USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > Mirror to America : a history of New London, New Hampshire, 1900-1950 > Part 16
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27See the books by Marcus L. Bach, They Have Found a Faith,
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Indianapolis, 1946; and E. T. Clark, The Small Sects in America, New York, 1949.
28Lord, History, P. 658.
29F. J .- T., November 9, 1900.
30Ibid., August 6, 1936.
31A funeral held according to the ceremonies of the Jehovah's Witnesses took place in New London in 1938; F. J-T., September 1, 1938.
32At a large KKK meeting held on the Sutton baseball field in 1924, with many members present in full regalia, a number of New Londoners were observed to be present; F. J-T., September 18, 1924. This was, of course, the time when the Klan was at the height of its influence. That autumn it was said to hold the balance of political power in seven States of the nation; Agnes Rogers and F. L. Allen, I Remember Distinctly, New York, 1947, p. 30.
33One of the happiest evidences of this relationship was the hymn which the Lake Sunapee shore inspired Dr. Ozora S. Davis to write in 1909. The visiting clergyman that summer wrote the noble anthem, "At Length There Dawns the Glorious Day," one of the great contributions to modern hymnology.
In the early years of the century New London church people paid heed to the annual recurrence of "Fast Day" in New Hampshire. This yearly holiday, unique in New Hampshire in modern times, was tradi- tionally observed on the last Thursday of April, but in 1949 the General Court changed it to the fourth Monday in the same month. For a shrewd comment on the New Hampshire holiday, see "Topics of the Times," New York Times, April 23, 1951.
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The Colby Academy and Colby Junior College
"The Junior College has been consistent in its aims and purposes - that education should provide the students not only with the tools by which they may constructively shape their lives, but with the knowledge of how these may be adapted towards purposeful living."
- Sarah W. Briggs
1. The Last Years of the Academy
One of the characteristic American institutions a century ago was the local academy. In 1850, for example, there were in the United States more than 6,000 privately-owned or church schools calling themselves academies.1 At that time the princi- ple that democracy for its own welfare requires free secondary education, publicly-controlled and non-sectarian, was still far from established. It was, rather, the private academy which to ambitious young people furnished the chief opportunity for education beyond the grammar grades. The tremendous de- velopment of the public high school in the last hundred years profoundly weakened the status of the old-time academies, and more than 90% of those institutions which existed in 1850 had passed into oblivion a century later. By a fascinating chain of circumstances, however, the school which had begun in 1837 as the New London Academy was still flourishing under a different name in the middle of the twentieth century.
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This chapter is the story of its fortunes during the fifty years after 1900.2
Before summarizing this development, it is proper to indi- cate three factors which favored the continued existence of The Colby Academy to 1928, when it was changed to a junior college. In the first place, as noted in Chapter Three, New London had no high school until the 1930's, so that there was always a backlog of local interest in and support for the Academy. In the second place, the affiliation with the Baptist denomination in New Hampshire gave The Colby Academy a measure of stability which was most helpful during many difficult periods in its annals. Finally, and perhaps most im- portant, the unwavering interest of the Colby family and of those related thereto - especially James B. Colgate and his descendants - proved an asset impossible to overstate.3 On numerous occasions when it seemed that The Colby Academy must close its doors, these factors, individually or collectively saved the day, and the institution continued,
As indicated in Chapter One, in 1899 The Colby Academy gained a new headmaster, Horace G. Mckean. This inspiring educator and his wife brought vitality to the school and in the next six years made it into a vigorous institution. By the time Headmaster Mckean resigned in 1905 the enrolment had risen to more than one hundred. A healthy and happy student life flourished. During the Mckean administration, football had such stalwarts as Samuel M. Best, Robert M. Blood, and Eugene C. Carder. Girls basketball was introduced, one of the leading players being Maud Fellows, later to be Mrs. Herbert D. Swift. The Colby Voice, literary societies, yearly events like "Mountain Day," and the immemorial ritual of graduation made their impression on each student generation. Greek and Latin were still a mainstay of the curriculum, but new ideas, like an annual lecture series by distinguished visi- tors to the campus, were encouraged by Headmaster Mckean.
