment to the Black
community
were
met other educational
But students hoped that
sense
ex-
having
other
Black
dormitory on
majority,
in
choice
an
to
live
students.
in
close
Kendrick
atmosphere in which,
campus, Black students
contiguous
but not exclusive
non-
staff, and
In the second half of the Seventies, these issues
needs. Both service to the Black community of Pough-
The Africana Studies program,
the
organization,
established in response to their requests, filled
and education about the African-American
Powerhouse
as
budget.
tinued to be in the forefront.
periencewere provided.
Davis
designated
studying together. The Urban Center, which had been
some
future.’
concerns
to
No matter what their
foreseeable
decided in 1974
Theater be
spoke
for the
segregated facility and thus
adjacent
coin of unconscious racism.
all
minorities
as
skills and to coping with administrative attitudes that
same
over
could
alternated between overindulgence and hostility, two
of the
priority
the trustees decided to abide by this decision
illegal,
faculty recruitment,
Whereas most of the Black stu-
their backgrounds.
have
the historically Black
but also to continue to address the broader
well
broadening in
College shall
did.
When the New York State
increase in the number
as a
at
did not support
colleges
as
in admission and financial aid,
as
minority
Vassar
that the emotional and social environment
readily see
the board reaffirmed this policy in 1985.
saw an
Black
young
interest, social relationships, and cultural identity
of Black-White relations. They recommended
The early Seventies
the
community in which
a
and income between Afro-Americans and other groups,
of Black students admitted
neglected,
they could comfortably address their needs for self-
colleges
College shall
so
asking for. In spite of their numbers, they
country whose educational
have been
White
science
first year at Vassar, I had
and sustain Black students
opportunities
on a
who had fought for open
one
further that goal. Among the several minorities in this
neglected, the Black minority at Vassar
where
in New York and who had been denied it
times,
people
and
that they would not slow the work of poten-
still experienced the desire for
adopted.
made
so
housing
many
of trustees for
for Hallowe’en,
opportunities
and this the
days,
could tell Blacks to work alone
tial White partners. As
mentation for submission to the college faculty, the stu-
the
were
educational
a
that invigorated them and allowed them to
feeling
whose
have been
of Black students.
more.
minorities in
this country
one
of many activities that enriched the knowledge and
frontations, and compromises.
The
for
race.” In actuality, few White students chose to live in
American Cultural Center;
several
can
community.” The report also
common
specifically pointed
students
a
as
‘Among
made in
Major
con-
increases in finan-
races.
Although
faculty recruitment,
little
there
modest increase in the number of Black adminis-
trators in this decade.
of all
races
and
for
Important
as
it
was
to relate to Afro-Americans
Black
students
knowledgeable about
they might speak,
to
have
for students
in
new
roles,
administrators
the Black experience with whom
there
were
difficulties. These staff
frequently had administrative responsibilities in
areas as
of the
out,
well
as
paucity
no
two
their part-time faculty duties. Because
of Blacks in any roles, they
matter what
their job titles,
counselors, and advisers
to students
were
to be
coping
sought
mentors,
with this
11
needs and to
in which they
another
for student
reason
students
protesting about
few others of their
vide the
to student
shortchange their scholarly
to
The all-too-inevitable
research.
own
denial
tenure
was
unhappiness. Unlike White
tenure, Black students
remaining
saw
campus to pro-
on
of service and caring.
continuity
faculty appointments experienced problems.
were
asked to do jobs that
possible for
able occurred.
Others
lack of experience
chosen,
were
since 1980.
Vassar has
immune.
when their
provided ade-
to sink or swim.
To Vassar’s Black community this was another
example
of programming for failure that is typical of Black
On
one
the situation became
occasion,
so
critical that
resign
perceived
as
protest
to
biased ad-
Black
insensitivity.
well
at a
students
the occasion of
on
as
a
of their
validity
their right to peaceful protest,
Black trustee refused to “tell them to call off their
demonstration,”
she
as
to do
requested
was
been immune.
Seventies,
In the late
there
college’s failure
Afro-American
also strong discon-
was
to
provide the promised
Cultural Center-or
Center
as
topics,
discussed in
Third World
a
later recommended by Black faculty. These
of the Committee
meetings
reflected
Minority Students,
to
minorities.
Blassingame became
1975 to 1978.
was
In its
lessening its
fifth
the first Black chair,
Although
on
increasingly prevalent
views of students that the college
commitment
that individual and
a
few
act
their
race
not a Vassar
perspective
relations.
year,
John
serving from
graduate, this
in this
Marian Gray
difficult
Secundy
’6O
chaired the committee from 1978 to 1983. She played
an
important role
in
raising
issues of retention and in
letting students know that their
stood, whether
when they
or
not
for
concerns were
positive
as
there is
no
trustee meant
as
opposed
to
quieting
took place in the late Seventies. A
racist act (as well
to
as
robbery),
the part of White
Virginia
meet with
being
a
vehicle
dissent. One event
particularly
vicious
followed by indifference
security personnel,
by nonviolent protest, including
dent
Smith’s office and
a
was
reacted
sit-in outside Presi-
a
demand that she
outraged Black student representatives
remain barricaded within. In
meetings with S.A.S.,
place
or
the
solving this
on
made
staff-
campus, and with equally concerned administrators,
atmosphere of
trust that
allowed both students and administration to
develop
serious
and at-
collegewide bodies
problem. The faculty
can
principles.
The
set the tone and the
limits, but each element of the community has
American Alumnae of Vassar
a
a
shared
College (Triple
A
VC,
committee of AAVC), will maintain strong interest
in the direction of and pace of improvement.
The
Minority
dents) continues
quality
Affairs Committee of the board
the Committee
(formerly
Minority
on
of
Stu-
to address these issues critical to the
of student life. Under Billie Davis Gaines ’58,
its chair since 1983, the committee has also focused
on
the need to increase the number of Black
Vassar and to attract
sexes.
Black
more
applicants
men
at
of both
Fruitful discussions have supported the creative
techniques of James Montoya, the
new
director of ad-
mission, and the active role of the Triple A VC in bring-
ing high
school students to campus and in outreach
to new schools and
organizations. The results of Mr.
efforts have been very encouraging in regard
Black, Hispanic, and Asian students
increase in the number of
men
as a
whole. An
has occurred in each
of these groups. In 1986, ten Black
men
entered; the
number increased to 17 in 1987.
There
Black
significant decrease (from
was a
as
women,
well
entering
may reflect a
a
or
by
47 to 37) in
slight drop in the total
lasting situation,
ment, expressed
proportion;
as
Blacks (57 to 54), however. This
or
perhaps discourage-
Black Vassar women, at the dis-
it may be only
a
temporary setback
as
efforts increase to attract students of other ethnic back-
grounds.
expense
The
diversity
we
seek should not be at the
of any group.
In another area, 20 years after the establishment of
the Students Afro-American
Black Studies, and
niversary
of the
a
Society,
Africana
same
Studies,
as
departments
an-
that pro-
still has the largest number of Black
faculty.
have not been
as
it has to open their doors to people of other
ethnic backgrounds. Most of the Black
departments
ments
with its call for
short time before the
founding of
quick
upset at the resurgence of racist behaviors
two
responsibility. The Black alumnae/i, through African-
who
an
when
President
changing behaviors
are
leadership of the president
Other programs and
Secundy established
or
or
community,
strong statement of
a
gram
Mrs.
change
at Vassar for such behaviors and in
organizations, with other students of all backgrounds
on
dis-
particularly
are
slow to
for the whole
Vassar Student Association (V.S.A.), and other student
were
We
college is
developing mechanisms for
number of
a
communication between students and ad-
ministration,
on
under-
they gained what they wanted
wanted it.
At times, service
course, we are concerned
institutionalized racism persists
prejudices.
Fortunately
Montoya’s
in
Black
to campus,
prejudiced people-students, faculty,
on
to
period
return
we
country.
heartened when our
Americans
valuable
this
throughout
eminent Yale historian gave Vassar and his fellow Afroa
problem of racism. Vassar has
As
titudes, and behaviors. Of
trustees
tent about the
a
rights legis-
social programs, and its
on
alumnae/i hear firsthand accounts of racial slurs, at-
by the
board chair.
VQ SPRING 1988
lation, its massive assaults
not
and
1980, encouraged by the Reagan ad-
titudes. At present, there
to the attention of both trustees
dinner. Recognizing the
as
racially-biased behaviors
ministration’s active efforts to weaken civil
have
fundraising
upsurge in
an
attitudes since
working
complaints
12
has been
ministrative decisions by President Alan Simpson. One
and contributors with picketing
changing needs. There
to time and modified to meet
respected Black scholar did resign in frustration
continuing pattern of
Years
Frances Fergusson has been forthright in stating that
several Black faculty threatened to
a
some
But such mechanisms need to be reviewed from time
ex-
periences in White organizations.
brought their issues
not been
even
apparent, and not
was
what the Black community
and attitudes
clearly well-nigh im-
were
quate supervision, but allowed instead
biased
behaviors
Some
and then blamed when the inevit-
anyone
Recent
denial that there is
Even those administrators who did not also hold
racially-
place
had
placed
were
Responsive
day-to-day demands of administration and
teaching, they tended
upsurge in
in
set
breed of student.
new
mixed consequences for them.
an
to
mechanisms for fostering intergroup sensitivity.
The double-bind
been
and
greater
them for understanding of and communication with
this
There has
communication
stressful environment. The administration turned to
are
faculty
there because they have
with Africana
Studies. With
in other
joint appoint-
one
recent
ex-
ception, its faculty have “home bases” elsewhere.
This is
legacy of the time when
a
thing valid
was
history,
Eurocentric vantage.
a
The richness of the program,
its ability to attract
scholars of international acclaim, and the knowledge
that has been
Africana
students of all backgrounds
gained by
indicate that it is
longer experimental. The Vassar
no
Studies program is
at the
(down from 1,200
of 300 nationwide
one
height of the thrust).
Four
master’s programs and the planned doctoral program
at
the Rev. Wilson
male
broaden its curriculum beyond
find here
can
to
now
Eurocentric emphasis,
a
wealth of material. But the needs
a
of Africana Studies for greater
and the
funding
Eucharist in the Vassar chapel, where she
ing chaplain
Communion in the world, when she
Addressing
Africana Studies
dent Smith as
a
“went
presented
a
in
faculty,
no
more
than
they
response,
these issues
thoughtful
as
critical, and
of Black students and the
faculty. They
not
During
those years, she
fulfillment of
of St.
new
president,
opportunity to find
there is the
suggested organizations and
have already
some
resources
responsibility rests
to Dean Patrick
with the
college.
There is still promise
in recommendations made in
1974 by the Committee
on
to Black
faculty: that
no
Students in regard
Minority
to the
appointments
faculty be approved unless the departments
grams show that
sidered
or
procon-
Black applicants for the
(and) that the president appoint
a
divinity
Seminary.
past?
active
in
organizations such
position;
Groups
Study Group
clubs
gone. There are no
Center
was
in campus
such
as
the Paul
of the Seventies and the earlier
longer regular exchanges
of Black and White students to
as
number of ways.
the VS.A. A number take part
Robeson
colleges such
a
in comparison to
leadership positions
as
in clubs of special interest.
are
predominantly Black
Howard and Wilberforce. The Urban
closed
in
1981
diminished use; its funds
were
after
several
years
Some institutions remain and
since its
Gospel Choir,
founding
1976, is still
a
season
same
new
ones
but marched with Dick
are
born.
Gregory
valued part of college life.
new
open membership,
in
Although
Ebony Players,
began their first
in 1987/88 with outstanding productions of A
Raisin in the Sun and For Colored Girls.
working
relationship
Spanish-American
is
developing
Latino
Theological
Mt. Vernon, New York, in 1982.
volved in serving this urban
strumental in
lished
was
actively
community.
He
the first Haitian
assisting
to these “boat
inin-
refugees,
clergy to
pro-
He estab-
people.”
immigration resettlement
was
services to assist
other undocumented aliens. Under his leadership,
his church established
dress the
a
community larder
mounting problems of hunger and
lessness. In the
summer
of the Church of the
to ad-
Petero Sabune
77
home-
of 1987, he became rector
New
Incarnation, Jersey City,
J.J.C.
Jersey.
Science and Technology
...
’45.
Having
in social work from
York
City.
After achieving
received
Smith
worked for many years in social
her
College,
agencies
she
in New
significant status
in the
field of youth counseling services, she decided in
midlife to fulfill
dream she had held since her
a
Vassar,
zoology.
She has been involved for
and
in research
years
Natural
History,
pursued
advanced
years at
the
at
where
a
study
in
number of
American Museum of
she
is
senior research
mammalogist.
Marsha
Findlay Borque
Black
women
’74. Staff
Exploration
one
of
who make their
a
&
production
Producing
small number of
living as exploration
geologists. A geology major at Vassar, she received
M.S. in geology from the University of South
an
Carolina. She
serves on
the
Minority Participation
Program Scholarship
Committee of the American
Geological Institute,
mentoring project which has
had
S.A.S.,
ing
Association
Mobil
Southeast, Inc., she is
A closer
among
Student
Lawrence
geologist,
which has not only sung
mainly Black, it is interracial. The
with the
Union
of
transferred to Africana
Studies for annual cultural and educational series.
The Vassar
Vassar trustee.
faculty committee
today
Their presence is felt in
are
woman
National
Episcopal priest in 1981,
as an
In his five years of stewardship, he
Marie
Some
currently a
from
degree
Ordained
Episcopal Church,
master’s
Black students
Sandra A. Wilson 75
Petero Sabune ’77. The Rev. Sabune received
with staff to identify prospective qualified Black faculty
are
only
council of the
Church. She is
Episcopal
in all fields.
Where
of Yale
college
they have sought, identified, and
qualified
Wilson is the
executive
vide assistance
alumnae/i have offered to assist;
the
the
on
and his efforts stimulated other Black
creative ways to attract full-time Black faculty. Black
Sullivan. But the
faculty
Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Asbury Park,
New Jersey. The Rev.
remain critical to the quality of
education of all students.
With a
the
was on
School. She is currently rector
saw
only for the education
professional
Church in Bridge-
he became rector of Sts. John, Paul, and Clement
the committee
paper,
appointed
recom-
mendations to the Minority Affairs Committee. Having
reviewed this
Episcopal
was
port, Connecticut, where she served for four years.
his
their data and
brought
1980
Presipaper to
position
had received
they
and
public”
Black
confidential report. When,
five years later,
Black
rector of St. Mark’s
act-
to hold
Anglican
rector of the
woman
was
woman
she became the
following August,
first full-time Black
priest
of
during 1981/82, the first
that post. The
concern.
lack
the first Black fe-
re-
increase Black faculty in other departments remain of
the
as
in the Episcopal Diocese of New York
University Divinity
luctance of faculty and administration to significantly
major
ordained
was
and the fourth in the nation. She celebrated her first
as
moves
priest
in 1980,
Theological Seminary
ation from Union
Temple University indicate continuing development
in this field of scholarship. As Vassar
it
Sandra A. Wilson ’75. In 1982, after her gradu-
science of Africa and African
or
perhaps from
except
Religion
any-
study in the arts, sociology, culture, liter-
to
ature, politics,
peoples,
in the
many
dominant society questioned whether there
a
a
major impact
Vassar
awards
a
on
geoscience students,
geology major who received
in the early ’Bos.
includ-
one
of its
J.J.C.
(S.A.L.S.A.), and Association of Students Interested
13
in Asia
So much is
expected of
backgrounds,
well
White, who
promise
to sexist and racist liter-
a
Yassar degree.
in activities
against apartheid
Black faces
are
demonstrations for divestment,
or
few.
in the
participate
Although
some
Black students do
field work in the Black community of Poughkeepsie,
links to the inner city
student organization
strong. Though the
Blacks
apathy of the Eighties has
well, it is important that
as
alumnae/i,
neglect
not
are
our
not
involved
we, students and
responsibility for informed
a
1983.
to
predominantly White institution,
of all that Yassar offers to
students take advantage
stretch their minds in this intellectually
mosphere. It is important also
stimulating at-
to have a reasonable
The celebrations
number of Black
fellow in
I
was
one
1971
part of
were:
Sandra Browne Hart ’6B, Sylvia Drew Ivie ’65,
Carolyn
Atkinson Thornell ’62, Marian
honored to be included
was
Yassar has
difficult to do in an environment in which,
level conducive to successful functioning. This reinof greater numbers of Black
faculty with strong
and of the role
awareness
they
can
of the need for equity
Some of
our
graduates are
professionally with
a
pleasure
a
solving real
life
problems. After
Although individuals
are
Ambivalence about their Yassar experience,
tainty about the relevance of club activities
lives, and the small number of others of color
uncer-
to their
are some
reasons
given for nonparticipation. Others are
making
a
heads of households
par-
not many.
so
busy
co-heads
or as
we
York
City
Delgado ’67
was
my
deputy for
munity psychiatrist,
ing, mentoring, and
Days
generous in informal network-
career
counseling.
The Career
conducted by the college and the Black alumnae/i
When I
was
When I worked
a
year before she
System.
joined
A
com-
president of the Black
was
At her untimely death in
City.
President Carter’s transition,
on
Patricia Stubbs Fleming ’57
policy.
was one
of my volunteers
She later became
a
special
sistant to H.EW secretary Joseph Califano, and is
with the
New
director of the Children’s Psychiatric
was
in educational
more
she
Psychiatrists of America.
Center in New York
We have been
then
in private practice,
care.
the New York State Mental Health
car-
mater.
was
Commissioner of Mental Health, Andrea
other priorities for their time and money. The old Afro-
to our financial contributions to our alma
was
worked together in foster
1980, she
over
at
gradu-
social worker at Bellevue Hospital, where I did my
of families dependent upon two salaries that they find
American pattern of giving to churches has not
was
Boston University School of Medicine in
psychiatric residency. When I
ried
I was
1949,1 worked with Marie Lawrence ’45, who
in Yassar clubs, their numbers
to me.
curiosity, diligence, and analytic skills developed
ties to bind them to Yassar.
as
resumes
they applied the intellectual
a
living
barriers.
than
number of Black alumnae. It
to see how well
For many Black alumnae/i there have not been strong
ticipate
For most
beyond
to move
more
knowledge
principles.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to work
ated from
Life after Yassar
struggle
a
to wed
potential,
to remain true to one’s
it has been
Yassar to
play.
one’s peers,
recognition by
vancement in one’s career,
financial security. Success has also meant satisfaction
us
forces the importance
educational base for
achieved the outward manifestations of success, ad-
practice,
as
department of
as-
now
Health and Human Services.
Her son, Douglass Fleming
’B2, is
one
of
our
few Black
forums in 1984 and 1987 brought many back to the
alumnae/i Yassar children, certainly the first son! As
campus for the first
director of studies for the President’s Commission
important role
Triple
time; they have helped
we can
play.
