November 06, 2009

In the beginning...

One of the notable characteristics of our Archives here at Wabash is their lack of summary history. In other words, all too often we find information scattered through several files. During the course of his retirement from the chemistry faculty, Dr. David Phillips has been doing a fair bit of research here in the Archives. He has researched a variety of topics and provided us with his excellent summaries. 

What I love about David's work is that it is always expertly researched and succinctly presented. David has been working for the past several months on a project that I hold dear - he has created biographies of all of the men whose portraits hang in the Chapel.  These biographies will be printed in a book available in the Chapel for anyone who might want to know who these fellows were and why their portraits hang in this special place, the Pioneer Chapel.

Because his work is so well done, I thought it would be great to share it with more than just those who visit the Chapel. What follows is the first of the biographies. Hovey is first because as David has said rightly, and so often, "In the beginning there was Hovey."

Best,

Beth

Edmund Otis Hovey

Trustee (1832-1877), Professor (1834-1877)

by David A. Phillips

“The story of Hovey’s Life from 1832 to his death is the history of the college itself.”

                      Osborne and Gronert, Wabash College –The First Hundred Years

Born in Hanover, New Hampshire and raised in Thetford, Vermont, Edmund Otis Hovey graduated from Dartmouth College in 1828 and from Andover Seminary in 1831.  He was ordained a Presbyterian minister on September 21 and married two weeks later.  The newly-wedded couple immediately set forth on the arduous journey to Indiana, where Hovey established himself as the only Presbyterian minister in Fountain County, about twenty miles northwest of Crawfordsville.

Hovey was among the group of Presbyterian ministers and laymen who met in James Thomson’s home in Crawfordsville on September 21, 1832, to consider the establishment of a new college.  The minutes of that meeting are in Hovey’s hand.  The next day he was elected as one of the eight original trustees of The Wabash Teachers’ Seminary and Manual Labor College (the name was changed to Wabash College in 1851).

Hovey chose the College’s first professor and its first two presidents, and he was one of its major fundraisers.  He was the first librarian and later served as college treasurer for twenty-six years.  He was secretary of the faculty and of the executive committee of the board of trustees until his death in 1877.

Although trained for the ministry, Hovey had been interested in science since his late teens.  After some initial hesitation, he was persuaded to accept the professorship of chemistry and natural science, and in 1855 he became the first Rose Professor of Chemistry and Geology.  He was a serious scientist, giving carefully prepared demonstration lectures in chemistry and amassing a “cabinet” of fossils, minerals and botanical specimens that ultimately contained over 26,000 items and enjoyed a national reputation as one of the most complete collections of its time.

Hovey was revered for his character and intellect.  He “was an enthusiastic teacher, taking the greatest pleasure not only in the studious youth, but in a chemical experiment and in a geological specimen…  He was an elegant writer, a graceful speaker, an attentive listener, and an entertaining conversationalist…   There was a quiet dignity in his manner that restrained boys in the class-room, who elsewhere were rude, and developed in them a politeness that had not been manifested away from his presence.”

Edmund Otis Hovey died on March 10, 1877.  He had lived to see his beloved college become a prosperous and well-regarded institution.

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November 03, 2009

Music Man

Carroll Ragan [W1901] is a name still familiar to some on campus – which is just as it should be…Ragan, along with Ted Robinson, wrote “Dear Old Wabash”, our fight song. Ragan was the music man and Robinson gave us the words that all freshmen are supposed to know by Homecoming. There are those who could tell you that Ragan also wrote the Alma Mater. The picture above is from the Viewbook of 1898. Ragan is on the front row, 3^rd from the right, in this photograph of the Mandolin and Glee Club.  Ragan left Wabash prior to finishing his degree which was a decision that he later regretted. But he always kept dear old Wabash close to his heart.

From information in the historic New York Times, we learn that his musical career did not end with his stay at Wabash. When WWI came along Ragan composed the “Wabash War Song.”  In the early 1920’s he was writing both words and music for musical comedies.  An article from April of 1925 reported on the performance of the Wall Street Follies, an amateur theatrical troupe, of a piece called “Done in Oil.” Ragan wrote both the book and the music. The play was very well received before a hospital benefit crowd of 2,000 in the Waldorf- Astoria Ballroom.