Justin O. Wellman succeeded Dr. Mckean when the latter left the headship of The Colby Academy in 1905. Headmaster Wellman ably guided the institution for fourteen years from
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1905 to 1919. He had the joy of seeing a splendid new building erected on the crest of New London Hill, and dedicated as Colgate Hall in June, 1912. This finely-built and handsomely equipped structure was made possible by the munificence of Miss Mary Colgate, who asked that it be named in memory of her father and mother, James B. and Susan Colby Colgate. In her eloquent and memorable address at the dedicatory exercises Miss Colgate said:
"This little book which I hold in my hand was printed over seventy years ago. It is, I think, the first catalogue of this school, now Colby Academy. Among the names on its yellow pages I find that of Susan F. Colby, the first 'Lady Preceptress.' How often have I heard my mother tell of the simple beginning of the school, of her love for teaching, and how her father said to her, 'My daughter, if you must teach, you shall teach, at home in New Lon- don.' There come to me dim recollections of my grandfather's love for the school and memories also of many others, long passed away, who cherished for it a devoted affection. It is, therefore, with peculiar emotion that I stand here today at the dedication of this building, the past weighing so strangely with the present that the 'great cloud of witnesses around' seems even more distinct than the assembly here on this joyful occasion."
Forty years after ground was broken for Colgate Hall, it was still one of the principal buildings of Colby Junior College, the heart of the administrative life of the institution.4
Another accomplishment of Mr. Wellman's administra- tion was the founding of an Agricultural Department at Colby in 1913. The year following this development saw the largest registration in many decades, 180 students being enrolled for the academic year, 1914-1915.5 During these years of Mr. Well- man's leadership, the First World War occurred, and seven of his students made the supreme sacrifice for their country.6 The Bible was given a prominent place in the curriculum of the Academy, and a four-year course of graded study in the Scriptures was organized for the students. Many of the boys took an active part in the campus YMCA and delegations went to the annual summer conferences of that organization at Silver Bay, New York.
The atmosphere of any institution of learning can best be sensed by the caliber of its commencement exercises. Ap-
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plying this test to The Colby Academy, and selecting as a typical graduation program that of 1911, the historian notes a care in planning, a sense of the fitness of things, and an aware- ness of the times in which the young people were completing their secondary education. On Wednesday morning, June 14, 1911, the graduating class marched into the historic New Lon- don Baptist Church and presented its program. Albert S. Llewellyn began the exercises with an oration entitled "The American Boy"; Lura G. Knowlton followed with an essay on "Luther Burbank"; Richard Seidenberg gave an oration called "The Parcels' Post"; W. H. Kelsey presented his address on "The Aeroplane"; Eva E. Dean offered an essay entitled "Florence Nightingale"; and John B. Root concluded with his oration, "The Life of Mckinley." Then, soberly and attentive- ly, the graduates listed to the Headmaster's charge to their class, received their prizes, and were awarded their diplomas. The Colby Academy, as did its successor, Colby Junior Col- lege, handled such exercises in a dignified and impressive manner, and the young people long remembered their gradua- tion day.7
Mr. Wellman resigned his headmastership in 1919, and Gaius H. Barrett was named as his successor. Mr. Barrett re- mained in his post for only three years, but won many warm friends among the students and faculty of that period.8 His administration saw the formation of a Student Government Association, a Radio Club, a Camera Club, a Music Club, an Outing Club, and other groups that reflected student adapta- tions to a changing world. As stated in Chapter Five, it was thanks to his interest and support that the first moving pictures were shown in New London. By the close of his ad- ministration buildings and equipment were valued at $200,000, while endowment and scholarship funds totaled $125,000. It must have seemed to many that The Colby Academy was des- tined to run along for decades in the familiar pattern. Actual- ly, when Headmaster Barrett resigned in 1922, the school had but six years left of its traditional secondary and coeducational existence.9
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2. The Junior College Begins in 1928