As
a
to see the
component of AAVC,
A VC began at the initial forum. It grew out of
the desire of those present to
play
a more
supportive
role to the college and to Black students. Besides
tinuing
courage
in recruitment,
accepted
Triple A VC has plans
students to
con-
to en-
to Yassar and to
come
offer assistance to families in the mechanics of enrollment. Marian
were
are
Secundy
and Claudia Thomas
Carty 71
the first co-chairs of Triple A VC. Current chairs
Joan Goodman Goodwin ’6O and Paula Williams
Walker 74. The observer position
first held by Dr.
For those of
us
Carty,
is
now
on
the AAVC board,
held by Joan Goodwin.
who have made
our
Yassar in service, the demands and
contributions to
personal
satisfac-
Mental Health, Betty
my work in
be relevant
to programs for
people nationally. As
as
current AAVC board
second
vice-president
Secundy
member.
has
been
The position of
held
by
Marian
and Billie Gaines. Other directors have in-
a
thought
chronically mentally ill
volunteer, I worked with her
I coordinated the task force
on
community support
After leaving city government in 1980, I became
medical professor of behavioral science at
C.U.N.Y. Medical School. Because I
years away from the hands-on
Marian Secundy
was
practice
generously lent
me
City College,
a
number of
of medicine,
the curriculum
she had developed for the Howard University College
of Medicine. It stimulated my
of medicine. Most
a
on
leave
systems.
board have included several of
Richard Roberts 74
on
psychiatric rehabilitation in Harlem might
medical students
us.
McCleary Hamburg ’44,
from the National Institute of Mental Health,
tion have been considerable. AAVC committees and
is
VP SPRING 1988
provided a strong
Gray Secundy
well.
as
Black alumnae/i, and they have used it well. Some have
of
comfort
classes, including
Afro-American alumnae to campus
is not easy. It
a
college’s centennial in 1960.
group of 39 distinguished graduates. They
a
to
Billie Gaines often says, there is lacking
a
departmental
a
member. The AAVC centennial celebration in
brought five
in efforts to fulfill one’s
distinctly
was
to lecture in several
To do all this,
is
I
with Dr. Henrietta Smith, the first full-time Black
faculty
as
at the
psychology
pleased
75, and me.
college have included
graduates.
in-group and wider group
relationships.
the
three Afro-American
are
of the
balance between social and academic life, and between
often while working to stay in school,
14
there
Currently,
trustees: BillieDavis Gaines, Sandra Wilson
It is essential that, in spite of the intense pressures
of being Black in
of
the first Black member
Yassar College Board of Trustees, served from 1971
’6O; I
social involvement.
Drew Ivie ’65 and James Mitchell 75.
Sylvia
Marian Secundy,
social and
in South Africa; at teach-ins
for freedom
struggle
variety of
a
to
related
events that affect them. Few
eluded
made in 1975.
in some instances Black students are not
represented
political
multicultural
a
brought together people from
ature has
or
has earned
press for
they
as
Although student response
anyone,
Black
(A.5.1.A.)
center, the fulfillment of the
mental
health
develop
recently,
services
thinking
the art as well
at
as
a
about helping
as
Brandeis
selected Christine Robinson 79
the science
visiting professor
as
my
of
University,
teaching
I
as-
sistant. She had received her master’s in psychology
Education
Billie Davis Gaines ’5B. Twice named
“Georgia
she received
grant from the National Endowment
for the Humanities to study medical ethics. She
STAR
the first Black trustee of Vassar.
Booker
T.
Washington High
significant
con-
tributions to both secondary and higher education.
Josephine
A winner of Vassar’s Helen Kate Furness
became the first tenured Black
her college major, she made
English,
a
dare” to minor in the difficult
After working for
as a
copy
she first
as
a
in
decision “on
Russian.
reporter and
editor, and earning a master’s in English,
at Booker T. For 18 years
taught English
she established and directed
there, which
reaching
prize
language of
short time
a
a
was
a
to become a
understanding of
people,
and of the students’
of the world and not
the
the
she has written
writer Alexander Pushkin,
African
equally great
was an
rently
a
neighboron
Human Ecology. She is
social
of whose ancestors
She is
general.
cur-
Vassar trustee.
Gray
university’s
served
on
the
on
Secundy ’6O. After
Bryn
receiving
Mawr and
in medical humanities from the Union for
of
women
College
responsibility
a
her
human values.
of medical ethics.
professor
curriculum
Her work draws
ground in social work,
as
Howard
at
on
health and
upon
her back-
applied
to
teaching
and
administration; she has also worked extensively as
a
grief therapist.
In 1973 she
was
named
an
“Out-
standing Young Woman of America,” and in 1975
from Cornell and
pursuing
was
a
doctorate in social
in the Heller School for Advanced Studies in
policy
Social Welfare.
our
Black alumnae,
that have developed
in Vassar
today
pings, letters,
as
well
as
professional links
with
the bonds of friendship
as we. have
become
more
involved
G.
Brad
our
number, I
with the variety of worlds in which
was
we
Williams
’77.
The
fellowships
for
he has
study
the
at
specialized in
He is currently
a
University
visiting assistant professor
Iris Mack ’7B.
With
of California at
faculty
impressed
live and work.
M.A. from the Univer-
an
Berkeley
in
became,
member of the
and
Ph.D. from
a
1976, the first Black
department of mathematics
at the Massachusetts Institute of
of
six
Laboratories
the
students
graduate
basis
evidence
selected
for
involvement has
been great.
struggle
have affected the liberal arts education pro-
vided by Vassar and
a
and
fine education,
experienced by
each of
us.
It is
indeed, despite the problems. For
some, the ways in which Vassar mirrored the racist at-
titudes and behaviors of the wider
stricting
and
inhibiting.
though distressing,
was
For others,
no
better
expected in this country, and
study
or
Vassar
in work-and kept
was
society
atmosphere,
or worse
so one
on
this
were con-
than
did one’s
keeping
on.
one
job-in
For many,
another challenge to be faced, to succeed at
the
scholastic
of
ability
attainment
research
as
and
spite
of difficulties, with the
other
people
to
scientists
awareness
Vassar
people have
we
or
that
more
forebears used
to be twice as
so
good
much
more
White, who has earned
grow in number means that there
greater opportunity
a
or
degree.
The fact that
is
as our
succeed, but because
is expected of anyone, Black
a
on
other
J.J.C.
would be expected of us, not only,
as
Brad G. Williams 77
Bell
Cooperative Research Fellowships
of
to grow in
strength,
to pro-
vide the foundation of social support that empowers
us
as a
community within the wider Vassar community,
we
are so
stand, those who opened the doors that
provide
those also to whom
and
we
must
give
us.
a sense
of belonging to the Vassar family.
responsibility
a
were
But there
of history
We have
a
to them.
As Afro-American alumnae/i of Vassar
have
we
the emotional,
financial, and social support that sustain
are
proactive
our
many on whose shoulders
enabled to enter, those who
life, identity,
was one
engineers.
in
Her
Technology.
field is applied mathematics. In 1980, she
involvement. There
The realities of Afro-American
of Stras-
of French at Vassar.
from healing the disorders of mind and body to rightour
of
French literature and
and to affect that wider community by
societal wrongs, the range of
strategies
recipient
From science to religion, from business to the arts,
ing
her
Fulbright-Hayes (1977/78) and Maguire (1978/79)
and in the future. As I read the clip-
and reports which I used to profile only
representative few of
the
Representatives. Among
to say, because Black
I am lucky to have had these
of
Ph.D.
Experi-
of Medicine, where she has
for the
Billie Davis Gaines 58
who head households.
Harvard, she
is currently associate
Committee
research interests is that of the survival
the critical and
burgeoning area
Education
Council of
sity
She
and
planning,
the Women’s Studies Program board and
menting Colleges and Universities, she moved into
University
and
Black Action Movement; she has also
Minority
Faculty
bourg,
M.S.S. in social work from
of
College
specialist in public policy,
a
welfare administration
history.
Marian
of human
Humanities
the great Russian
on
one
“citizens
as
several years
National
film
a
of the Soviet
roles
own
serving for
staff of
program
Faculty,
in the department
studies in the New York State
Black faculty at Cornell, she has been active in the
to Russia
citizens of the
just
hood.” Recently, after
service
at
professor
woman
where she holds the rank of
University,
associate professor
curriculum
four-year
language,
the
Cornell
social work education. Concerned with the lack of
which she organized for several years broadened
their
A. V. Allen ’6B. In 1986, Dr. Allen
program in Russian
1,500 students. The trips
over
was
responsibility
structive social
to
change
use
our
College,
energies for
and to provide
we
con-
opportunities
for those who remain outside and behind. Because of
the positions
of relative advantage
thanks to the excellence of
a
responsibility in the world is
which
we
enjoy,
Vassar education,
even
greater.
our
S
3
teacher of
School in Atlanta, she has made
a
a
State Russian Teacher of the Year,” and four times
15
Voices
Alumnae
from
Southafrica
The interviews below
conducted and edited under the press restrictions
as part of the state of emergency. In keeping with the
were
imposed by South Africa
regulations, the interviews omit discussion of detainees and/or unrest under the
emergency decree. Only information provided by the authorities is permitted.
Interviews, photographs, and captions by Karen Petersen ’76
I returned to South
WHEN
up
to see what
I soon
out
for
themselves.
I decided to transcribe the interview tapes
because each
Quite
bit,
a
from the three alumnae who agreed to
womans
different dimension
singular voice brought
very
of
they
as
that extremely
complex
and you knew that if you look
you also
x
and
on
y!
As
a
321,
pediatrician,
children in the
my
out
division also realized I
K.P.
of my work and I knew
course
the problem
a
have to look for the
I had been receiving reports
bloody well did report 46,48,47 xyy
York,
and beau-
tiful country.
counted chromosomes,
for the trisomes,
were,
When I finally got back to New
me.
look
interesting to
of the Vassar alumnae/i living there
had to say
they
found
speak with
some
this year,
Africa
I thought that it would be
There
was.
gynecologist knew
was no
question about it, and
doctor, but I
was a
was
The amniocentesis rule occurred because there
Karen Petersen is
on
various assignments.
It’s
Rolling Stone, the
Times of London,
and
the Associated Press.
Ms. Petersen is
New
I went to medical school in San
a
physics and math. He
over
where
came
back to South
are
bloody nonsense.
but
cases,
wheels within
are
different here, and there
difference between authori-
a
tarian and democratic-even
Regulations.
much
as
Group.
before the
we’re in the
Culturally,
Emergency
19505,
and
I wouldn’t want to again go through
sexism
America-you know,
which
blandly accepted
was
in
the way God intended things to
am
in it!
you are married
man
holds the property unless
by antenuptial
by tribal
contract or
law. The rights of
women
but generally it’s
sexist society, and generally it’s
authoritarian
a
society.
they’re swept
change from tribe
The way
to
tribe,
problems are dealt
an
with
under the rug, and the
rug is nailed
down.
was
amniocentesis, which was
skillfully,
and
the blood
fessional.
They
did their
somes, but
As
they would
over
I had wanted
problem. It
no
bank
here
job and
I called
was
was
done
very
pro-
counted the chromo-
up
excuse was
gynecologist had also given
it was
36.
not release the sex of the child.
I wanted to know,
genetics division, and the
my
absurdity.
an
Africans,
the
course
it, which is
one or
two
It’s the
old
question of putting things under the rug instead of
is
a
it’s medicine, but this thinking
the whole society. There
body
ex-
fairly innocuous example, be-
are
certain
runs
throughout
things that
every-
agrees to agree to because the authorities want
it that way.
However,
one
ing in South
of the nice
things, medically,
two doctors can, for an entire country,
ditions of
South
That
care.
was
very
Medical
African
We
also
did
people,
lay down
con-
surprising. Ann Raynal,
an
article in 1981 for the
Journal which laid down the
quirements for treating victims of
assault.
about be-
Africa is that if you know the right
the
rape and
lay publications
re-
sexual
for
the
patients, which were available free of charge. I had also
written
an
article
zine similar to
an
that
on
topic
for Fair Lady,
time. This
was
a
maga-
upmarket Redbook here, and given
many talks to all sorts of different
I had my child when I
an
they said, of
It may have happened in
it certainly is
another doctor, and I wrote
In South Africa, the
is
as
that
White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, and male-here
run:
very
organizations
at that
satisfying.
Generally, the medical system in South Africa is
much
more
whole.
authoritarian, reflecting the society
In Natal province,
English
than
Afrikaans,
where I live,
as
a
it is
more
but it is still much
more
the head of the
authoritarian than in the United States. I don’t know
given
any American nurses who would
to me, that
to me-he had known
claptrap, was that the test wasn’t reliable for determining the sex of the child. In ninth grade, you
VQ SPRING 1988
the child and then love
see
cause
of them. It’s
racism and
16
Oh no-o-o,
mother will
States too, but the wheels
I
in there, get the
the wrong sex?
amining them. This
with the
agency Picture
psychologist
won’t the mother reject the child when it’s born, if it’s
wheels within wheels. This is somewhat true in the
York and is
affiliated
Diego,
taking a gradu-
two months later.
different tempo here. There
are more
currently based in
nobody shall
social workers, whatever. I said to the South
place that always accepted and
encouraged creativity and toleration of other drum-
Africa in 1977. I moved
New York Times,
the
at Vassar. It was a
ate course in
German GEO, the
of
psychiatrist in there, get the family into counseling,
I met my husband, Owen, while I was
appeared in the
results
majored in chemistry and minored in physiology
mers.
Her work has
the
The American reaction to this
sex.
would have been get the
I
were
five children of the
African reaction to this was, therefore,
photo journalist who
recently spent five
the Middle East
hearing
upon
know her child’s
a
months in Africa and
who,
sex,
or
amniocentesis, rejected the unborn child. The South
Natal
Pietermaritzberg,
patients with four
two
or
same
’64
sup-
everyone must
idiocy because
subscribe to it!
one
Doreen Kossove
they
xy—whatever
that. The head of the genetics
to subscribe to this
posed
or
South African
the
put
through
hierarchy. But, again, it’s not
people
are
nurses
taught
to
go
think, but
to
..
a
up
with what the
.
the structure,
situation where
accept. You
may find
who are
people
capable of thinking within their given
profession, but outside of that, they drop it. If I make
religion
offhand comment about
an
around the people I work with, who
what they do, you
can
actually
government
or
are
very
the shutters
see
down and their faces close up. I’m not
about people who
are
thing the police will
just
afraid
even
at
come
talking
if they say
[that]
after them, but
come
refuse to think
good
some-
who
people
certain confines, because
beyond
do that would set up certain conflicts about this
to
country which would be overwhelming. The
are
not
law. But neither
protected by
won’t.
sources, while the doctors
they will protect their
Here, people listen
going on.
SABC is
a
reporters, and
are
to the BBC to find
state-run
organization
are a
lot of people in America
who believe in religion, too, but there
are
people who don’t push it
really religious
also
on
some
others.
When raising children you always have to tread the
line
breaking their will and
between
being their
servant. What we have tried to do with our
to
as we
To have the courage to be different here
or
can.
any
give her
daughter,
Natasha, is
much support and confidence
as
place-is lonely, except that here it
-
actually
can
be dangerous.
They separate
patient
confidentiality situation here is also very bad-doctors
about God. There
me
private schools. I
the
here-there
sexes
daughter
want my
school, because without boys
self;
the beliefs
of bigger,
you can’t measure your-
stronger,
cultural understanding,
which will
evidence to abrogate it. At
some
hey
that, but it’s
point
that
smarter,
adopt without
out what’s
you
coed
are no
to go to a coed
any real
need to say,
you
talk endlessly about unrest in other countries, while
mentioning nothing
about what’s going
paid
very noses. The kind of attention
ment in South Africa is very different in
the United States.
a
of
parliament. And
even
afraid of the
been used
Whites to
They
at
[would you
have
daugh-
live in your
to]
experience with
no
they’re completely separated
the
or
of your
want one
from them.
strangers, except for the maid, the tea
are
work,
are
of the Blacks-because that’s
neighborhood? White people
the Blacks;
they don’t.
when they
disagree
weapon: Would you want your
ter to marry one,
have
the White South Africans have the
police, afraid
as a
they
write to their member
vote: they could unseat the government, but
It’s difficult for
our
quality from
really don’t feel
People
voice here-they don’t
under
on
to the govern-
own
You don’t meet Black
gardener.
education and
I know
class.
girl
people
one
Zulu
doctor, and I don’t know him well.
I’ve been
politically active in the States, but I’ve been
politically inactive here. I’m
I feel it’s the proper thing.
the Iranian citizens,
American citizen and
an
I didn’t like it when
...
people who
were
not
Americans,
demonstrated in New York. It’s not their country. When
you’re
raised in the United
American
an
problems,
and
are
a
literate population and you
willing
are
have skills, despite
20 percent
our
probably about
is literate, and it makes
planning
a
to work and
illiteracy!
Remember
power
and
then the
people
showed
On the
40
power
for absolute
they’re going
things that
was
here have
president, and
can see
too-that they feel places them above civil
left-wingers
get
happen
power for that
into money
to everyone. It’s
me.
this country. The
the rand
what
They
a
very
rigid
rights.
The
but power
to have
taught
about Jesus
church state.
a
problem for
Christ,
a
her.
on
sanc-
women’s
or-
male organization. One
price
of books here,
dropping in value daily,
only the
Lutheran version, and my daughter is already asking
of books
university, where they
If
you’re going
be able to
especially
with
is hellishly expensive.
use
are
to have
them
Soroptisists
whole
is
painting.
of
paintbrush rather than
the laager
guns
was a
one woman
to
gun
[circling
women
a
long
wagons].
women
who
are
and excellent mothers.
who fainted after I had sewed up
picked up her
purse and it was
heavy. There
inside, and I almost fainted! I’m just
seeing mothers and nice middle-class
carrying
the
I know think nothing
in their purses,
basically nonviolent,
her child. I
to
as a
destroying the
because the Afrikaaners have
going into
carrying
Black
sanctions, you would like
as a
They will just dig in. The
of
a
needed most.
How much further sanctions will help
really doubtful,
history
will take
and place them at
club-to get certain things done without
I had
gets religion in school-that’s
are
America,
just dangerous
effect
Blacks who have trouble making ends meet certainly
long.
It’s a church state, and it is
Everybody
corruption,
a
any donations
hungry, and the right-wingers
certain kind of arrogance-in
subsidiary of
even
Can you imagine if that type of right-
very power
a
can’t afford to buy books. The
respect for civil rights, and he had the elec-
a
lost friend after
an
I work with, is like the Rotary Club, except
done
winger in the United States could stay in for 40 years?