Following Mr. Barrett's resignation, the trustees of The Colby Academy elected the Superintendent of Schools of Lebanon, New Hampshire, Herbert Leslie Sawyer, as the new headmaster. Coming to New London in the summer of 1922, he was destined to administer the institution longer than any other individual since its foundation and to lead it through a series of changes to a place of repute in American education undreamed of by previous generations. Ably supported by his gracious wife, by a vigorous Board of Trustees, and by an alert faculty, President Sawyer proved himself to be a living vindication of the Emersonian dictum concerning an institu- tion's being but the shadow of a man. From the beginning of his administration he faced squarely the problems of the future of the old academy. High schools were increasing in number and in popular appeal; the living accommodations for boys in New London were proving ever more inadequate; coeducational boarding schools seemed to be losing in public favor; and the costs of education were steadily rising. As early as 1923 it was recommended by a committee of the Board of Trustees that the institution be made a school for girls only, but no action was taken until October, 1927. At that time it was officially voted by the Board that The Colby Academy become ". . . a school for girls, beginning with the fall term of 1928."1ยบ Implicit in the vote was the understanding that the curriculum would be altered by adding two years of college instruction and gradually abandoning all courses on the secondary level. In other words, the Trustees and President Sawyer were envisaging a junior college for women.
In order to place their decision in its proper setting, a few observations about the junior college movement in modern America should be made. Historically, the University of Durham in England was the first institution in the world to grant an A.A. (Associate in Arts) degree. This occurred in 1873, and was awarded for the completion of two years of college study. In 1900 the University of Chicago became the original American institution to grant this type of degree.
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By 1928 when Colby Junior College began, there were seventy-two colleges in the United States which offered the A.A. or its equivalent. The rapid growth in junior colleges in the nation since that date has been nothing short of phe- nomenal. By 1950 there were more than six hundred two- year colleges in the country, with an enrolment of over half a million students. By that year forty-three states had author- ized their junior colleges to confer the two-year degree.11 It was Colby's privilege from 1928 onward to play a leading part in this great collegiate development in the United States.
Nevertheless, the transition from old to new in organiza- tion was not an easy one. In the three-quarters of a century since 1853, upwards of one thousand boys and girls had graduated from the academy, and many among the alumni deeply regretted the change. Actually, since New London as yet had no high school of its own, for a few months more some boys continued to attend Colby. These were facetiously known as "The Last of the Mohicans." Likewise playing with a popular phrase, the forty-nine girls in residence at Colby when it opened in September, 1928, were christened the "Forty- niners." Nineteen girls were registered that autumn as college freshmen. As Colby Junior College began, on the faculty with President Sawyer were three individuals whose professional service was to cover the entire history of the College to the time these lines were written: Walter T. Moreland in mathematics, who had been on the Academy faculty since 1922; M. Roy Lon- don in secretarial science, who had taught at the Academy from 1915-1918 and had returned in 1928; and Marguerite Hirsch in English, who came to Colby that year. Also a member of the College family in the fall of 1928 was Archibald G. Granger, Superintendent of Building and Grounds, who had held that position at the Academy since 1919.12
The bases of College traditions were laid rapidly in the opening years. In 1928-1929 there began three annual events which have continued since: Parents Week-End in October; Winter Carnival in February; and May Day in the spring. Other college customs were speedily instituted. In 1930 the
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first graduating class from the College arranged fitting Class Day exercises. By that time, also, there had been founded a literary magazine named Blue Quill; the "Rouge Pot," a club for drama participants had been organized; the "Dean's List" for honor students was in effect; a system of annual gradua- tion awards had been established; musical organizations were flourishing; and many other campus activities were beginning. The Trustees added several women to their membership, among them Mrs. Horace G. Mckean, Mrs. John G. Winant, and Mrs. Mary Shepard Clough. In 1932 all instruction in the ninth grade ended; and thereafter over the years one instruc- tional level after another was abandoned, until by the end of academic 1938-1939 there was no more secondary education offered at the College. Thenceforth its teaching work was on the collegiate level only.