People get
emigrating. She’s
of the things I want to do is get books, any books, into
over
corrupts, absolute
already in trouble because
tions, but education. The Soroptisists,
like Nixon and Reagan do to keep power. Nixon
bag!
vital, ef-
far. Her father
so
The main need that South Africa has is not
that it is not
right-wingers had problems. You
no
people
are
friend after friend. This is having
tremendous difference in
to limit the term of the
tion in his
games
lot of
ganization
One of the very important
power.
was
being,
want her to be a
which she is
want her to lose that. We’re
a
who
the immediate future of the country.
corrupts absolutely,
here
can
physician
roughhouses with her, which is important. Develop-
20 percent of South Africa
The national party has been in power for
years.
lady; I
gives them permission to be physically active. I don’t
always find people who
other hand,
to be a nice young
Doreen Kossove ’64,
to socialize her. I don’t want her
they’re going
fective human
not true. I am
girls school because of
mentally, for girls, this makes them confident, and
fairly easily remedied, given time
and money. You have
going
to a
trained to think from
American perspective. Many of the situations in the
United States
the way
say
you’re dealing with
States,
you’re
people may
man,
afraid of Natasha
not used
young
people
Rhodesia.
guns around. But this won’t be a
17
The Afrikaaners, if necessary, will eliminate everyone.
the years I’d put in and not be
They have
a
As far
no
place
they
as
to go and
they won’t give it
it, the Blacks here
see
are
up.
asking for
what happened in Mozambique and Rhodesia, where
everything
theirs overnight. But look what
was
pened. People have
illiterate
skilled,
to be
this
people inheriting
overnight and expect it
hap-
taught. You can’t have
un-
and in two years
out
had
we
adding
started
we
operated in the
we
here,
dogs
I really do.
with rabies and
cleaning out
was
our
tremely challenging
because it is
the
case
of rabies,
to protect the
we
see
quite
is
disease,
most common
have
a
ex-
life-threatening. In
tremendous responsibili-
a
rabid dog in their
bodies in animals
foreign
few
a
contrast
public and tell people when they
get shots if there is
I’ve found
I
bilary—in
and anals and clipping nails
ears
in the States. Bilary,
ty
When
on.
couple of months before everything
I love my work
to vets
Mandini, Kwazulu
we were
organized.
cancers, and
Margaret Hiza Ardington ’69
veterinarian. We built
kitchen table, and
a
garage for a
all
country
to work.
a
practice together-the initial building by ourselves,
must
area.
challenge. I’ve
a
taken out squash balls, rocks the size of hen’s eggs,
rubber baby bottle
eagle owl
setting.
in the
fishhooks. I’ve got
nipples,
with
hospital now,
We’ve had
broken
a
marsh owl, which was
a
cussed, snakes, ugh-they
in with
come
fridge:
they
like
con-
fungal
con-
you
it cools down and then you
can
miniatures,
these wonderful little
the size of
don’t survive very well. We had
gastroenteritis the other day; we’re
pened
to him.
I’m
slightly
one
handle it. I’ve treated duikers,
antelopes,
cape
wing
ditions in their mouths. If you want to handle
put it in the
a
small dog; but
a
a
mongoose with
not sure what
He died. The stress of
hap-
hospitalization
often finishes these little animals.
Margaret Hiza Ardington
’69,
veterinarian
have wanted to be
I
veterinarian since I was nine,
a
since I could think about
major at Vassar,
a career.
and I had
a
I was
biology
a
wonderful person and
teacher, Sue Lumb, who taught
me
how to think and
of my roles
treats other
myself,
an
an
people
have had
thoughts. I went on to the
Pennsylvania for graduate school because
of their liberal attitudes toward women,
especially in
medicine. At that time, I was the second
woman from
to go on to
ever
veterinary school. I had the idea
working for
him, and with
been foisted upon
I practiced in
is away of
Maryland and Pennsylvania,
where I worked
on
and cows, which is what I had wanted to do.
horses
I prac-
ticed for two years, and then, when my husband asked
me
no
to marry
until I
him, I
came
was
not allowed to answer yes or
to Zululand to see this
country. I
came
American
In my surgery
a
have
we
is of British extrac-
South African Indian; and
us over
we
the years different tribal
very well
example that
together,
should be
set.
medicine. I
When I graduated,
American
people. We have all gotten along
South African
very much taken with
an
an
and I think that is the sort of
of studying equine medicine, until, in
senior year,
my
I met my husband, Peter, who was an intern in bovine
was
living here
equals.
American; Sara, who
tion; and Leah, who is
of
as
example of how
as
University
bovine medicine.
I
can
vote in this
citizenship,
parties,
me.
losing
worked for the
cell leader
I have
really wanting it; it has
American
are
hammering away
I
Party;
Ido believe
was a
political
ones, still work with
opposition
an
I have
citizenship.
Federalist
in Mandini.
if they
want to, and
But I will not vote, because that
my
the government. We need
liament
not
Progressive
here
even
country if I
opposition party in
at the government.
par-
My hus-
in 1974 at the worst time, during the
summer, when
it’s really hot and horrible. I contracted Rift Valley fever
band and I support the PEP and contribute
money
from
I’m rather apolitical.
doing a
farm, and I
deter
post-mortem
was
on one
of the calves
the
on
ill the rest of my stay here, but it didn’t
me.
ing me
she
come
was
was
visit had been his mother’s
long
idea,
quite concerned that I would have
going on.
meet
letter
She
was
describing
living in
the problems that
the sticks.
mainstream;
there
no
because
idea what
right. Peter had written
area, and we’re isolated.
isn’t
We’re
One
really
the
variety
would
one
farm in
on a
me a
a
rural
feels out of the
of goods
and
services, and the telephone system is absolutely horrendous.
My first
year here was
different. It
an
was a
really
sink
marriage
-
or
swim, but I
everything’s so
hard year when I look
unpleasant
back,
year, in certain ways. All of a sud-
den, here I was in the wilds of Zululand. I had
family
and
to come to but
everything
was so
new,
very awkward and difficult for me. There was
I was going to leave America with
my
a
instance,
on
the 21st
Melisiwe that
political person,
training school
feelings
helped her.
I
toward
keep
a
a
trying. For
lady
named
graduate, and
we
hope
good teacher and also have
helping
encourage my husband’s
trying to
on
go to a Black educational
in Eshowe will
she will go out and be
good
we
you get
We’ve, unfortun-
of this month,
helped to
we
others-the
way
projects, especially
we
his
get the Black cattle farmers
to raise cattle on an economic basis. Our cane and
cattle
farm is 1,100 acres, and in
tons. We
have 55 married
about 100
children;
was
in this area, which is
way
has quite
a
a
good
year we cut
couples
on
crop. The farm is one of the
bit of
21,000
the farm and
the numbers get bigger and smaller
it
all
you get losers.
ately, had mostly losers, but
depending on the
training and
not a
to universities. Sometimes
going
winners, sometimes
lovely
no
basically
We also give money to education-we have
support-
cattle projects,
think that is true for
any
it was
every month, but I’m
ed Blacks
We went back and got married in the States. Hav-
VQ SPRING 1988
one
not be afraid of my own
Vassar
18
I think
citizen is to show
pioneers
mostlya cane-growing area.
wastage-the
Cane
stalk being used for
the sugar and the
green part thrown away. Our cattle
follow
the
cutters and eat the
cane
green part, the
waste. Since cattle need a great deal of
this
roughage
cleaning
the house
up
What would
we
that
so
provides the roughage and protein for them. The cattle
should
really need this roughage during the wintertime, when
out
the grass isn’t growing. The other beneficial
the quality of my life here, and I
thing that
we
happens with this method is that the cattle add their
my
fertilizer to the field. There is
riage is
here that my husband is
to
symbiotic relationship
a
encouraging the
other farmers
try.
Sunday after Sunday,
establish
properly
his days off,
on
trying
pastures,
to
teach
Kwazulu,
cutting
people how
tried, but it didn’t work. There
lot of good intentions gone astray. We did,
help people keep
their cattle alive
during
a
were
dying all
over
on an
the Kwazulu hills. It made
Ever since I
had Christmas
was
When I first arrived, I felt there
parties.
something terribly wrong with these parties, that
All the farm
It would be hot, and
rail at them.
help would
and they would sit in
together,
ing.
13 years ago, we’ve
a
our
come
it could injure
badly. My
rocking
mar-
the boat.
but
on
things
extremely quiet and
are
the farm. We go about
our
daily
istence without any trouble and have wonderful
living around
my
This is the home where I’ve raised
us.
children, had
my married life. If it was
at the pros
leaving at
children’s
my
responsibility.
As far
and cons, there
and
and
of
identity
to a
beautiful
place
that’s
now.
environment,
They have
There is
a
down to
really having to leave,
something
roots
strong
of community here in Kwazulu. If it does
sense
big
a
extreme benefits for
are
farm where their father grew up.
a sense
me,
concerned, looking
are
a
just for
this point, but I do
future,
they
as
them to be growing up in such
a
ex-
people
come
Peter and I will work
out, but it will have to be together.
in and
start a little bit of
sing-
we’d hand out presents and sweets and show
ing,
it
school build-
minister would
Somebody would
be got-
than
me
bring
wrecking
was
bit of the ostrich with the head in the sand sit-
peaceful here
on
to the farm
came
they were patronizing.
ten
basis.
everyday personal
a
uation perhaps,
worry about
were
saw
things
That’s my priority.
drought
difference,
a
important to
I wouldn’t worry about
of good will, which was important
showing
was a
more
though,
by operating a drought feedlot. Hundreds of cattle
and it
to
raise cattle, and writing out all sorts of pro-
grams in Zulu. He
a
brack to
found this behavior
light:
move
money in-so we could
our
soon
husband’s and my relationship very
It’s
Peter actually went out into the hills of
invest
easily. I
could
we
take with us, and what sorts of
a
Kay Moody Bergh ’49
Capetown, Cape Providence
movie like Dumbo. In the middle of the film, everyone
would be walking out,
it
was
nobody would
all extremely awkward.
because I really felt this
ward culture clash-it
ing Zulu dancing for
big
drums and
their
own
was a
the
special
instigation,
awk-
terribly, terribly
started hav-
people. They have
music makers, and
their
they
own
make
costumes, real Zulu costumes with skins and
joys doing
also
interested, and
just wasn’t right-we
beads and spears, and
change
be
Under my
this
that
now
they just
love it.
Everyone
slaughter a
we
en-
been such
tremendously-there’s
a
have these wonderful dances. We
beast and make
a
huge
stew, which
is much healthier than the sweets, although
hand out the sweets to the kids. Everyone,
still
we
whatever
age, gets a present. At least now it’s not such a cultural
clash.
I’m
lucky
women
in that I have
around
band has been
a
always boosted
wanted to
do,
to
a
few educated
can
and supported
me
the
seems
family,
ones
own
My
hus-
me
in anything I’ve
We in the
too.
farming
that live here-the rest of the
to rotate on
entertainment after
I find it hard
through.
keep friends-they often leave,
one’s
professional
be my friends.
women’s libber all along, and he has
and his
communityare
community
that
me
a
so one
tends to make
while.
Jacqueline. My girls
African
my husband
sitting
registered in the
country
criteria for
we
leaving:
danger
and
in the
emigration papers
filing
cabinet.
Maryland and
I
am
for
still
maintain that
in case. But when we first
came
had decided that there would be two
if he has to bear
ment which he does
mediate
I have
state of
registration yearly, just
to this
eight and six, Julia
have both American and South
citizenship, and
not
arms
for
a
govern-
support, and if there is im-
to our family and to us. Those
things
have not happened.
When State of
go,”
By
traveling with
chance
Emergency
One came, I said, “Let’s
we
bus tour: he
Kay Moody Bergh ’49,
farmer
met again in Paris, and then saw one
I went back to the States, and by then we had decided
to get married. We
stayed in America for
sailed back to South Africa
Enterprise.
was
After 17
on a
days,
nice enough,
arrived
we
a
bit and then
boat called the African
although
in
couldn’t imagine having
kept
me
was
They
me.
American in-law! So
they
in town for four to five days and then off
went to their farm
1951,
an
Capetown,
his mother
furious and his brother wouldn’t speak to
in Clem William. In those
it took about four
or
five hours
on a
tar and
we
days,
gravel
road.
This
was
all
initially
I had been involved
a
bit strange for me, because
doing
capital investment
venture
in New York. I didn’t know much about plants and
growing things.
and
majored
pletely
I had
in
graduated
economics
My husband, being
different life, of
We built
a
a
business
farmer, led
side
a
of
com-
course.
farmhouse,
very attractive. His
in 1949 from Vassar
the
up
on
the mountain, and it
terrible time when I
was
was
really uptight about staying. All I could think of
was
down in the valley below. I started
a
on a
his mother and I with my aunt.
another yet again in London. About two weeks later,
economics.
and when State of Emergency Two came, I said,
“Let’s go.” I went through
was
which
I have wanted to leave, but my husband hasn’t. We
have two beautiful girls, ages
I
first met my husband in Rome,
family
lived in the old house
a
garden,
not know-
19
but I had a lot of books
ing anything about gardening,
to read
which
were
interesting. As
very
interested in development,
woman
business-
a
I became intrigued
with the idea of developing the rich plant life I
finding around
plant in particular-a shrub
me, and one
which was made into
a
was
tea, rooibostta tea: rooi
ing red, and bostta, bush. It
was a
purple
about nine years-and my husband didn’t think any-
thing
own
with batteries
tower,
enough
to create
power to
television! But that
pick
up
to get the
the Whites.
was
The Coloreds in those days lived in thatched reed
houses-the walls
well
as
the roof.
as
In actual fact,
allergies and
I’ve often wondered if they weren’t better houses than
digestive problems. But there
industry de-
today’s
was
no
at that time. We had to do a lot of tests and
out how to
figure
type of seed
was
get the seed
very
to
germinate,
this
as
and would stay in the soil
tough
for many, many years. It is usually collected by the ants,
and the way to collect it
to open up the anthill.
was
We grew about 3,000 pounds for
but
we
or
now
six million dollars
all of that
spent
we
mountains and became
more
flora and fauna of the
area.
wildflower shows,
them. So
was
also
was
very
initial marketing,
an
got the industry going, the tea brings
that
in about five
Through
and
more
We had
decided
we
of the first
wanted to raise
started to garden seriously. Of course, this
we
at that
industry
a new
time, around 1968. It
difficult, but ultimately became
a
very suc-
Colored houses
After my husband died, it became almost impossible
I
had
the
farm
cooperatives,
and
and I
all
these
also
was
shares
in
place,
various
quasi-government
on a
board of trustees, the South African Botanical
Society.
You just cannot be active in this country and not be
South African citizen. People will say, “It’s all very
a
well for you to criticize, you
take your passport and
can
leave whenever you want.” I couldn’t really function.
I mean, I could have lived here
I couldn’t have taken
an
perfectly happily,
active
part in the
but
people
can
income taxes
on
well, I don’t really
in his grave! So, I thought,
over
want to go back to the States anyway.
Clem William, where I first lived, is
munity.
and the
There is
no
English,
and there
Coloreds.
to
saw
it, and right
are on
are no
is
area
that you
see
and then in the Sixties the Coloreds caught up.
mill and the shoe factory
next to that is the White
Afrikaaner
see
the
are
them. I don’t
care
politics are:
people food.
I think the important thing is to educate
came
here,
up
in the mountains,
sat down at the table.
the
to vote
of. But the Afrikaaner
the Afrikaaner
man
men
something they
woman
and be
had
makes the decisions
though. They
didn’t
to hold
do other things outside the house. I
was
were no
tion. I had the first proper
cubic feet big, and this
I
It
just
was
fridge
was
not been out here
at
big enough
for
overseas
ago that proper
comes
can
people,
people!
get to know the
who knows this country is
And I think anyone
completely against
only
wife
refrigera-
very liberal
a
and Tutu-when he
people,
With regard
a
electricity arrived
actually had TV long before
we
on
was
are
pushed
bit-and Boesak.
to
the
withdrawing of
these
many
in the middle of
we were
recession anyway, they had many American stock-
holders,
so
really it was just easier
to
leave, politically
and economically. They weren’t making anything,
a
get out? It
not
so
convenient. They had done
was
great deal, the American companies, to bring up the
living standards,
think it’s
Americans
By
help educate these people, but I
to
tragedy
a
can
that
they
are
pulling
influence this country
a
out
now.
great deal.
pulling out, they lose their influence;
if you
haven’t got any investment, who’s going to listen? Cer-
tainly not
big
cause
Mr. P.W Botha! When these companies had
investment it
it
important that
was
important to
was
P.W.
listen,
the economy. But
a
another, but with
now
years
the farms.
We
had proper power
-
no
be-
that
now-we can
sanctions
still get what
were
in
no
way
we
tions demonstration
on
amount has
here
happened
whole country
only part
we can
in
the
though.
It’s very
in the last 30 years. I’ve
seen
in front of my eyes, but we’re
way there. We’ve got so much to
develop!
a
fantastic country that
as
can
If
consumers
to leave.
can
actually help the
whole of southern Africa. I think it’s much too
place
ex-
A tremendous
just turn the tables around and get these jobs
build up
a
sanc-
campus.
South Africa.
develop
ours
and I was quite
photograph of
the last boat to leave,
citing living
a
on
from
do
need. I truly feel that
constructive,
shocked when I saw the Vassar
so
go-
more
come
Korea and Taiwan and places like that; well,
going, the Black South Africans
seven
sanc-
tions, people like Buthelezi, Helen Suzman, who
influence behind them, nothing to make them
block of ice and
only
week,
a
and leaves knowing absolutely nothing. Live with the
liberal. Forty-seven percent of U.S. imports
what do you do with it?
don’t realize it was
comment. Look
in and out for
can
tray of ice cream!
People
who
wear-
in Clem William -4V2
making one
long enough,
Teddy Kennedy
heard
considered very impressive.
looked at it and said,
in
actually,
how people
see
Ameri-
to want to
or
I think,
immoral. I don’t
who don’t know the conditions of the country, who have
I’ll be
inside lavatory facilities
are
job.
sanctions.
against
are
women ever
the
least, read and write and learn
kind of
some
they
many ways
who drove at that time.
There
down
to go on, one way or
outside the
seem
possibly get people
ing
is powerful in the home;
I don’t think that the Afrikaaner
felt subservient
never
give
intelligently and understand all the issues until
can, at the very
they
votes don’t
American influence is gone, those businesses
They
door, bonnet in hand, like sentinels. I,
which was
what the
and employ them first. You can’t
area—they
country
is that
jobs for
people and create
a
of course, would sit down with the
ing slacks,
next
kind of petty apartheid
same
women never
at the
only
side, the hos-
on one
South Africa today
we’ve got to educate these
why
com-
in the big towns.
When I first
home.
Blacks there,
two sides of the same street. In these
towns, you don’t
stayed
unusual
friction between the Afrikaaners
The Colored
pital and the
an
anywhere,
don’t realize either-that it took 10 to
overseas
American companies, well,
my husband’s estate, which would
have made him turn
the farms, and almost
on
15 years before the Afrikaaners had reasonable houses,
structure
of the country, not to mention having to pay Ameri-
good ventilation-
for the Whites until 1951.1 think that’s something that
I’m totally
not to become a South African citizen. In the first
very
in the winter. Today, the
warm
The essential issue for
involved in the
one
They had
and
ones.
summer
have inside sanitation and lavatories. This didn’t exist
us.
lot of time in the
a
and
year for
a
brick
cool in the
cessful project.