3. Some Aspects of Student Life at Colby Junior College
The official seal of Colby Junior College includes the phrase, "Parati Servire," and indicates the three phases of life in which it seeks to prepare its students: "Mens, Animus, Corpus," - Mind, Spirit, and Body. The whole development of student life since 1928 may usefully be considered in its re- lationships to these three objectives of Colby. It is obvious of course, that as registration climbed steadily over these years - reaching a total of over 425 in the autumn of 1950 - the number and variety of undergraduate activities grew apace.
One of the typical ways in which student interest in things of the mind expressed itself was in the formation of campus clubs. A list of such groups which existed on the campus, not necessarily all at the same time, would include the following: the Y.W.C.A., the Music Club, the International Relations Club, the Boot and Saddle Club, the Camera Club, the Science Club, the Art Guild, the Spanish Club, the Rifle Club, the Outing Club, the Chapel Choir, the Glee Club, the World Affairs Club, the Aviation Club, the Rouge Pot, the Colby Key, and chapter 85 of the national junior college honorary society, Phi Theta Kappa, a charter for which was received in October,
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1950. For most of these the purpose was explicit in the title. The Colby Key was an honorary group of upperclasswomen who served as guides and hostesses to visitors on the campus. In addition to the above named organizations, there were various honorary groups, open to talented individuals in such fields as the drama and the arts. All these campus clubs were co- ordinated and supervised by a joint student-faculty Student Affairs Council.
Important aspects of the campus life at Colby were the student government program and the honor system. Each spring the undergraduates chose a long list of officers for the campus as a whole and for each of the dormitories. Those selected for these positions were fittingly inducted into office, and assumed real responsibility in college government and discipline. So successful was Colby with its twin emphases on self-government and the honor system that the National Student Association in 1947-1948 invited Helen Thomas, then president of the Colby student body, to be its New England representative.13 All this was excellent training for the re- sponsibilities of adult citizenship. So was the annual "Campus Community Chest" campaign, and the Student Affairs assemblies. These activities were augmented after 1940 by the annual observance of "I Am An American Day."14 On that occasion in May of each year all students who had reached their voting age during the twelve months previous were welcomed into the company of participating American citi- zens. Campus interest in public affairs was further advanced by student forums on current topics; by a fine Lectures and Concerts series each year;15 by articles in the undergraduate publications;16 by speech study and dramatic productions; and by occasional intercollegiate conferences.17
The spirit of a Colby girl had many channels through which to express itself. One of these, of course, was the chapel services, in the early years of the junior college held daily, but after 1940 occurring twice a week only. At these exercises the robed student choir sang, and either President Sawyer or some guest speaker addressed the group. Entirely undenomination-
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al in character and designed to present religion in non- theological terms, these chapel services left a deep impression on the minds of a majority of the participants. They were often referred to by alumnae as one of the vivid memories of undergraduate years. In the basement of Mckean Hall stood the "Little Chapel," instituted there in the 1930's and always open for meditation by individuals and small groups. Vesper services were presented by the students each year at Thanks- giving, Christmas, and Easter. The "social gospel" at Colby was expressed in a variety of ways from the beginning of the College, - by the summertime program at Danbury in 1935,18 by the Colbytown Camp held each summer since 1940; by deputation teams during the academic year; and by good will projects of many sorts in New London itself. Students and faculty often planned campus symposia on such subjects of a spiritual import as ecumenicity in modern religious life, the problems of marriage, and inter-race relations.
In other ways, too, Colby sought to develop the spiritual side of its students. From the beginning of the College music and the other arts were stressed in the life of the under- graduates. Colby girls sang concerts and played in recitals with students from many other New England colleges, - Amherst, Bates, Boston University, Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Harvard, M. I. T., Williams, to mention a few - and gave outstanding presentations of sacred and secular music.19 Art exhibits and the annual observances on the campus of Art Week and of Music Week strengthened the impression of the fine arts on a student. In like manner the Traditional Affairs program of the College left abiding memories in student minds. Orientation Week in September, Mountain Day and Parents Week-End in October, Cap and Gown Day and Tree Planting in May, and the ritual of Last Chapel in June were all experiences conveying to a sensitive undergraduate the fullness and continuity of life.
The physical development of students at Colby kept pace with their mental and spiritual growth. Situated as it was in the heart of the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region, the College
THE HEIDELBERG
THE GYMNASIUM
COLBY PANORAMAS The Colby Academy: 1900 Colby Junior College: 1950
DR. HERBERT LESLIE SAWYER Headmaster: The Colby Academy, 1922-1928 President: Colby Junior College, 1928-
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was fortunate in its natural setting. Mountains, lakes, trails, and open country lay all about the campus, appealing to the love of the outdoors inherent in the heart of youth. Formal training at Colby was offered in archery, tennis, golf, riding, the dance, hockey, skiing, basketball, fencing, badminton, and softball. At times, when there was a specially interested group, instruction was given in such activities as riflery and fishing. Colby teams competed with their counterparts from other New England junior colleges, from the University of New Hampshire, and from some of the women's four-year colleges. The Colby Recreation Association managed the Colby Lodge on the shores of Little Lake Sunapee, and facilitated other seasonal outdoor activities, - Mountain Day in the autumn, Winter Carnival in February, and May Day in the Spring. Hikes to the Colby Nature Sanctuary appealed to many stu- dents. The Campus Curb, opened in 1947, supplied hungry students with snacks as they came in from outdoor recreation. It was not surprising that careful records kept by the Depart- ment of Physical Education over the years showed a marked bodily development of the typical girl during her residence on the Colby campus.
Perhaps with a composite of memories of Mind, Spirit, and Body, one alumna wrote her impression of two years at Colby:20
"New London will always have a deeper meaning to me than just having gone to college there. The beautiful sunsets, pure white snow, uncommercialized lakes and ponds, inspiration-filled mountains, help one to look beyond when the going gets rough. No matter what changes the years may bring to Colby Junior College, the New Hampshire countryside will always have an in- fluence on Colby students' adjustments to living."
4. Teaching and Administration
Between 1853 and 1928 the old Academy had included more than 175 persons on its faculty.21 In the years from 1928 to 1950 Colby Junior College was served by upwards of one hundred men and women on its teaching and administrative staff. As previously indicated in this Chapter, the services of four of these covered the entire history of the College. By 1950, in addition to these "old-timers," there were four addi-
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tional persons who had taught at Colby for fifteen years or longer, while still another four had served between ten and fifteen years. At mid-century the faculty included thirty-eight persons; the administrative officers were six in number; there were sixteen administrative assistants; and the engineering corps contained thirteen men.22
Soon after the beginning of the College, President Sawyer began to emphasize a cooperative administration, a sharing of responsibilities. The faculty was divided into departments and each such group enjoyed considerable autonomy. The com- mittee system of the College was unusual. In 1950 the faculty members were grouped in twelve standing committees, and much of the administration was handled directly by them. Faculty-student relations were supervised by the Dean. Those holding this post during the College era were A. Carmen Taylor (1925-1934); Ruth A. Sprague (1934-1936); Amelia E. Clark (1936-1943); Mrs. Charlotte D. Meinecke (1943-). In 1943 Helen Spaulding was brought to the campus as Assistant Dean and Vocational Counselor.23
Two other accomplishments in the field of faculty and ad- ministration may be noted. In 1935 the faculty selected an Executive Committee to suggest and study possible develop- ments in college procedure.24 This group took an active part in college affairs in the ensuing fifteen years. Among the achievements which they initiated were the establishment of Blue Cross-Blue Shield at Colby; a retirement system for faculty and staff members, begun in 1947; and a program of sabbatical leaves approved by the President and Trustees in 1948. After World War II, also, the Executive Committee carried on studies of educational problems, and sponsored each winter a series of meetings for faculty information and discussions.25
Another important development in Colby's history came in 1943 when the New Hampshire legislature authorized the College to grant the B. Sci. degree to certain of its alumnae. Those girls who had taken the course in medical technology for three years at Colby, and had then done approved work in
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