VQ SPRING 1988
our
up
sun
tannin or caffeine, very healthy, good for
veloped
20
putting
the signal. What they didn’t go through
mean-
tea with no
of
charged by the
exciting
BJ
Karen Pet rsen's South Africa
Right: Amanda is
woman
an
to whom I gave
18-year-old
a
lift
when
driving through the Western
Transvaal,
still
apartheid.
She
a
stronghold of
was
unemployed and
much future
see
pregnant, and didn’t
for herself
Above: Zulu mine workers
on
their
Sundays off have street competitions,
individually and by group, testing their skills
at ancient tribal
war
dances.
Right: Two female street vendors in the
market at Durban,
Their
many
22
on
pancake makeup
women
the Indian Ocean.
is characteristic
from this eastern region.
of
These two hoys in Sanction,
Left:
White suburb of Johannesburg,
but they have become
an
arc
exclusive
only joking,
because they
friends only
private school together. The White boy's
father pays for his tuition. The Black hoy is
go
to
scholarship.
The school has only recently
“integrated";
the Black boy is
student body
of
The
private
citizens
Above: All the
are
little pay.
of three in
a
300.
of
the most heavily armed
Africa
one
on
Black.
This
South Africa
of
any in
security guards
They
man
are
also
the world.
in South
work long hours
is at the end
of
for
his day,
exhausted.
Left: A teenage hoy
on
his Sunday off.
works in the mines and lives
violent
near
life in
a
He
lonely and
the all-male hostels of Jcppestown,
Johannesburg.
23
Campus Social Life
in the Age of AIDS
by Eric Marcus ’80
Schools nationwide
about AIDS,
are
vicious
a
the lessons
our
report
health
public
potentially devastating in
problem
the years to
being absorbed?
But
come.
forgot
are
LIVING
selectively shut
easy to
reality.
Students acknowledge this every time they refer
to “the real world” out
so
there, beyond the walls. But with
much information about AIDS in the news, only
hermit could avoid exposure to the tragic
medical
newspapers,
seem
magazines,
to be no
present
and
updates,
dire
case
a
studies,
that
predictions
and airwaves.
fill
There would
issued
a
AIDS.
danger posed by
which
was
awareness
discussions,
one
heed
AIDS
another.
one on
buildings.
thing. Getting students
cation, however, is
is
printed
condom dispensers recently installed
at
Vassar
remains
campus has shown
Edu-
with HIV
dent. That
varies
lation,
depending on several
“Safe Sex” party than
a
who
free condom?
a
I stopped by at the dorm to talk with students
drawing signs, taping brochures
were
dents, particularly heterosexual students,
the AIDS risk
several
are
at
Virus
risk,
factors but is
a
or
practice safer
about
an
—com-
risk that
inescapable
a
well. Heterosexual male students
AIDS, but unprotected
one
fall weekend,
was
significant risk
are
sex
the least likely
is still
risk.
a
to assess what im-
pact, if any, AIDS has had
on
students. Over the
of 48 hours, I spoke with
couple
course
sex
and birth
a
straight
and gay, in-
few campus student leaders, attended two
a
campus-wide“Safe
party sponsored by Davison House, and
room-only showing
of
Disney’s
The
a
standing-
Sleeping Beauty.
Students I spoke with knew about AIDS. Most
marginally informed, although
gaps in their
understanding
some
cern
were
revealed serious
of the disease. One stu-
dent thought he could contract AIDS from
For students who said they
Sex”
were
did not usually translate into
a
to the
walls,
most didn’t believe
they
practicingsafer
were
at risk.
are aware
of
“One of my friends,
is
[CHOICE
reticent about asking
or
no
in
the
subject
of
a
more
or
result
familiar with AIDS.”
Many, if not most, heterosexual students
primarily
her
“If this party does nothing
else,” he said, “people will be
are
or
condom.”
illusion that the party would
changed behavior, but,
heterosexual
People
sex.
partner about his
a
bringing up
Mr. Smith was under
campus
said it would have to be
practice safe
to
a
-
like the
population in general-take comfort in the
a
disease limited to homosexuals
drug users.
partners of IV
contracting
The fact is heterosexuals
-
and bisexuals
-
drug
users
the disease and
spreading
it into the
larger population in ever-increasing numbers.
“Straight
students aren’t
dealing with AIDS
they believe it simply does
not affect
because
them,” explained
Alexandra Carter ’BB. “They don’t feel they have to
worry.” John
Cook ’BB,
People’s Alliance,
this time
of their lives.
boyfriend. He broke
going
co-president
added: “But
I know
up with his
out with a woman.
The gay students I
sex
a
guy
Gay
confused at
who
had
a
boyfriend and started
He didn’t tell his
friend about the ex-boyfriend,
condom when he had
of the Vassar
people are
and
new
he didn’t
girl-
use
a
with her.”
spoke
with know they
are
part
con-
of
sex.
lives to minimize the threat. During his freshman year,
With the exception of the gay students with whom I
spoke,
junior
a
educate everyone who attended about AIDS
toilet seat.
sexually active,
control],
extreme case for him
sexual history
the social life of Vassar
of dozen students, both
sex.
CHOICE counselor
belief that AIDS is
weekend parties, including
VQ SPRING 1988
along the lines of
ran
Hours before the Davison “Safe Sex” party got under
and intravenous
terviewed
24
stu-
But this is the age of AIDS. And what better party
favor at
gay and bisexual male students face a
a
Row.
a
the big health
largely
gay and bisexual male students are at the most
My job,
by Harper &
was
organization that offers information and counseling
against infection
(Human Immunodeficiency
to contract
published this
time when herpes
risk. Female students who have sexual contacts with
as
was
a
and dorm party themes
scare
for any sexually active student. As in the general popu-
year
was
“Red and White” and “Moose Club” (a mock fraternity).
are
monly called the AIDS virus)
Living Together,
walls
who is
signs of the
AIDS has already killed
exhortations about taking precautions
Male Couple’s Guide
its
dancing,
with students
to take
College students who ignore the Surgeon General’s
to
room,
and the secretary of Davison, doesn’t believe most stu-
informal
presentations,
Vassar graduates.
“CBS This Morning.”
was
Scanning the two-story
of
disease, although
His first book, The
dining hall. Each partygoer
free condom.
filled
me as
entrance
jammedthe
and hanging decorations. W. Morgan Smith,
abstract-no
a
ticket seller called after
reminded of the late Seventies, when I was
was
way,
at three different locations in campus
Eric Marcus is
a
is making its way to the Vassar campus in the form
pamphlets, and
segment producer for
to be the oc-
covered with signs concerning AIDS and safer sex, I
escaping implications of the clear and
Several years into the AIDS crisis, AIDS
condom,”
to Davison’s former
fall.
out
your
I moved past the students who
behind the protective walls of Vassar
College, it’s
happened
casion of Vassar’s first “Safe Sex” theme party. “You
now,
This article follows up
AIDS education at Vassar last
on
The fall weekend I visited
to teach our children
trying
a
high-risk
their
group and have made changes in
Mr. Cook traveled to New York City to go to gay bars
or
go
dancing. Visits
to the
city provided
an
oppor-
for him
tunity
and
his friends
people-as they did for
to
were
at Vassar.
now.
When I go down to the Mug
I
lots of
see
meet
other
gay
my friends and me when we
But he notes,
“People
cautious
are more
"
student
[the
This is
pub],
a
but not gay cruising. The gay
cruising,
wonderful place.”
students I’ve talked to don’t want to sleep around. It’s
dangerous.
too
They
A 20-year-old
awareness
want to stay alive.”
transfer student said
gay
about AIDS didn’t
his sexual behavior. “I
was aware
since I first started having sex,
sex.” I asked him what he
so
and afraid of AIDS
hygiene
AIDS is not
living
to 40.”
on
a
el
matter
here because
he
But,
explained,
campus. “AIDS is not
no one
has it. It’s been
issue because the gay organization has
an
stupid.
to see that it’s
spontaneity. It’s just
major concern
a
burning issue
a
is
sex
and health. If they learn that, they’ll have
better chance of
a
students
thought straight
They [straight students] should be able
of
an
change
I’ve always had safe
had to learn from gay students: “Casual
not an issue of freedom or
that
he had to
mean
it
brought
up.”
To all of the students I spoke with, including the gay
students, AIDS is still
before I
actually
abstraction,
an
it
as
was
for
me
mm
knew anyone who had the disease.
In the early 1980s,
during
the first
couple of
years that
i
al
\
SKSS
AIDS
was
in the news,
I
that AIDS
thought
was
a
disease Vassar graduates did not get. At the time, the
<
popular stereotype of those who contracted the disease
was
of sexually promiscuous, drug
This
the
image was
Men’s Health Crisis
Gay
City-a
social service
I worked with two
my age who
men: an
IV
drug
now serves
a
user
volunteer,
and
a
from the disease,
as were
myself that
I
was
safe
my friends. Nice boys didn’t
That all changed with a phone call. I hadn’t
friend of mine,
a
accomplished pianist.
innocently.
“I
was
Double shock. Vassar
boys
again relationship
My
only what they want
over
the years
an
I
Maybe
friend died
AIDS is
And
”The
I have AIDS.”
theme,
I
I
it’s away
stayed for only
never
liked dorm
forced
than two years ago. Two
real.
And safer
sex
isn’t
”My
to
across one
parties,
a
and I
-
no
matter what the theme.
a
our
write:
on
staff are delightful.
extra mile.”
very
warm
and
cozy...
etc.”
room
and the
hope
food
were
wonderful.
to return soon.”
beautiful and gracious.”
large, airy, well-appointed...
generally everything one could need was provided.
The
wall that listed
dance
enormous
“deep kissing”
contracting
or
as
section of the
canopied four-poster bed
lovely...”
was
COME BACK TO
ALUMNAE HOUSE.
SOON.
pos-
transmitting
time when we-my gay Vassar friends
young classmates
room was
embrace
didn’t think seriously about the health
“Necrology”
guests
”Alumnae House...it’s
haunting
balcony overlooking the
quences of our sexual involvements.
fore
to
party
For
was a
us
answers.
are
HIV.
There
people
I
passionately, completely oblivious
unsafe in terms of
sibly
our
room was
”Both the
’’The
everything around them, including the
sign
multiple-choice
blank.
car-
short while at the “Safe Sex” party.
stood at the edge of the
to
a
of life.
a
young man and woman in a close
floor. They kissed
rather than
They really go the
Since then, several other Vassar
But I stayed long enough to be struck by
image. A
Our comment card is
on-again, off-
was
others have lost partners to the disease.
painfully
pre-printed,
was
graduates have died from the disease, still others
HIV-positive,
Not
—
let you talk about
well-supplied with towels, linens,
more
heartbreaking.
to hear.
open-ended essays
loads of Vassar alumni drove to his memorial service.
It was
guests.
ask for
a
I at risk?
was
our
we
it's the Vassar environment that
encourages
did indeed get AIDS. And
since he and I had been involved in
wonder,
seen
past spring. He
hospital.
its toes because
impersonal, big hotel-chain forms that
“What have you been up to?”
in the
on
feedback from
—
Seventies Vassar grad, all summer,
not since his master’s concert that
I asked,
and receive
solicit
get AIDS.
an
Alumnae House stays
young
regularly participated in bacchanalian
Both died. I comforted
orgies.
gay men.
Center in New York
organization that
than 2,000 persons with AIDS. As
more
man
abusing,
reinforced by volunteer work I did with
But that
began showing
conse-
was
more
information call (914) 485-3700,
Alumnae House,
Poughkeepsie,
or
write to
NY 12601.
Open to the public.
be-
up in the
Vassar Quarterly.
83
25
Alfred Stieglitz, K.N.R., No. 3, Lake George (formerly called K.U.R., No. ?>), 1923, vintage gelatin silver print,
5-by-4-inch.es, Vassar College Art Gallery, bequest of Edna Bryner Schwab ’O7. Before 1922, Stieglitz called his
photographs of Lake George clouds Songs of the Skies; those after that date he called Equivalents. In 1923, however,
created two sets of cloud
photographs
and Katherine N. Rhoads
storm
on
a
tree.
which contain
While
as
abstract, almost nonobjective, portraits of
(K.N.R.). There
Stieglitz
was
identifiable attributes.
are
not the
six
first
photographs
two
in each of these two
artist to create abstract
portraits,
This “portrait” relates to Katherine Rhoads’s
associate
he
painters—Georgia O’Keeffe
series, which illustrate the effect of a
his
early portraits
personal strength
are
and
unlike others
resiliency.
The Vassar Connection: Paul Rosenfeld,
Edna Bryner Schwab'07, and Alfred Stieglitz
by Dennis Anderson
(192 )
Stieglitz
Alfred
Donors Paul
and Edna
Rosenfeld
Bryner
Schwab ’O7
Rosenfeld (1890-1946) and Edna Bryner
PAUL
’O7
(1886-1967)
disciples whose crossed
a
significant
collection of
holdings
These prominent
of the ongoing research
Gallery for
the
part of the
of art. While
the
as
Alfred
paths brought
Stieglitz
to Vassar
paintings by
the Vassar
by
effort to make
Bryner’s gift to
of
an
part
a
Art
College
up-to-date
an
to
in-
10,000 objects
the collection
be
can
seen
alumna, her motives for giv-
ing Rosenfeld’s collection (which she inherited after his
death)
remain
Bryner
sive effect of Alfred
pioneer of
and both
were
Stieglitz,
modern art in
the
by
the perva-
vanguard dealer
and
early 20th-century America,
astutely bought
works of art by the artists
whom Stieglitz represented.
catalyst bonding the
touched
1
Stieglitz
was
silent
pieces.
Georgia
Bryner
Georges Rouault,
lections form
a
body
of art that is both substantial and
How these two
personalities related
how their collections
anecdote.
came
Paul Rosenfeld
to Vassar
was
a
limpid brown eyes.”
generous person
admired
widely
in
vivacity
He
for
conversation.
a
existence
bequests
nearly every
An
but also because in
Gallery,
because
is
represented,
instances there
examples of each artist’s work.
Rosenfeld’s collection
not
Stieglitz group
some
Art
only
College
important,
came
are
several
For instance,
from
three John Marin water-
In
a
manners
and
certain freedom and comfortable
until the
3
resources.
He
Depression
Poughkeepsie,
was
no
seriously
stranger to the
Riverview
Military
1903-1908, where he
study piano.
1943 essay entitled “All the World’s
keepsie,”
was
income
independent
forced by “orders from home” to
to the Vassar
artist of the
Academy
at
affectionate and
his gentlemanly
Valley, having attended
Of all
and
fascinating
plumpish, dapper
was an
Hudson
this is among the most
Stieglitz
a
who, though somewhat aloof,
provided him with
bachelor
2
and little attention has been paid to the effect he had
championed.
to
is
dresser, with “fair reddish hair, mustache, pink cheeks
his
of art he
Max
two col-
choice.
reduced
collectors and his molding of their taste for the kind
Composition,
collection includes
O’Keeffe oils, 17 John Marin works, and
Alfred Maurer,
devotee,
on
art and artist with the
a
The
Weber, and Yasuo Kuniyoshi. Together, the
and
mysterious.
Rosenfeld and
among other
three
been
recently
famous Indian
Hartley oils, including the
Stieglitz-circle paintings.
approximately 8,500
generosity
colors, three Arthur Dove oils, and three Marsden
have
Twentieth-Century Catalogue Project,
gallery’s
ventory of its
two
were
a
was
4
Pough-
Rosenfeld wrote that Riverview Academy,
which did offer beautiful views of the Hudson River
and the Catskills, but
was
situated-“at the greatest
College”-succeeded in
possible
distance from Vassar
turning
him into-“one of the
twenty-five
thousand
Dennis Anderson,
a
research associate with
the art gallery, has
written
on
of topics,
a
number
among
them,
American 20thcentury art. His 300
Years of American
Art in the Chrysler
Museum Collection
was
published in
1976.
27
Right: Georgia O’Keeffe,
3, Grey Blue with Snow, 1926, formerly
East River No.
12-by-32-inches, Vassar College Art Gallery,
the
bequest of Edna Bryner Schwab ’O7. Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O’Keeffe lived on
30th floor (Suite 3003) of Manhattan’s Shelton Hotel, located on Lexington Avenue
known
as
East River No. 3, oil
on
canvas,
The suite overlooked the East River and downtown.
between 48th and 49th streets.
Here, from 1926 to 29, O’Keeffe painted about 20 New York
which
of
are
the East River
Intimate Gallery in
January
Below: Alfred
Vassar
College
painting
was
scenes,
the most realistic
exhibited at
first
of 1927,
Stieglitz,
when it
was
1920, vintage gelatin silver print,
from left to right
Lunch at Lake George,
Art Gallery,
Mrs. Schwab.
purchased by
gift of Edna Bryner
Schwab ’O7. Pictured
Charles Duncan (painter and poet who showed two watercolors and
are
the
same
drawing in
one
show at Stieglitz’s 291 gallery in which O’Keeffe made her debut), Georgia
O’Keeffe, and Paul Rosenfeld. Photo
warm,
Stieglitz’s
exhibition, “Forty New Paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe,” during
an
and February
This
ones.
Stieglitz
wrote to
taken third week
was
October
of
1920—unusually
Paul Strand.
denizens
of
sembled
“hobbledehoy
a
whose appearances
Poughkeepsie”
band”
and
piano
a
practice-room
reminiscent of “the
Nuremberg dungeon...
of murder
thence.”
issuing
5
he reminisces about the two
cultural life of
a
who,
less humorous vein,
men
who, with the limited
as a
cultural “statement”
stationery
store
into
the Boston
brought
the sounds
a
improve
bourgeois Poughkeepsie. The first
Charles H. Hickok,
make
In
available to them, had tried to
means
by converting his
Symphony
shop.
Collingwood Opera
Bardavon),
twice
second cultural
Twice
Orchestra to
keepsie’s
House
was
to
Beethoven, Rosenfeld realized that a performance of
Bauer’s quality
audience.
are
smitten with
a
In
a
said:
What
The
soft
essay, “Grand Transformation Scene
Rosenfeld describes his own musical
tinuing through his student
in
Poughkeepsie and
years at
Yale, his
con-
Columbia
years, and into his adult life. It was in
Poughkeepsie,
he
were
revealed,
that the taste and
characterize
especially his concern
8
Hearing
his
insights
mature
musical
were
high.
like
people
the
virtuoso
and
Harold
the
Hickok
and
everywhere, Rosenfeld
they all but facets of
an
ever-presence?
11
Poughkeepsie was
also
the “Hudson Heights,”
an
near
what Rosenfeld called
area
where he loved to take
weekend hikes. To him, the Hudson
depicted by
was
like the Rhine
Goethe and other German
a
not the first artist in this
European image
After
courses
ism,
University
criticism,
Bauer play
of
was
began
meeting,
12
he
superimpose
scene.
Riverview, graduating
University
School of Journal-
in 1914 at the New
or a
year
York Press.
later, that he
13
met
latter’s Fifth Avenue gallery, 291. Most
Stieglitz’s letters to Rosenfeld,
this
writers;
to New York. His career as a
either in that year,
Stieglitz at the
of
term at
at the Columbia
It
country
American
to
in 1912, and completing several
Rosenfeld moved
music critic
Appassionata
on an
completing his
from Yale
born that
for the role of music in American
Schumann’s Kreisleriana
VQ SPRING 1988
Of
Little men, making a creative effort, taking art seriously
in an unresponding environment, making the heart beat
was
1907-1915,”
28
10
the whole
of the past, the
7
awakening as taking place
society.
Ispahan,
Poughkeepsie: Poughkeepsie
the future.”
own
the cultural
the
1939-1940
would
challenge to
Pough-
strawberry-blond, a goddess from Bryn Mawr. Calling on her with the intention of proposing, he
fainted.”
kind of
a
Williamson in Poughkeepsies
tall,
must commit
one
The moral he drew for his
present,
6
concert
youthful
where and when others
even
Philistine: “... if half the world is
pale and rather sickly pianist with “a gold-spectacled,
infinitely sensitive, suffering young face,” had come to
Riverview Academy as a music master. Rosenfeld rewas
unresponsive.
guidance suggests
of it is
in these
reasoned that
Hickok
(now
Poughkeepsie
on a
Nevertheless, Rosenfeld,
oneself to cultural values
missionary, Arthur Moore Williamson,
[Williamson]
lost
was
Poughkeepsie years,
a
lates “once
9
father’s
money on the ventures.
losing
the
sought
young man,
music
a
re-
The school also offered
“early-General-Grant.”
are
signed
as
“Your
if to commemorate
old
friend,
291.”
Le ser
Paul s
in turn, addressed
Rosenfeld,
When
they
Rosenfeld in his twenties.
his achievements and
for future
Waldo
Stieglitz,
feld’s
fifties and
Stieglitz
was
Frank
for
art
with another
reflecting
past
excellence
Rosenfeld found
a
Their
growing
and
interest in
a
combing
also
In
mentor, and
supportive
correspondence
from
young
excitement.
model,
a
was
on
impetus
as
budding
(1889-1967),
hero; Stieglitz, in turn, found
14
“Dear 291.”
accomplishments. Recently graduated
American
voice.
was
reassessing the
Yale, Rosenfeld, along
critic,
as
in his
Stieglitz
Stieglitz
met,
new
reflects
a
Rosen-
291
year
closed),
however, the group
circle of
Stieglitz
exclusively American.
was
worshippers
Hart
Anderson,
Crane),
things “American,”
formulae
in
their
who also
well
as
writing,
When it
from few
came
to
sources
and
well,
suffering through painstaking
make fine
prints of
the
O’Keeffe. There
Stieglitz’s
to
efforts necessary
images Rosenfeld
“I think I have finally achieved
are
habitual
had chosen.
very beautiful
a
print
of the first picture of your Cloud Series, he wrote.”
Several of the
can
paintings
now
15
many
a
certain canonization of
“saintly” qualities
elicited
Stieglitz,
whose
the veneration
Rosenfeld and others. “291,” Rosenfeld said, “was
house of God.”
less with
16
But Rosenfeld’s prime
Stieglitz
He believed
as a
patron saint than
Stieglitz exemplified
fusion of the
highbrow
and
the
he wrote of
the
concern
as an
of
a
was
artist.
Whitmanesque
lowbrow
passion and hard facts. “[They] lie
objective world and
traditions, of
at that
point
where
subjective world coincide,”
Stieglitz’s photographs. “They are true in
sense of life.
. 17 Before 1917
fact and to the inner
focusing
new
on
modernist
collecting art, Rosenfeld
1914 Indian
Hartley’s
to
Stieglitz;
Composition,
was
even
buy
which Rosenfeld
at auction from the American Art Associa-
originally sold by Stieglitz
John Quinn in July of 1916 (as Indian Tents).
that of Edna
reflects
to
Marsden
Bryner,
Stieglitz’s
Rosenfeld’s collection
taste;
no
18
Like
essentially
evidence has surfaced that
either of these collectors owned work by artists outside the
Stieglitz purview.
in Vassar’s collection
be identified in these letters. Rosenfeld’s letters
evidence
the
to
were
on
perhaps outnumbering
other than
tion in New York, had been
as
as
American artists who adopted the modernist idiom.
works
references,
This
growing
a
number of writers (William Carlos Williams, Sherwood
acquired
by Hartley, Marin,
augmented by
was
cussion back and forth about his possible purchase of
numerous
both
presented
and American modernist art; afterwards,
European
critical
with much dis-
collecting,
(the
”
..
In
1916,
Schwab,
Edna Clare
Bryner
Harvard graduate
a
dustrial affairs. After their
New York
to the
City
Stieglitz
success
Bridegroom
Tarried (1929).
19305, “Teddy,”
maiden
name
as
also
novelettes for Bookman,
gravitated
brought her
From
fame and
While the
(1927) and
1920 through
she liked to be called
Bryner),
moved to
marriage, they
Brandt’s Ark
Arthur
consultant in in-
where she, like Rosenfeld,
circle. Two novels
-Andy
’O7 married
and
(using
the
her
wrote short stories and
the
Stieglitz-related publications,
Midland,
the
Dial,
the
and the New American
29
Marsden
Hartley,
1914-15, oil on
Vassar
Indian Composition,
Art
College
47-by-47-inches,
canvas,
Gallery, Gift of
Edna Bryner Schwab ’O7 (ex.
coll. Paul
Rosenfeld). Rosenfeld acquired this
at the American Art
painting
Association in New
originally
York.
been sold by
It had
Stieglitz
John
to
Quinn in July 1916 (as Indian Tents/
Stieglitz sponsored Hartley’s trip to
Europe,
where, in Berlin, the artist
painted
this work,
along
with the four
other Indian-related works he chose to
call “Amerika.” “You
here is
feel
that at last
in accord with the
people
a
universe, wanting little or nothing from
a
world of invented subterfuge,
the
equal of
down of the sun,
going
to
being
the very dawn and
all the hosts
of
the
vastly superior
of vulgarities with
which we, who
belong
to the
newer
civilization, befool ourselves.”—Marsden
Hartley, The Dial, November 1918.
Caravan.
19
While Brvner moved in the Stieglitz orbit,
nothing suggests that
the
approached
ner
with
relationship
special, complex-one
Stieglitz
Rosenfeld had
with him. Nonetheless, in 1934 she contributed what
and women-among them Joyce, Lawrence,
Stevens,
Bryner’s writing,
chapter
in the book America and
Collective Portrait, of which Rosenfeld
editors.
Her
“An American
chapter
Her forms of
Alfred Stieglitz: A
was
one
is
Stieglitz
of
forth,
prime happy
a
one
stirred
coming together
expression
not
are
a
perfectly realistic attitude toward life. She
takes her place among those
beholder,
always smooth. She is
struggles with her medium.
already expressed has strength of conception, shows first-hand knowledge of people, and is
informed by
for
About
But what she has
a
rhapsody:
thus stood
23
Rosenfeld says:
sometimes found in intense
of five
Experience”
Proust,
each other in
to
point of time and in medium of expression.”
she considered at the time to be her best achievement,
a
Cummings-“related
and
women
out
the arts, have
of esthetic sig-
of feeling.
to
communicate
a
who, engaged in
staunch and lovely life
24
nificances to remain through many consequent comings
together,
not a man, not even
a
human being; but
experience of complicated closely
American
as
experience
any
extremely native
person.
Most of the available
ticular
ever come
paintings and
through by
Bryner
Bryner
acquiring par-
with her payments for those she
and
confusion often
had to remind
“in
$lOO for Figs
colors
now
.. .
”
21
Many
as
they
2
a
paintings,
check for
of the John Marin water-
in the Vassar collection
correspondence
to
resulted;
of payments made
Stieglitz
April (April 1) just after I bought the
[O’Keeffe’s] Spring and Figs, I sent you
once
an
were
are
mentioned in
being acquired from the
Rosenfeld
certainly knew
Seen.
22
This
her in
book,
one
Edna Bryner by 1925, for
chapter
of his book
VQ SPRING 1988
Men
which Rosenfeld wrote after Port
of New York (published in that year), examines 25
30
tion of
men
June,
Perhaps
it first
in the
appears that,
the intimate aspect of their
a
name
men-
course
not as
saw
strange
as
of hundreds of letters,
friendship
is not recorded
It is apparent from those interviewed that
Rosenfeld and
the
there is
since Rosenfeld
Stieglitz and Bryner regularly, it is
fully.
summer
the Schwabs at their summer
cottage
in St. Hubert’s, New York.
more
German
1923 Rosenfeld letter to
a
and nine years later, in
visiting
Bryner
were
devoted
friends.
25
Still,
of Bryner’s future husband first appears in
letter of July 12, 1924. O’Keeffe (who would marry
Stieglitz
in December of that year) had invited Arthur
Schwab up to Lake
splendid guest
artist through Stieglitz.
he portrayed
servant” is mentioned in
in his other
Bryner
writings. “Teddy” Bryner’s “sturdy
Stieglitz,
correspondence from
purchased. Stieglitz sometimes allowed his clients
do the bookkeeping,
Yet Rosenfeld rarely mentioned
an
texture as
20
deals with her interest in
Stieglitz
to
woven
as
we
A
for
a
visit. “He
[he] enjoyed
26
enjoyed him,” Stieglitz wrote.
li-nd
works
George
and I believe
just how
come
did these
us as
was
a
much
important Stieglitz-circle
to Vassar? When Rosenfeld died in 1946,
Right: John Marin, Pine Trees, 1914, watercolor
Art
Gallery, gift of Edna Bryner Schwab
’O7.
on
paper, Vassar College
Stieglitz provided
steady moral and financial support, writing that Marin
“American.”
their number,
Despite
completely represent the artist’s
the Vassar Marin
Neither
oeuvre.
was
paintings
Rosenfeld
Marin with
uniquely
nor
do not
Schwab
collected Marin oils—the work of the mid-teens,
when he flirted with pure
Nonetheless, Vassar’s is certainly one
abstraction—or his later figure pieces.
of the most important assemblages of this artist’s work.
Below: Arthur Dove, Machinery
18
canvas,
l/8-by-21 718-inches,
Mowing Machine, 1921, oil
or
Vassar
Bryner Schwab ’O7 (ex. coll. Paul Rosenfeld).
work in
Art
College
on
Gallery, gift of Edna
Stieglitz first exhibited Dove’s
group exhibition at 291 in 1908. Dove became the closest of
Stieglitz’s artist friends and one of three artists (the others being O’Keeffe
a
Murphy
and Marin) offered one-person shows throughout their lives. Dove’s art from
1917 to 1922 featured nature abstractions, and initiated abstractions
c.
which portray the machine
as
a
T.
symbol of modernity.
Joseph
Tucker
Steven
Bryner was
legatee.
the executor of his estate and the residual
Four years later,
Bryner
and for her
enlightening editorial comments.) I am also grateful
Wardell for his editorial assistance, and to Sarah
of the
National Gallery,
Washington, DC, for
information about Stieglitz’s photographs.
Timothy
Greenough
to
gave Vassar what is
believed to be the bulk of Rosenfeld’s collection. (Im-
portant records concerning the original bequest
to have been
destroyed by Bryner’s
been surmised by
some
that Bryner chose to
quietly
of the collection at Vassar
further
speculation that
so
27
After
the fortunate
Bryner’s
Ibid.,
4.
Bruce
dispose
not to fuel
recipient
by Rosenfeld
not
more
than
death in 1967, Vassar
of her
large Stieglitz-circle
collection, which may have included
owned
as
the two had been
some
Ibid.
7.
Ibid.
8.
Ibid.
9.
to Vassar.
Paul
11.
Ibid.
12.
a new
understanding of
other parts of the
studied in
the Vassar
gallery’s holdings
Stieglitz collection,
are
Twentieth-Century Catalogue Project.
can see
how both
Poughkeepsie and
played parts
in bringing the
city residents
some
of the
14.
15.
In the instance
of the Paul Rosenfeld and Edna Bryner collections,
16.
we
17.
college community
important art they now enjoy.
18.
19.
20.
NOTES
21.
1.
Although
there is
record that
visited
Vassar,
Stieglitz ever
good deal about it from young relatives who attended the
college. Both his niece Georgia Engelhard Cromwell
’27 and grandniece Ann Straus
Gertler ’43 corresponded with
him at length while they were at Vassar. Another grandniece,
Sue Davidson Lowe ’43, wrote a book on Stieglitz, the most
exhaustive
the modernist pioneer; Stieglitz: A
to date
on
Memoir/Biography (New York Farrar Straus Giroux, 1983). (July
and August 1987
conversations
with Sue Davidson Lowe,
phone
to whom I am grateful for her reading of drafts of this article
he learned
a
no
July 7,1987, telephone
Illinois
York
a
Poughkeepsie,”
conversation with Sanford
done extensive research
New
as
Auto-
at
Urbana-
the
Musical
on
Schwartz, who
Paul Rosenfeld.
Times, “Paul Rosenfeld, Critic,
Dies at
56,”
22
July
Corn, 159.
Stieglitz (Lake George, NY) to Rosenfeld, 11 November 1923,
Beinecke Library, Yale University.
p. 3,
Rosenfeld, Port of New York, 258.
Ibid, the Dial, LXX
(April 1921), p. 406. Rosenfeld wrote, “Save
for
Vassar itself have
and
The Critic
of
1946, p. 21, col. 1; for a more in-depth discussion of Rosenfeld’s
contributions to music and art
commentary, see Corn, 159-163.
being similarly
conjunction with the gallery inventory and
Butterfield, “Paul Rosenfeld:
Rosenfeld, “All the World’s
Quarterly (April 1943): 473.
has
13.
A.
Ibid., 21.
10.
As the research for this article has brought about
159.
biographer” (Ph.D. diss., University
Champaign, 1975), 19.
Ibid., 19-20.
6.
of the works
previously given
Wanda M. Corn, “Apostles of the New American Art: Waldo
Frank and Paul Rosenfeld,” Arts (February 1980): 159.
3.
5.
good friends.
was
2.
appear
law firm.) It has
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Whitman there has been amongst
equal
to this
is
documentation of romantic
us
no
native-born artist
photographer.”
American Art Association, New York, the John Quinn Collection:
and
Paintings
Sculpture of the Moderns, February 11, 1927, no.
128 (as Indian Encampment).
Edna Clare Bryner, 1938 Biographical Register Questionnaire,
Vassar College Alumnae Office, Poughkeepsie, NY.
Waldo Frank, Lewis Mumford, Dorothy Norman, Paul Rosenfeld,
and Harold Rugg, eds. America and Alfred Stieglitz: A Collective
Portrait (New York: The Literary Guild, 1934), 257.
Bryner to Alfred Stieglitz, 25 June 1925, p. 1, Beinecke Library,
Yale University.
Paul Rosenfeld, Men Seen (New York: The Dial Press, 1925).
Ibid., v-vi.
Ibid., 245.
Some friends
of theirs
felt that Bryner
and Rosenfeld’s
relationship extended beyond their professional interests. (July
7, 1987, telephone conversation with Sanford Schwartz). There
no
liaisons, however.
Stieglitz (Lake George, NY) to Rosenfeld,
Library, Yale University.
12
July 1924,
p.
7,
Beinecke
27.
Schwartz July 7, 1987, telephone conversation.
gj
31
STUDIO ART
MATTERS
by Yona Zeldis McDonough ’79
paint
HOLDING
of
group
brashes and
students
autumnal still-life
bowl,
earthenware
dark
glossy
a
are
-
acorn
trying
an
several
squash,
transform
to
a
an
from
apples tumbling
-
splayed
eggplants
palette knives,
clustered around
the
palpable reality of fruit, pottery, and vegetables into the
very different but
These
are
after weeks
ing class;
of paint.
equally compelling reality
students in Peter
Charlap’s beginning paint-
of working first with degrees
of black and white, and then with only limited palettes,
have
they
embarked
now
their first full-color
on
painting.
When Mr.
there
were
studio art
in its
major.
But under his direction, the
have been
offerings
history,
greatly expanded; for
Vassar offers
course
the first time
studio art major within
a
the department of art. This is
Vassar’s
Vassar in 1979,
Charlap began teaching at
very few studio art courses offered and no
a
real departure from
tradition, for, in the past, the critical and
historical study of art was given far
than its actual
art Christine
importance
more
application. According
to
professor
of
Havelock, the department’s chairman, the
desires of both faculty and students coalesced in the
formation of the
terested in
new
important that such
very
standards set
said. “The
the
by
new
“We have
major.
expanding the
been in-
long
studio program, but it
a
program maintain the
department and
the
was
high
college,”
she
meetprogram has been successful in
ing this criterion.”
Before
being accepted
must submit their
as
portfolios
studio majors,
to the
ing by the end of their freshman
their
or
are
as
line, form, plane, and
tone. “We in no way consider this to be a
course,’
and
”
drawing. “Rather,
establishing
‘beginning
Annette Morriss, who teaches
says
a
language.” She
we
insist upon it
common
adds that the
popular, running
required
that deals
rigorous year-long drawing course
with such visual problems
screen-
the beginning of
sophomore year. Once admitted, they
to take a
students
faculty for
as
of
understanding
course
has been
to three sections of
painting
away
of
visual
extremely
approximately 30
students each.
After the students have completed this course,
are
able
courses
to
in
go
to
on
the
more
advanced
painting, drawing, sculpture,
Students
pendent
study projects under the guidance
faculty in
any
able
of these media.
may elect to do an
Harry
also
and
making.
are
Roseman in
to
they
200-level
print-
structure
Occasionally,
a
indeof the
student
independent study with sculptor
photography,
even
though
it falls
outside the offerings currently available within the
cur-
riculum. Three-hundred level
courses
painting and sculpture,
majors are required
complete a 300-level
Robert Maass 79
and all
senior
project.
are
offered in
Each senior
to
major
is given
the
thesis show in the College Center, and, if
a
feels it is
faculty
appropriate,
students may be exhibited in
the work of other
one- or
two-person shows.
In addition to the drawing course, which is required
of all students, majors
level courses, studio
four art history
courses
or
as a
Andrew Eisen,
the work shown in class. “It’s
he says. And
art matters
agrees; her course in
explains,
has
Peter Charlap
a
reminder that
Friedman
junior Jennifer
16th-century Venetian painting,
helped her own painting enormously.
adds
that
for his students,
resource
soft-spoken senior, is in-
Taylor library is
and he makes
vital
a
frequent
as-
which encourage them to gain familiarity
signments
holdings.
with its
Students
and Boston for
City
and when
community
artists series
visiting
museum
possible, the studio
wider artistic
suing his
an
assistant to
“helping
and
faculty
to the
gallery visits,
college.
included Kevin
Berthot, and Richard Serra; in past
bring the
This fall,
a
Wixted, Jake
years, Lennart
McNeil, Nancy Graves ’6l, Walter
Anderson, George
majors
at
was
sculptor, he
of the
one
Vassar; in addition
to pur-
works
now
students construct their imaginations.” Mr.
grow over the past few years. “Not many
how many committed artists
Vassar. The program
and
students,
dent
on
working
are
resources
ble
them in
take
of
exciting diversity
But this kind of
lectual
school
a
budding
to the stu-
exchange works both ways:
of the many intel-
advantage
an
art school.
because she
Senior studio
major
over an
art
Lederman have visited the campus for slide presenta-
stimulation she knew it would offer. Peter
mented
artists also critique student work. “It gives the students
tween the intellectual and the artistic that makes the
out of the relative
isolation
of this environment,” says Annette Morriss, “and that
can
be very
important
Critiques are
riculum.
together
also
Once
for
majors bring
their work
evaluation by the entire
and
other art students
choose.
of
invited to
are
Faculty members
fostering
Vassar. Not
see
the growth of
do the
only
this
an
faculty
are
also made
are
aware
as an
artistic
if
they
result,
sense
a
critiques,
but the stu-
that the students
be-
are
as
of community is slowly starting to
such
a
the greatest obstacle to the development of
community is the lack of
a
unified studio art
Students
dents
are
solving
no
now,
Ely
single building
Hall houses the
spaces, while the
are
work.
in the New
England building.
The sculpture studio is in the greenhouse
with the
are
the
spill-overtaken
up
inadequate
functions-the greenhouse, for
commodate the
even more
tends to undermine the
so
Ferry,
important,
sense
for
their
example, can barely
large-scale metal and wood
created in it-but
is trying
near
by the wood shop. Not only
sometimes
spaces
Right
and studios for
print-making shop
majors
upper class
can
painting and drawing studio
sculptures
it sometimes
of cohesion the
faculty
hard to foster. The art department is
tirely sympathetic
ac-
en-
to these needs. “We can’t say when
The
new
a
department
will
rigor of the studio
art program has
changed
a
frame of reference
we
we
Roseman with
in the
a
student
greenhouse
sculpture
studio
near
Ferry House.
even
require-
solution.” Ms.
own
all concerned
are
con-
with
Duffy
encourages stu-
pace. In a sun-filled studio
taught the various techniques of
are
skills,
This year there
are
students
see
image making right away.”
16 studio
the addition of new
Jake Fleisher,
Right
a
senior
sculpture
now,
project
with
he’s
seems so
challenge in getting it
as
a
Clearly,
courses as a
offered in the
working
on
approxi-
plans
priority;
has taken
department.
independent study
an
shaped,
are
Vermont,
life into the
work of the studio art
faculty
real
where he will
sculpt.
a
unified space have
the hard
and the continued sup-
educational
now
have
practice and theory into
experience.
a
graduation,
discipline. Through
notes that the
to blend
there’s
at Vassar. More courses,
students, and the hope of
new
so
After
and continue to
thriving
flame,”
steel sculptures
unyielding,
respond.”
to move to
carpenter
the arts
to
Many
courses.
majoring in German,
courses
he says in talking of the flat,
Mr. Fleisher
and
majors
Harry Roseman. “I love metal and
he makes. “Metal
course
immediate;
technical exercise, it accustoms
mately 190 students enrolled in studio
all the
in the
early
“the process is very direct and
being just a
mono-
lithography.
wide range of tech-
a
she stresses monotypes
tunity
and
Facing page:
Faculty member Harry
understand that there is
their prospects upon completion of it. Ms. Havelock
courses
stimulation.’
of work being done
diversity
port of the department, students
of
visions,
course
who teaches print-making,
great
both the character of the art students at Vassar and
increasing complexity
intellectual
its “freedom,” the way stu-
“While
breathed
building.”
a
them to the concept of
more
confident that the studio
on
visual problems,
rather than
and
we are
have
While she wants to communicate
work
happen,”
eventually have
poetry, the students get it im-
type, line etching, aquatint, dry point, and
Christine Havelock, “but the adsays
ministration is committed to finding a unified
space,
it will
school for its
in New England building, her 200-level print-making
because
securing
Duffy,
single ‘right’
in which
be conducted and students
“If you make
to pursue their own
dents to work at their
aim” is the
can
encouraged
here,” she says.
nical
classes
art
very enthusiastic about the program.
are
“There is
curs:
hope and
a
or
“They
Peter Rinzler commented
“chief
space. Faculty members say that their
of
an
that is broader than that of many art students.”
students
emerge.
Perhaps
he says.
ments. Sharon
coming increasingly serious about their work, and,
a
reference to science
community
of what their classmates
doing. Mr. Charlap notes
bright and responsive.
so
within the traditional framework of
at
over
Charlap com-
this kind of balance be-
precisely
important way
members get to know
the students’ work through these
dents
faculty,
participate
a
mediately,”
part of the program’s regular cur-
month,
a
an
a
development.”
in their
how it is
Vassar student
choose Yassar
a
an
oppor-
remarkable
S
Yona McDonough is
the Quarterly Books
writer.
3
to break
opportunity
an
studio major
wanted the kind of intellectual
tions, followed by discussions of their work. Visiting
on
One senior
at Vassar which might not be availa-
Cadence Giersbach says she chose Vassar
Earlbacher, Sylvia Mangold, Judy Pfaff, and Gabriel
at
real challenge to the
says that the presence
art students can
to
a
is essential for making
challenge
campus adds an
body.
there
offers
now
and
people realize
work of art.”
Mr. Eisen also
artists
as
Roseman in the sculpture studio
Harry
Eisen says he has watched the program change
travel to New
tries to
1985 graduate,
a
own career as a
responsible
strongly encouraged to
are
the country. Peter Rinzler
over
possibility, and there are others who
cherish similar hopes.
earliest studio art
spired by
York
M.F.A. programs all
at the 200 level. For many, this is a welcome
a
105 and
now
make it possible for students to apply to respected
106 and two
requirement. Peter Rinzler,
she
to take at least
majors are required
work-
are
ing artists who exhibit their work in major cities)
mentions Yale
not, seeking to take upper-
courses—Art
media and the high caliber of the faculty (all
33
In ad-
Leadership Workshop and Fall Council.
AAVC NEWSLINE
dition to
the
alumnae/i survey, among the
in
topics discussed
and at
our
committee
the board table
were
AAVC’s forth-
to the Soviet Union in
coming trip
meetings
May (travel
for “Life After Vassar” dorm
committee), plans
discussions among young alums and under-
graduates this winter,
a
homecoming weekend
for young alumnae/i on Founder’s
in
Day
April
(recent alumnae/i and undergraduates commitand
tee),
to be
offer
a
proposed “Vassar in
announced),
program mix of
a
pening
Vassar
at
alumnae/i
can
faculty and student
information
presentations,
what’s
on
today, and sessions
put their talents
to
FROM
THE AAVC PRESIDENT
AAVC
slate
Gap
the
Bridging
you will be
spring,
1)
page
in the
appeared
nominated
22-member AAVC
for
nominating committee.
veloped by
the AAVC
Winter ’B7
or
on
a
When Liz brought Saturday’s discussion
a
close, everyone, including Liz,
All
pointed.
wanted
workshop
critical success.
previously unexpressed
and
acknowledged,
were
concerns
of
lots
a
FROM
explored. Be
tivities.
were
at
a
Leslie Carter Silver ’7l
Leslie Silver is president of 71.
One Hundred Nights
given time
THE CLASSES
While older classes may remember the countdown
to
graduation
as
a
dreary
sequence of
cent
classes
with
a
before graduation. It is only fitting, then, that
to a
19
were
rainy
and
of
days
chilly
we
all
remember with “fondness.” Those were also the
Wexler Quinlan ’59, AAVC President
In the year and
dent of AAVC, I have participated in
of the AAVC board and staff
the
communications
exists-and yawns
and
changing
ours.
AAVC, we hope
ning of
we
make
the
alumna/us
experience
as
of
satisfying
designed
are
an
in
as
open invitation
being
a
can
By the time
a
mailed in November
this,
questionnaire
to
a
random
the alumnae/i. Your answers will
provide the fodder for
help
our
us
long-range planning
strengthen,
dramatically alter, the
or
even
programs and services
provide. A full report
ings will be made in these
on
the survey find-
pages later this year.
The AAVC board of directors meeting
held October 10-11 after
cessful two-and-a-half
34
VQ SPRING 1988
a
very full and
leadership
of Nancy
and Clark
to
rejoice.
Under
100
Nights
Super, ’B7’s
Woodruff, the
sistant for recent classes
-
at
Street and
new
himself
AAVC
a
as-
member
success-
few old
as
facilitators.
The large group easily agreed that the role
no
pictures
of the class president is to promote pride in
and
respect for Vassar and classmates. Dis-
agreement
arose
on
the
question of
how to
achieve that goal. Presidents from the older
classes
tended to believe emphasis
traditions-the class tree
a
class in Main that final
together. The
mates
or
class
on
living together
year-helps tie
younger classes
felt that class identity is
busy with
careers,
joined by
a
no
longer
group, such
as
Sorry,
well?
as
Joanna Baxter Henderson ’5l
Joanna Henderson, AAVC board member, is the
new
editor of the AAVC Newsline pages in the
Quarterly.
as
be denow
look for activities that
to them as individuals
or
as
increased business contacts
and information on contemporary issues.
AROUND THE CLUBS
The
Dazzling
D.C. Book Sale
An apartment
crete
in AAVC activities, which would
building basement with
floors and exposed pipes
seems
for Vassar alumnae/i to
unlikely place
particularly
The group explored ways of increasing class
participation
taken. Just
class-
(post ’63)
to
were
families, and non-Vassar
commitments,
bring something
a
were
hands from the classes of ’B5 and ’B6.
in
con-
like
an
gather,
Washington, D.C.
But this is not your
ordinary cold and
gray
cellar. It is enlivened by stacks of books and
have the added benefit of enhancing alumnae/i
Vassar graduates with a mission. It is the sort-
identification with Vassar today and Annual
ing
Fund
nual Book Sale.
participation.
togethers
were
perfect setting
might focus
Vassar
lapse
or
on
Regional
informal
unanimously supported
as
getthe
for any age class. Conversations
on
“shared
suffering” while
at
the effect of the stock market col-
commercial real estate
was
in New York. Whatever the
suc-
bound to result.
days of AAVC’s Club
at 42nd
of 1987-the occasion proved wildly
outside
you read
bar
ful. Reveling ’B7s
so
best serve your
September 13, 1987,
newly minted grads gathered
’59, Tassy Walden ’35, and Terri O’Shea ’76
Vassar
to you
on
that
was
over
nights after gradua-
inside Main’s Faculty Parlor, with Liz Quinlan
fined in “traditional” terms. Classmates,
survey of the alumnae/i
a
fiery discussions going
it
100
Second Avenue in Manhattan
chair,
and often
so
150
Ryan McFadden’s
side environment was in stark contrast to the
we can
possible.
many of you will have received
will
at
to find out more about who
needs and interests.
sampling of
keep-
the begin-
inching closer
and how AAVC
was
as
your mind and how
on
across
happening
you will view it
in the form of
that is
and
such as
away of
as
what’s
on
Our second step
comes
view it
two-way dialogue:
a
to tell us what’s
that
rapidly
a
This column is the first small step
you up to date
you
inevitably
growing organization
the abyss. While
ing
that
wider-in
ever
bridge
ways to
on
gap
recently
tion. And
found
the
think-tank sessions with many members
ous
we
numer-
two dozen
approach should be carried
gala, scheduled
elected class presidents. The depressing out-
optimistic
half that I have been presi-
a
gathering of
days
series of celebrations in the final year
this creative
days in Poughkeepsie-the kind
exams, re-
have enlivened these gray
marking 200, 100, 50, 25, and finally 5 nights
An Insider’s View
Liz
on
ac-
diversified board
Class Presidents Workshop:
dates for a
workable
methods for enhancing pride in one’s class-
comprehensives, theses, and final
18 and
Many
voiced
the
Liz Wexler Quinlan ’59
September
to
disap-
keep working. The
leadership agreed that
a
was
was
to
and AAVC
AAVC
demonstrated commitment to serving
Vassar.
feel they have
nominating committee
seeking
we are
or
much as others.
as
the lookout for innovations in your class
and geographical areas, who bring the partic-
expertise
accomplished
be intimi-
can
choose to write
mates, self, and Vassar
The slate has been de-
with an eye toward building
and
notes
VQ,
of alumnae and alumni of different generations
ular
not
they
them. Many at the work-
to
those who do not
to
how
out
(the
on
the
important
about their accomplishments
and
the
receiving
positions
board
dating
that he
suggested
dozen classmates who
a
felt that the class
the
ballot for the slate of candidates
itself
are
shop
how
college (regional meeting committee).
Later this
that
was
them to write about matters
doing, and ask
are
for increasing
resource
contribute to the notes, find
never
presidents
on
great
a
she could contact
or
hap-
work for the
be
to
class participation. It
(city
event that will
one-day
a
”
thought
The Quarterly' s
development
topic, cohesion is
center for the
Washington Vassar Club’s
The New York Times
once
an-
called the Vassar
Book Sale “one of the most popular institutions” in Washington. And indeed it is.
Every spring, for
seven
lectors, and dealers
days, book lovers, col-
converge
on
Washington
for what has been called the best book sale in
the United States. Last year, nearly 90,000
class
correspondent
was
volumes
were
sold.
Buyers line
up as
early
as
Sale volunteers (L to R): Georgine Reed ’5O, Jeannetta Black
’4O, Richard
71, Lou Ellicott 52, and Anne Carpenter ’46
Dunn ’4O, Ann Homan
24 hours in advance of the sale. Hundreds of
in once the doors are
people literally stampede
Other book sales try
opened.
“Booksellers tell
us
that nobody does
job of finding, sorting,
books,”
sale’s
shop
said Bill
and
it.
better
a
valuable
identifying
Bergen 77, chairman of the
steering committee. Or,
owner
emulate
to
as
rare
book
Marcia McGhee Carter ’62 put it,
“The Vassar book sale is the queen of sales.”
While the sale itself is
a
gala event, its life-
Williams 75, Barbara
people. The day the 1987 sale opened, volunspanned the classes of 1923
teers
A change just
of the
sophistication
“In the
early days,
said
price books,”
grown
a
to 1991.
in the
come
sale.
Mrs.
us
knew how to
Arnold, “but we’ve
lot smarter, and we’ve learned how to
prices
peg our
to
keep
up with dealers.”
fair prices. The rare-book
sidered
expert
as
any
and for
sorters
having
are
con-
As Mr. Bergen remarked, “These
profes-
are
sional volunteers who taught themselves all
22 boxes of books each
about books.”
“We take four days off, and then we’re
said
again,”
Barbara Butts Dunn
it
member
who has worked
’4O,
the sale since the first
can
committee
steering
at
on
in 1949. Mrs. Dunn
one
be found most days immersed in note cards
and reference guides in the
rare
book
room
of
the sorting center, standing dusty volumes on
Besides their love of Vassar and books, the
of the
are
sale:
motivated by the real purpose
to raise
scholarship
Washington-area students
he assumed he could im-
tee two years ago,
prove the sale
administrative
professional
stead,
by applying techniques from his
for
money
at Vassar. Last year,
made
the
the
“It’s
an
by
Vassar clubs.
opportunity
to
give
pool
back to Vassar
what Vassar gave to us,” said Mr. Bergen.
The sale,
more
now
than $1 million for Vassar. But its
rent success hides its humble
“It
was
really
a
venture in the
cur-
observed
Hannah Burr Arnold ’37, about the first sale.
Mrs. Arnold,
member of the steering
a
mittee who has worked
that the first
ment
one
on
every
sale, recalled
took place in a church base-
a
vote to de-
termine whether the sale should continue, “it
has grown and prospered
ever
since.”
“However,” Mrs. Arnold added, “we
no
The sale
has
changed in
other ways. The
multiplied, from
a
handful who worked intermittently in the early
days
to a core group of 30
at least
today who give
Last year,
more
on
the
regular volunteers
one
day
every week.
than 300 Vassar graduates and
spouses worked
the
full
time,
on
approximately 25,000
sale
hours
ingly difficult
more
sale, the equivalent of 12 full-time
special ingredient of
is
success
the wide variety of people, backgrounds, and
interests it attracts.
Seward ’54, “The sale
has accomplished
much because
people bring
things
so
many
so
so
many
it.”
to
Above
all,
they bring
Vassar.
commitment to
a
Leonard Steinhorn ’77
currently works
as a
Washington writer who
a
speechwriter on Capitol Hill.
issues of the
are
less
people have
to nurture
dis-
Some sale
the type of support
a
with the perennial
chairman, the Washing-
ton Vassar Club decided to
adapt
to the new
sale chairman and replacing it with
committee which
enables the
a
steering
volunteers
to
share responsibility for running the sale.
that
on
his
or
some-
her shoulders does not rest
sale,” said
spent years working professionally
organizations
which depend
one
more
scholarship
dozen years ago,
gan
money for
a
enterprising volunteers be-
old prints from books
removing
to
Vassar,
to sell. The
prints
matted, and sold. That
were
the
was
too
researched,
beginning
of the Decorative Arts portion of the DC. sale
which has grown dramatically
In
1986
works
and
were
1987,
two
over
the years.
particularly fine
sold at Sotheby’s in New York,
adding more than $20,000
to the gross sales
in those years.
AAVC President Liz Wexler Quinlan ’59, who
“The day when
Never content, always searching for ways
raise
damaged
faced
years ago,
Art Committee—A Recent
Sale Innovation
couples
and size of the sale.
in
on
volunteers.
person can
do it all is
gone-and it should be
gone, because
volun-
organizations need
to draw more
people
teer
Volunteers closely involved with the sale
has
it as demo-
volunteers worry that it will become increas-
has
on a project
everyone believes
worthwhile,” said Ms. Myerson.
the volunteer
the entire responsibility for the
accept college yearbooks.”
number of volunteers has
working
one
to be
Quarterly.
“The steering committee concept tells
longer
teers of all ages
He has contributed to previous
demographics by eliminating the position of
the White House and featured “a
near
lot of college yearbooks.” After
toll
a
nationwide. Because
Two
“What we’re doing with the book sale shows
not
problem of sustaining
problem of finding
com-
has been
their volunteer work.
the
and expertise needed to maintain the quality
beginning.
dark,”
strength and wisdom from
could
cretionary time for volunteering.
in its 40th year, has raised
to draw
generation whose profession
said, “to
me
of
success
graphic changes take
money raised
older
single change.”
a
Ironically,
for
scholarship
he
professional like
a
spawned
than one-fifth of all the
an
Leonard Steinhorn is
extraordinary sense,”
point that
make
volun-
he discovered a system that needed few
improvements.
the sale gave Vassar $75,000, which accounted
more
In-
experience.
“The volunteers had figured out ways that
their spines to appraise their value.
volunteers
about this firsthand. When he
chairman of the steering commit-
as
new
teers, particularly younger professionals, while
Said steering committee member Charlotte
He knows
took over
the idea of the steer-
away to entice
as
agree that its
professional.
collect, sort, price, and pack the equivalent of
day.
71 conceived
Myerson
ing committee
Bergen 77, left
that it is possible to recruit and retain volun-
Book dealers consistently praise the sale for
being intelligently organized
as
committee chair Bill
continuing
of
none
sometimes backbreaking work by the Washvolunteers. The volunteers
has
significant
as
blood is the countless hours of painstaking and
ington Vassar Club
Steering
Once
a
month, the Art Committee, chaired
by Lou Ellicott ’52,
on
the lookout for
un-
usual treasures, meets to review the latest
acquisitions.
These
Bergen describes
as
sessions,
which
Bill
“hilarious,”
caused
one
book sorter, working in another room, to
comment, “I’m glad I’m not
one
paintings. Those people have
no
Alix Gould
of those
mercy.”
Myerson
’7l
in.”
Washington
Vassar
Club
president
Alix
35
AAVC
Gel rt
NEWSLINE
S.
Elizabeth
Phot s:
1987 Club Leadership Workshop
Aloha Cade 76,
president of
Maryellen Gould Hadjisky ’45, president of S.E. Michigan club (middle of first row)
Louisiana club,
and Kristine Orticke 77, Louisiana
Club leaders, among AAVC’s most treasured
resources,
October
theme
gathered
for their
was
Alumnae
at
biennial
leadership: how
how to use it
The
to cultivate it and
to better
creatively
club members and the
House last
workshop.
serve
both
college.
For club leaders, the question is: How do you
involve alumnae/i of all ages,
and services
of interest to
develop
programs
broad range of
a
members who often live many miles apart, in-
and still
scholarship fundraising,
from
profits
crease
keep the
rest
of your life in proper
balance?
The
to ask
offers leaders
workshop
questions, exchange
an
and examine particular issues in
This
opportunity
answers
year’s participants
ideas,
and
some
depth.
classes
spanned
1937 to 1985 and represented 37 clubs
from
in 20 states, the District of Columbia, and three
foreign countries.
Sally Lyman Rheinfrank ’63, AAVC
The workshop included panel discussions
ways to involve
tivities and
sessions
on
issues;
and
and
Cole Lund 77-78, Los
Angeles
young alumnae/i in club ac-
benefits;
working
reviving
Carolyn
club leaders’ roles in admission;
managing change
on
scholarship
trustee
on
a
a
and
discussion
on
groups
running
of
testy
membership
club, scholarship fundraising,
public relations and newsletters, and
career
development.
What did everyone learn?
Recognize
•
mean
•
that to embrace
innovation
can
revitalization.
Pay attention
to
process.
Break down tasks into small, manageable
•
components to enable
more
people
to do less
and still get the job done.
Offer services
•
to
alumnae/i such
as
career
networking.
•
Ask
they
alumnae/i
what
kinds
want and then deliver
Most important,
make
on
it fun
of
programs
the
promise.
to
work
for
Vassar.
Alix Gould Myerson ’7l
First
row:
David Rosenbaum
’B3, vice-president, Philadelphia, and Susan Newkirk Wright 67.
Alix Myerson is president of the Washington,
president, Philadelphia.
D.C.,
Behind: Augustina Kymmel 69, Austin, Texas, and Bill Bergen 77,
36
Vassar Club.
VQ SPRING 1988
Washington, DC.
Crimewarps
BOOKS
does attempt to
cultural meaning of
grapple with the
and that is no small
crime,
ambition. Though solidly'researched
Books for Quarterly notice should be sent
to: Yassar
and bibliography
Quarterly, Alumnae House,
be
Alumnae/i Collection in the library
but the astute reader may still
redundancy,
to
NY 12601. Books for the
Poughkeepsie,
Ms. Bennett’s
intrigued by
says that
we
(notes
extensive), it falls 'prey
are
predictions. She
experience;
to
expect
can
should be sent to: Vassar College Special
Collections, Box 20, Poughkeepsie,
. .. incremental changes in crime patterns . .. [and]
NY
12601, attn: Alumnae/i Collection.
a
dialectical improvement of
live
in
a
integrated,
tolerant
more
birthrate will open up
Jeffrey Wallach ’B2, Books Editor
prospects. We will
our
better-educated, better-employed,
those
opportunities for
of
historically deprived
more
society. The shrinking
them,
allowing
many
would-be criminals to enter the mainstream and
Yona Zeldis McDonough 79,
develop
Books
decrease, abetted by changing demographics and
Writer
stake in the system. Street crime will
a
powerful biochemical information technologies.
White collar
Crimewarps: The
Future of Crime
in America
traditions:
by Georgette Bennett ’67
Anchor
The
in
ments
Georgette
1987
the
hardcover
established
grounding
“You
know,
it’s
never
TOO
soon
to
write a will”
in
liberal freedom to make personal choices while
maintaining a
“crimewarps” describes
term
conservative
the
morality, patriotism, and economic latitude; and
Press/Doubleday,
435 pages, $19.95
crimes will become easier to detect
and defeat. . . . We will inherit the best of both
of
patterns
Bennett’s book of the
crime;
of responsibility, tolerance, and
sense
ARE YOU
compassion for the larger society.
displace-
PLANNING
The
future, according
to
Ms. Bennett, looks
title is
same
YOUR ESTATE?
Y.Z.M.
rosy.
organized around six major crimewarps, each
of which represents
a
set of
major social
trans-
formations.
In
a
the
John Masefield
ARE YOU
by June Sonnekalb Dwyer ’66
section entitled “The New Criminals,”
author
that
asserts
traditional
law
Ungar Publishing Co.,
THINKING ABOUT
1987
MAKING OR CHANGING
120 pages, hardcover $16.95
breakers-uneducated, young, male, poor—will
be replaced by older,
upscale offenders.
more
The number of crimes committed by
will increase.
Teenagers
women
will commit fewer but
terrible crimes, and senior citizens will
more
died in 1930, there
from
whom Prime
man,
section
Rudyard Kipling,
March
of
Ms.
Crime,”
were
Walter
de
la
successor.
Mare,
Mac-
Alfred
Noyes,
and William Butler Yeats all
would have filled the position admirably. Mac-
bound
deal
Donald
new
familiar with Masefield’s work, the selection
with the increase in white collar crime and
of crime made possible by computer
arenas
technology. She further asserts that
sensual
crimes,
such
as
sexuality, prostitution,
and
to
con-
homo-
gambling, will
be
will be sub-
legalized; others, like pornography,
ject
some
drug abuse,
greater regulations. In the last two
sec-
tions of the book, Ms. Bennett addresses the
on
civil
of
the
journalistic. At times,
Ms.
effects of the police and government
Crimewarps
is
an
and the
scholarly
odd
amalgam
Bennett offers thoughtful perceptions: “Crimes
defined in and out of existence relative to
the social, economic, and political climate of
the
When you talk about
times.. . .
are
perforce talking about politics.” But she is
crime,
you
also capable of glib, unsubstantiated generalizations. In discussing the exploitation of chilshe
dren,
women’s
longer
it “a backlash
movement.
dominate adult
did,
once
calls
many
are
Because
women
turning
can
easily
as
we
personal psyche
they
a
con-
argue that the need to
exploit children might be rooted
the
no
to malleable young-
sters instead.” What is the basis for such
clusion? And can’t
as
well
as
as
deeply in
the larger
cultural one?
Although Ms. Bennett criticizes the media
coverage of
crimes that make the
news are
crime (violent
not indicative
of general trends), she is not above using such
case
rape,
histories herself; descriptions of murder,
robbery,
pages.
and torture fill many of these
•
•
•
an
unenviable task in try-
to make claims for Masefield’s
credit, she does
call
to
too hard
tains
not insist
it
on
“overly
work;
•
to her
its merit. She is
•
Perhaps she tries
•
redeeming qualities, but,
her perseverance is rewarded, and
presented with a line or
that
stanza
•
con-
•
I think
a
reduce
probate
costs
and
estate
to
support or care for
children or another family
provide
to
honor
or
or
family
member
to ensure
memorialize
to name
friend
a
the continuation of
a
greatly
an executor
have your finances and
administered according to
to
assets
your
wishes
glimmer of life:
a
guardian for
which
program at Vassar
interests you
earnest,” “vague,”
and “mediocre.”
to find its
occasionally,
we are
a
member
June Dwyer has
willing
to
your
spiration.
ing
establish
taxes
third-rate poet
a
to
minor
To anyone
whose compulsive output failed to compensate
for his singular lack of poetic vision and in-
to
support
Vassar
of the towering bird with its choking lung,
Its bursting heart, its struggle to scale the sky,
If you
And wonder when we shall all be tried and hung
above,
For the blue September crime when we made itdie.
(“The Towerer”)
The book is organized into eight short chap-
YOU
are
interested in any of the
learn how
you may want to
accomplish one (or more)
goals by including Vassar
can
of these
in YOUR WILL.
ters; the first is biographical, and the next six
deal
with
various
work-narrative
aspects
verse,
spired;
of the
Reputation,”
poet’s life
The last
and
plays,
an
adequate
and major
Ms.
it,
Dwyer
between
comparisons
Masefield and such modernist giants
as
Yeats
and Eliot; in their hallowed company, his work
looks
all the
worse.
She also
claims
that
Masefield’s work is unread today because he
Continued
on
For further
information, please
contact;
ac-
chapter, “Style and
is the weakest. In
unfortunate
Masefield’s
is dutiful if unin-
it provides the reader with
overview
makes
of
sonnets,
novels. The presentation
complishments.
for their skewed
Masefield.
against the
men
as
John
shocking, for at best, he is
“repetitive,”
liberties.
are
is
chose
FOLLOWING REASONS?
A.E. House-
Bennett suggests that crime will become less
by geography. Subsequent sections
ONE OF THE
number of poets
a
Minister Ramsey
Donald could select his
become involved in criminal activities. In the
called “The
YOUR WILL FOR
When Robert Bridges, England’s poet laureate,
Sue Peirce Hartshorn ’62
Associate Director
of Development
for Planned Giving
Box 29 Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York
(914) 452-7000
12601
ext. 3052
page 38
37
she
ship student, and although
LETTERS
that debt
repaid
BOOKS
the sucmany years ago, she continued over
Continuedfrom page 2
years to contribute most
ceeding
the
to
generously
Continued from page 37
She worked in the alumnae fund
college.
office for many years, giving immeasurably of
her time and wisdom to many Vassar classes,
Blanding and Alan Simpson and secretary
1969. She
was
committee
for
1960-61.
also chairman of the
100th
our
She
what
epitomized
in
women
in
Vassar
this
position
Of course,
worked
once
tirelessly
conservation,
and she
I haven’t
after all these
Somehow,
really captured
strength of
her
facts,
director of AAVC, said
known anyone who
never
was so
completely comfortable with herself. She was,
as
result,
a
comfortable
you
can
who is
someone
She was, however,
kinds
with all
of
so
they
summer
on
met
to introduce
stayed long enough
joys of island living.
had the wisdom to settle in New
I had
reunions with
frequent
Margie
In her last two summers,
Edgartown
Margie exchanged
home with
English couple
an
and shared her English “estate” with
a
number
aptly
so
succeeding president,
our
Ruth
Ebling,
wrote: “No member of 1936 could have
contributed to Vassar
Margie
did: her
of herself than
more
irretrievable loss.”
Former president, class of 1936
Green Valley, Arizona
guess, she had the sense of humor that
Stage
She had great respect for all of nature and
need
man
to
in this world and the
clear and
her efforts to
guided
improve
the
Your
the hidden and wild strawberries,
those she reached
literature, hers
was a
rich and balanced life.
As she reached the twilight of her life, she
wrote
the kind of service she
suggestions for
would like
-
the occasion of
my
was
amply celebrated
on
80th birthday. I truly think
of death as the conclusion of
life,
the last great
On Fliss’s birthday, November 1, 1987,
Indian summer
an
giving
on
day with autumn reluctantly
a flock of wild geese flew
way to winter,
Church on
a
final salute. Inside,
those he will
those he
gather
will let
on
giving
was
being held
Compton
in
from his hands like red salamanders,
Cleveland,
Ohio
come
it fails to
Houghton Mifflin Co., 1987
lace of tadpoles along shore
for heat.
by
two
died
on
suddenly
at
her home in South
November 8, 1987. She is survived
daughters,
Daisy Evans
and
Ellen
Schnepel ’73.
Margie
went
From those unformed,
blind
as
a
scholar-
from Doing Words.
are
lives, minds, and
their
concerns
Do Words
we
to
in
in
child-“Key,”
a
to
VQ SPRING 1988
are
American
him to read and
the
are
the
captions
to
the
the mind of the child. Key Words, the
most
important images, images that
mind
and soul. When
child
Key Word,
as a
own
to
part of his
are
give such
we
a
caption
to
read and write and keep
bridge is laid between the world
a
and the outer world in which
person
to
came
school
a
after it had
be there. He stood
by the door and sobbed. The second day
time, watching
beginnings
few days
want to
You
speaking,
the
a
he
stood
little from time to
other children getting Words
doing other fun-looking things during Word
Time. The third day he stood by the table, not
are
upstairs
in the
only
once
All is
thrivingrest
He
your eyes,
Each cricket,
son.
see
out over
one
are
was
the
was
quiet, and I ruffled his hair
and smiled at him. “Would you like
a
Word
hung
me
then,
a
little, and I could
are
reading?” I said. “Those
the words they want to read and learn.” He
so
asked, “Who
was
I chanced another downpour and
do you
love best?”
His face dissolved into tears again, but he choked
out
“Mom.” So I briskly wrote MOM in big blue
letters
was an
away from
that he didn’t know what I meant. “You know
still there,
them, the fireflies-
English major,
an
Ameri-
literature student of John Christie, and his
student assistant
during her senior
poems appeared
in the
rently works
left. It
those cards the others
your lower meadow
surge of white blood cells
can
the other children went about their
today, Ricky, like the other children?”
the trees where you
A.V Christie
as
work during Word Time, and finally he
pine,
Vassar
was
of
on
a
card while he eyed
the jerky sniffs that
come
at
me
and did
“Mom,” he breathed, taking the card. Then
Her
Review
and
looked back at
cur-
And the sun, moon, and stars all shone at
editor. She
of Art.
few
“This word is Mom” I said.
year.
at the Baltimore Museum
a
the end of crying.
me.
“This says ‘Mom?’
”
he
his face.
he
checked.
once
on
J.W.
Continued
38
out.
take the images that
we
Organic words
and
Broadsheet, of which she
through Vassar
hardcover
The following excerpts
inside the door and wept
A.V. Christie ’B5
1986,
$15.95
257 pages,
Ricky
Marguerite Colie Schnepel, elected president
Orange
them. Y.Z.M.
Doing Words
in your darkness.
of
to terms with
come
to the intricate mind.
a
50th reunion in June
he
reject,
or
quality of discrimination.
started, and he didn’t
agile searching
to the rocks
you watch
our
eliminate,
Ms. Dwyer’s book may suggest such issues,
everything living.
From her son’s
skunk and porcupine.
of the class of 1936 at
an-
his personality must function. . . .
Your wife quietly ponders trillium,
Looking
Marguerite Schnepel ’36
discard,
to
lacked some essential
of his
your young
In Memoriam:
an
Poems. He
achieved considerable fame inhis lifetime. Yet
and remember,
piano.
vivid to those below, alone.
Frances Prindle Taft ’42
edited
nonfiction prose—and
plays,
at the
life of Florence Clothier Wislocki.
ceptional
dreamy,
style.
thology called My Favorite English
a
to celebrate
ex-
work-lyrical,
its traditional structure and
from his memory in the evening
and, like the oriole
the
early
romantic-is still held in high regard, despite
child’s first words to read and write, caption his
paper,
go
meeting of Thanks-
a
Yeats’s
pictures
past the windows of the United Congregational
the Commons in Little
their bril-
that make modernism matter.
poetic voices
write.
full of sounds-
so
to the black
universal experience.”
to
power and resonance of their
vernacular-and give them
the random.
“if there is to be one.” She finished
by saying, “My life
called modernism is secondary
liance; it is the
important
meticulously harvests
son
His mind
Unselfish and without vanity, but discern-
so
When
steadily collecting
ing and appreciative of science, the arts, and
Eliot and Yeats to Masefield. Their
Organic writing is writing from the inside
(for John Aldrich Christie, 1920-1987)
quality of life for society in general and for
directly.
reading public
prefer
And
an
cares.
preserve and nurture the best in both
and nature. Her vision and values were
led the
history-that
simply
divorced from cul-
to
write, it also
Jacksonville
clearly man’s place
wasn’t
-
A book about teaching children to read and
is typical of those who have things in clear per-
saw
it
preference
a
by Katie [Webb] Johnson ’62
Mary Pullman Pace
as
spective.
and
ture
But
matter of taste
for the
taste
skills, her wit, her patience
and uncanny wisdom-and her love. We share
an
modernism.
unable
of old friends.
As
writer, and the
Masefield wrote prolifically-poems, novels,
the years.
over
truly competent.
pretentious, and
never
sum-
home
their spacious
confidence that is charac-
people. She had the
teristic of
Jersey,
and her
Margie
from the many
come
rented
we
My daughter
her
character,
character both mental and moral.
Mary Gesek, executive
that she had
mers
her
Mental health is something that Fliss knew
about and had.
of
My happiest memories
husband Herman
inspired
others along the way.
Victorian
a
Victorians has been replaced by
arbitrary
to their friends and the
were
was
for
1936.
there and
health, family
she
Vassar,
worked tirelessly for the 50th reunion of the
us
directed to education, mental
at
class of
us
really retired
their goals.
surpass
in 1978 she
she
the Right to Die. All her life her efforts
and
or
position
for Planned Parenthood and
for the “Living Will” cause and the Society for
planning,
After leaving her
Martha’s Vineyard. The first
appropriate.
seems
them attain
helping
has
emancipation of
many ways that
so
central
anniversary
meant to the education and
of
1957 until
the Vassar board of trustees from
on
page 40
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String Quartet by Rebekah A. Gleason ’87,
winner
of the jean Slater Eason Prize for
combosition.
women and men know the arts as fundamental expressions of
life and culture. Art, drama, music, and creative writing are central to
the development of the educated imagination within the liberal arts.
Through the arts, we comprehend the world’s finest aspirations as well
.
as
its realities.”
Frances D.
Fergusson,
President
Through both the formal curriculum and the full schedule of concerts, lectures, drama
productions, and art exhibits, Vassar students are opened to a heightened sense of beauty
and an appreciation of the most ennobling creative endeavors that transcend space and
i
time.
m
ill
Your unrestricted dollars will ensure the rich
of all the
within
a
diversity
Vassar education
L
—~
■II
:>x
TV
./V
axe?
'
I
-
1
11
arts
■
I V'->,,r H|
■
,
“Vassar
I:."-'.-,
*>,*
music
.
.
..
Vassar Club to: Suzanne Chichester Fischer
PERSON PLACE
[’63],
St. Louis Vassar
Club, 9900 Old Warson
Include your name,
Rd., St. Louis, MO 63124.
& THING
address,
phone
number.
Sorry,
can’t gift
we
Vassar
staff
We also do
and
faculty, students, alumnae/i,
Place & Thing. There is
should be
typed,
Deadlines
are
charge for
no
for
specifications. Allow six weeks
75 words or less.
ders and add
$5
special
or-
terms
of ads that
are
unrelated
four-bedroom
contemporary,
study/guest
x
room, 2 k
house.
Large
baths, country kitchen,
screened porch, fully furnished. Located within
a
15-minute walk through lovely woods
or
two-
minute drive to Vassar College campus. Very
contact:
For
East Coast mothers-in-law needed for
which
study. There
are
studies
many
investigate the experience of adult chil-
dren when
they
about
experience of
the
of that marriage.
project
I
ated from
mothers
their
as
earlier
through the
move
stages
For this particular
who
looking for subjects
am
gradu-
of the following colleges be-
one
tween 1950 and
1960: Barnard, Bryn Mawr,
Mount Holyoke,
Radcliffe,
Smith,
Vassar,
Wellesley. Further criteria for each subject
that her daughter
must
marriage, and that
the first in the
was
are
have been at least 20
years old at the time of her
daughter
family
to
Participants will be divided into four
marry.
David
private.
information,
Kennett, Dept, of Economics, Vassar College,
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601,
or
telephone, 914/
groups: those whose
Sublet and hosted B&B offered in luxury
two-bedroom Manhattan flat in east 50s. Elegant furnishings; two baths; amenities include
have been
daughters
modern kitchen. River
Apple Mac and printer;
views;
southern and eastern exposures; 29th
floor. Sublet available: January, March, April,
through early fall ’88; $5OO weekly;
$1,500 monthly. No pets;
Garage
on
no
kids. Hosted B&B
site. Contact Erica Kleine [73]: 400
E. 54th St., New York, NY 10022; telephone,
212/838-7626 (noon
10 P.M.
to
only).
mar-
made available at the completion of the study.
My spacious Victorian home, four bedrooms,
findings would
interested, please call collect: Juliet
Gauchat (Boston University doctoral candidate)
IV2 baths,
eat-in kitchen, wide porch,
shaded streets,
tree-
walk to village, train,
bus;
$2,000 monthly. Telephone Ann Miller Schil-
at 617/547-1476.
linger [’s2]:
Anyone who wishes
a
of the first
copy
news-
914/666-5761,
evenings
and
contact
Ray Cook
at
Box 414, Vassar
College, Poughkeepsie, NY. 12601. Also, if you
have any information on your dancing years
at Vassar, or after graduation, please send it
to Mr. Cook. He is
such information
collecting
with the intention of
producing
history of
a
house
5.9 acres with
on
by private
forest and undevelopable national park land.
cathedral
Working fireplace,
living
room.
Most
Abuts
river
for
Boston. This
four-room cottage.
canoeing.
really is
ceiling, 38-foot
have three exposures.
rooms
Property includes secluded
Easy
to
access
once-in-a-lifetime op-
a
portunity. Asking $695K. Before March 15th,
call Adam Phillips [77]
202/462-7185; after
at
Phillips, 617/349-2727.
Paris accommodations
76
graduate
sought. Vassar
will be in Paris for business and
pleasure during
the last two weeks
1988. I wish to apartment-sit
apartment/room
in Paris
Please
write:
call
or
of May
to rent an
or
during that time.
Diane
Stiles,
65th
Eleventh St., New York, NY 10011; telephone
212/477-3060 (home)
New
212/645-4500 (office).
or
Hampshire: Semi-secluded
by
season,
lake in
woods,
rent
double bed,
fish,
Neat and responsible Cornell law student will
be clerking in New York
needs
sit
a summer
in Manhattan,
August. Interested in
to share.
or
City this
sublet
end
or
summer
and
and
across
month,
near
or
week
on
cottage for
small, quiet
Warner. Exit 8 off 1-89;
%,
one
two
single). Canoe,
dory. Beautiful mountain view
clear, spring-fed
lake.
Sun-
to west
Easy hiking
mountain climbing. Ideal for adult
and
retreat.
Electric heat and wood stove for chill chaser.
Ten percent less if taken for
or
110
Vassar.
at
Cape Cod National Sea Shore:
view in Truro. Surrounded
ocean
weekends.
letter from the dance office at Vassar
dance
Heart of
equipped (except for linens). Sleeps five (one
For rent: Mt. Kisco, NY, July and/or August.
College,
Cambridge
20 minutes from Concord. Carpeted and fully
be
years. A summary of the
are
ideal
$7O nightly for singles.
offered year-round;
ried 0-2 years, 2-4 years, 4-7 years, and 7-10
If you
Rd.,
Long
-
O’Beirne-
CB2 2PS, England; telephone, 0223-247182.
March 15th, call David
471-5263, evenings.
summer
this
30
[’3s],
Elaine
marry. I would like to learn
marry and
daughters
Ranelagh
Contact
circa-1925, Cape-style
For rent: August 1988 to July/August 1989,
to AAVC activities.
research
sabbaticals.
corner.
preferred
Alumnus wishes to sell beautiful 5V2-bedroom,
per item.
three months in advance of
each issue. Please note that AAVC cannot
verify the
orders in many colors of
lets
negotiable; long
dolls and bears) and will design to your
mas
Submissions
this bulletin board service.
special
bears and yarns (e.g., other colleges, Christ-
invited to submit items to Person
are
heating,
Historic pub (with hot meals) around
Rental
for
wrap. Allow four weeks.
central
baths,
two
huge bedroom,
kitchen, entrance hall, elevator, internal garage.
more). $350
Darling [73]
per week.
season
(10 weeks
Telephone Charles
at 203/242-1516
for details and
pictures ($3 refundable).
apartment-
of May
through
any location and
willing
Please contact: Stuart Kapp [’Bs],
Dryden Rd., Apt. 5-1, Ithaca,
NY
14850,
Books Received
Continued from page 38
telephone, 607/277-2906.
Vassar dolls and bears. Perfect for any per-
son/occasion-baby’s gift, holiday, graduation,
etc. Dolls are 19 inches
reunion, birthday,
soft, have childproof
Our price,
eyes.
$2B. Bears
tall,
Elsewhere, $35-45.
9 inches and
are
19
inches tall and cost $lB and $2B, respectively.
Dolls
wear
Vassar
rose
sweaters with your
Park City, Utah: Spacious, fully equipped
condo
with
sensational
an
hour to
Snowbird, Alta, and Sundance.
Year-round recreational activities,
Airport. Gorgeous
year. Contact
gray
corduroy pants, girls,
Bears
on
back). Boys
on
front,
wear
charming
old silver-mining town, half-hour to Salt Lake
message-up to 17 characters on each of front
P.O. Box 953, Marblehead, MA 01945; tele-
Paris: Large studio, two bedrooms, kitchen,
letters
bath, elevator, central heating, quiet,
each side maximum for big bear, 12
for small-and
a
year
(e.g., “’06”)
When ordering doll, choose
color (white
or
dark
brown, blonde, red,
front, lettering
(traditional
When
lettering
rose
or
on
(m
or
cap.
f),
skin
tan), hair color (black,
gray,
bald), lettering
back, and
rose
on
bear,
back and
tell
front,
us
bear
size,
year on hat, and
preference.
Send order and check payable to St. Louis
40
VQ SPRING 1988
1987
Henry George Reconsidered
by Rhoda Heilman ’3O
1987
sunny, top
floor. For rent during summer, fall. Length of
time negotiable. Mrs. F. G. Phillips (Margaret
Harmsworth
75014,
Paris.
’5l),
15 Square
Telephone:
de
Chatillon,
Paris 45 42 57 03.
Pasadena: Crown of the Valley
by
Ann Scheid ’62
Windsor
Publications,
Inc.,
Northridge,
California, 1986
288 pages, $24.95 hardcover
preference
the new, darker color).
ordering
on
sex
on
Inc., New York,
338 pages, $10.95 paper
273 pages, $12.95 hardcover
caps. Your message in gray on the sweater-17
on
and Patricia Brooks ’47
Crown Publishers,
Carlton Press, Inc., New York,
gray and wear rose sweaters and
are
Crown Insider’s Guide to Britain
by Lester Brooks
location at any time of the
Nancy Borland Aydelott [74],
phone, 617/639-0770.
skirts.
Nonfiction
views.
Minutes from Park City and Deer Valley; less
than
and back sides-in gray (e.g., “Vassar”
“Matthew” and “1861”
mountain
London rental. Well-appointed apartment
For the Love of All Seasons
directly
by Geoff Allison and Valerie Vaughn 70
on
the Thames (north side) with river
view and
near
near
London airport,
new
and
City. Also
A self-produced calendar and date book which
access to
continent.
celebrates, through words
Tower, marina,
Third floor, sunny, quiet, huge reception room,
infinite wonder and
and
illustrations,
variety of plants.
the
41
42
VQ SPRING 1988
43
44
VQ SPRING 1988
45
46
VQ SPRING 1988
What’s New
with You?
Let your friends know
postcard
on
enclosed in this
the
magazine.
47
48
VQ SPRING 1988
49
passed away
was
always
Sept. 13,1987, after a short illness. She
of Vassar.”
proud that she was an alumna
on
so
Our
sympathy is with her husband and two daughters,
Wendy and Robin. Phyllis used her Vassar education to
teach for
in
many years
to her class.
Class
West
'48
REUNION 1988
Apologies to Serena Perretti Benson for mislaying
her April postcard. A year ago she was sworn in as a
Superior Court judge, Essex County, NJ, criminal section. “Newark is a high-crime city and the quantity of
cases is daunting,” she writes, but she likes her work and
adores husband Dick. Son Peter is becoming a chef,
daughter Serena owns and operates a bicycle shop, son
Thane
’74
School.
research
continues
Thane’s wife
MIT/Boston U.
won
at
Harvard
Medical
$40,000 fellowship
a
from
for her work in
“Red
is
anatomy.
Betsy Stewart Gray’s
hair, very precocious,”
description of her year-and-a-half old granddaughter. “All
well in family-life is sweet. Hope to be at reunion.”
And so we bid farewell to our shocking pink postcards
and commend those pioneers who found the
gray ones
in their Vassar Quarterly and used them! Please follow
in the footsteps (or should I
of these
say pen prints?)
postcard pioneers!
Jones
the
fall
Sadler,
Jacquelin
having perused
issue, writes, “[l] am enormously impressed with the activity and actions of classes 10, 20, and even 30 years
senior to
Question: Is
ours.
us
ladies
Vassar-is
anyone-pro-
tough and resilient in mind and body
anymore (aerobics to the contrary) ? Wish I could check
ducing
out but
will be in
domiciled in
Anne
so
England,
Cammack
Quebec . . . one child will
Japan (I think).”
be
another in
Brewster
is
“delighted
with
everything I’ve read and seen about new Prexy
Fergusson.” This lucky grandma now has 15grandchildren who are close enough to visit in the summer and
enjoy the activities of their camp on Lake Champlain,
Essex, NY.
Betty Bole Eddison has enjoyed two visits with
Marcia Garbus Burnam ’49. Son Jon and Linda produced
first grandchild, Marie. Husband Jack is enjoying his
second
year
Lexington.
Word has
as
chairman of the Board of Selectmen in
Their
just
computer company is doing well.
us that Nancy Nixon Cun-
reached
died Feb.
ningham
14, 1980, and is survived by her
sister, Mrs. Jack J. Powell, 2609 S. Chilton St., Tyler,
TX 75701, and three children,
Maston, Nancy, and
Susan. They all have our sincerest sympathy,
R.
husband
of
G.
Lukacik,
Phyllis Hade Lukacik,
Box
50
41, Vails Gate, NY
VQ SPRING 1988
12548, writes
that
“Phyllis
New
Jersey.
Correspondent -Vivian
She
Mellor
Q Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49009
was
a
Valley,
credit
5243
51
52
VQ SPRING 1988
53
54
VQ SPRING 1988
55
56
VQ SPRING 1988
Wanted: News for
Class Notes
Handy postcard enclosed.
57
That’s
all the
news
...
Should you feel inspired to
the new
gray
goings, please use
I promise to faithfully report
news.
and
your comings
in the Quarterly.
if you send
it to
Class Correspondent
Lane, La Canada, CA 91011
58
VQ SPRING 1988
cards
your
me!
-Heather Sturt
Olive
share
Haaga, 1201
59
60
VQ SPRING 1988
61
62
VQ SPRING 1988
63
What’s New
with You?
Let your friends know
on
the
postcard enclosed in this magazine.
64
VQ SPRING 1988
Clas
col ege
in
Name
Name
ad res
New
Above:
RPoughkepsi, aymond Alumnae Vas ar
NY
Avenue House Quarte ly
12601
14y
necsary stamp
THE LAST PAGE
Thirteen
by Tom Asher ’86
miles from the Pacific
TWO
miles
from
I
home,
and
ocean
3,000
myself in the
caught
mirror just before stepping into the shower. I
into
squinted
whiskers
on
my
my
own
touched the
gaze,
bristly
face, and wondered where all the
years
I would dribble the ball back and forth,
me,
and navigating my body around
giants. Jonny Most, the popular Boston radio sports
announcer, would describe my movements in his
mistakable gravely voice. “He fiddles,
pops!” I would shoot the ball with a high
that I
as
badly in need of
haircut and I still had
a
that junior high school slouch.
Earlier that evening, I had
the local guys underneath
a
basketball
with
sky. After the
orange
final game broke up and most everyone headed home,
a
few
lazy last shots while
lanky 13-year-old boy (who had been eagerly wait-
a
ing
play all evening)
to
skipped
onto
the court and
“Missssster Swish!
asked, “How old
are
high-intensity
you?” and
I had to stop and think.
I thought,
Tommy Asher,”
and over, until the
over
ening,
bulbs. The boy
Most
the rebound
on
“simply
unbelievable.”
kicked my feet in the air and shot the ball in
arms
their
the ball
grab
and shoot it in again. The crowd would go wild. “Little
joined me. The automatic night lights sensed darkness
on
Tommmmmy Asher!” Jonny
would say. I would then
and
clicked
and watch
arc
it seemed to pause at its peak and then drop straight
down through the net and make that familiar sound.
played
deep
I stayed behind and threw up
un-
he diddles, he
had gone. I asked myself, “Am I grown up?” and noticed
was
shifting
seven-foot
imaginary
and
high
we won
of the crowd
roar
an
I
and
deaf-
was
the game; and I would stretch my
to wave to the thousands of
fans and retire
over
cheering Boston
Tom Asher is
in
a
shop, rebuilding
vintage guitars. He is
also developing his
old pro and get into the Basketball
own
“Twenty-three,”
He replied
I said, with some hesitation in my voice.
confidently, “Well,
Hall of Fame.
mail order
business with
I’m thirteen.” Swish went
working
Berkeley guitar
catalogue
that
a
features
his free throw. As I bounced the ball back to him, I
crafts
looked into the boy’s eyes.
fiber clothing. He’s
it before popping up another shot. The ball
slapped
went swish
again, and the boy clapped his hands. The
reminded
scene
He caught the ball and
me
of what it
was
like to be
13. As
I
awoke
from
restless
a
outside to fix my
van
sleep
and
headed
directly
which had not started in three
days. I popped the hood, crouched
the 1961 Ford
over
I stood between the boy and the basket, he dribbled
engine, and poked the carburetor with
around and
“Clogged,” I thought. The smell of gasoline seeped
shrieked
after he
scored
another
points. I remembered what it felt like to make
to watch it go
able, made
thing
was
still gangly
as
sure;
again
you made
the
and again.
23-year-old body, pulled
Every-
that
basket,
This little 13-year-old Tom
everything.
a
shot,
a
in, plunk, the sheer joy, often unattain-
you want to do it
so
two
Asher,
was
inside
the ball down
it fell through the net, and ran, sprinted toward the
basket at the other end of the court. The hot air blew
through
my hair
just
as
it used to when I
shorter. I huffed and heaved the ball up
as
I approached
backboard
foot
was a
over
my head
the net. Kerplunk! The rusty steel
vibrated
a
bit. The ball fell
through
the
chain link net. Just like old times . . .
ward
never
at the
and stood in the waft of chilly
refrigerator door,
My
hair
dripped
dered what, if
I
really needed
thought,
water down my back and I won-
anything,
had changed. The difference,
seemed to lie in the sound of that little
basketball shot. Call it
confidence, cockiness,
boy’s
or
self-
on
work, but I liked
any
I would
with
a
unscrew
paper
positions
and the
a
on
By
engine
now,
a
mechanic.
parts, clean them
remove some
towel, and
It
pretend
to
return them to their proper
the engine. I would pull the starter cord
low hum. I
sore, and
and
I used to
go-kart.
my
that it needed to be repaired and that I was
would cough and then start
was
my
hands
idling at
relieved and proud.
always
greasy and my neck
were
I wondered why I had spent
this old engine and why I had
was
much time
so
working
on
this
in the first place, and why I drove this heap
van
miles
Berkeley.
xVfter my shower, I shuffled into the kitchen, tugged
summers
across
the
to
country
groaned, and bucked, and started
finally
door shut,
settle
bought
here
in
I cleaned the engine and my hands with
faded Vassar towel, turned the key,
and
even
settled for
a
shifted the
van
rock,
garbled hum. I slammed the
into gear, and looked into
the rearview mirror. I sat up
and shifted to the right
a
and the engine
to rattle and
so
a
little
I could
higher
see
in the seat
myself for
a
assuredness, that boy had it. He had it because he could
moment, and I
make baskets go swish. I started
the clutch and pulled away from the curb and onto the
boyhood
dream
of
being
a
thinking
about my
professional basketball
player.
Underneath the basketball net my dad put
for
up
grinned.
The
main street. I rested my elbow
van
on
lurched
as
I let out
the edge of the open
window and drove by the basketball courts. Swish went
the wind through my hair.
enjoying Afro-Haitian
dance classes,
is
living
with four others in
a
communal house, and
is eating lots of tofu.
up-
the choke. The sweet
of the
me
spend adjusting the small engine
3,000
A
air.
I opened and closed
as
pungent odor reminded
screwdriver.
a
and natural
B(!x NA^ Y
EUNKDN’BB
JOIN US
June 3-5,1988
PARADE
Brass Band
•
Balloons
•
Class
Signs
OPEN HOUSE
Picnic Lunch
A
Class Pictures
•
•
Campus
Tours
ANNUAL MEETING
B# Class Roll Call
*
Announcement of Class Gifts
/
CLASS PROGRAMS
Panels
•
Speakers
•
Social Hours
•
Class Dinners
<>„
Additional information and
will be sent in
April
Plan
registration
now
c
V,
forms
to attend!
01