The next year’s activities are described by Ragan in a letter to his nephew, Carroll Eben Black. Writing to his namesake, who was a student at Wabash in January of 1926, Ragan said, “I am very busy now getting ready for the Wall Street Follies. I have written a good deal of the music and lyrics but am not doing any coaching this year. We play at the Manhattan Opera House January 29 and will possibly take the show to Philadelphia later.”

Carroll Ragan was a creative young man – surely an advantage in his “day job” as an advertising executive. Following his employment in Illinois as the editor of a small town newspaper, Ragan headed to New York City. He secured a job as publicity man for the American Real Estate Corporation. In 1916 he moved to the United States Mortgage and Trust Company where he was publicity manager. A successful ad executive, Ragan often used his musical talents for the benefit of his clients.

One of the really nice aspects of this story is the connection to Wabash over the generations of the Ragan family. Carroll Ragan’s father was a Wabash man [Dr. Gillum Taylor Ragan W1860], as was his nephew Carroll Black [W1928] as was his great-nephew Carroll Ragan Black [W1966]. In fact until just last year Cal was a member of our Advancement team. For a great article about Cal and his family see http://www.wabash.edu/magazine/index.cfm?news_id=5318

So many families have this sort of connection with this place. There are many legacies in our history and there are even a few families whose connection stretches back to the very first class. New legacies are created every year as well. Each year, at commencement ,Public Affairs takes photos of the legacies in the graduating class. To see the photos from the Class of 2009 click here http://www.wabash.edu/photo_album/home.cfm?photo_album_id=2003

It is a wonderful thing to see the traditions passed from father to son, down through the decades. Creating generation after generation of loyal sons for Dear Old Wabash, as the song suggests and just as Carroll Ragan was in his time.

Best,

Beth

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October 30, 2009

Ezra Pound's birthday

This morning as I was getting ready for work, I was listening, as I do most days, to the Writer’s Almanac with Garrison Keillor. Today, I was surprised to hear, is the poet Ezra Pound’s birthday.  There followed a brief sketch of this controversial poet, largely credited with inventing “modern poetry”. As Keillor started to talk about Pound’s brief time at Wabash College – he taught here from start of school in September of 1907 until February of 1908 – I waited to hear what might follow. Imagine my delight when it was noted that although he was fired out of prudery – he was paid the remainder of his year’s salary. The narrative continued by adding that this money propelled the poet to England where he began the literary life that would bring him such success.

left - Ezra Pound’s Wabash faculty photograph – the only member of the faculty not to face the camera.

Below left - Scan of the College Cash Book showing payout to Pound of $200 (per G.L.M.) authorized by President Mackintosh

So in honor of the day, I have gathered three links to pieces about Ezra Pound and Wabash College. Each was written by an alumnus, from very different perspectives and all are fascinating looks at this small slice of our history. Enjoy!

 http://www.wabash.edu/magazine/index.cfm?news_id=5997

“I probably would never have gotten hooked had I not discovered the story on my own. I was studying late one night in the dark recesses of Yandes Library searching through back issues of The Wabash to prepare for a speech about those early Little Giant basketball teams that became national powerhouses. I turned a page and there was the striking profile photo whose caption read: PROF. EZRA POUNDS/Romance Languages."

"I could hardly contain my excitement as I rushed into the next room and brought back a biographical dictionary. Comparing colleges and dates from the entry on Pound, I quickly confirmed that, in spite of the misspelling of his last name, it was indeed the celebrated poet who had come to teach at Wabash in the fall of 1907.” - Jim Rader [W1960]

http://www.indianapolismonthly.com/article.aspx?id=20120

“Good Presbyterians have standards of rectitude in financial matters as well as sexual ones,” says Placher. “Wabash had signed a contract with Mr. Pound to pay him a year’s salary, and so they did.” It was the Indiana college’s generous—and probably unnecessary—payout that financed Pound’s subsequent exploits in Italy’s greener pastures. Redman further notes that Mackintosh, typically painted as the villain in the Pound Affair, soon regretted his rash decision to dismiss Pound (and probably sensed the young teacher’s immense talent) and tried to make things right. In a private archive, Redman found a letter Mackintosh had sent to Pound in Europe, asking the poet to return. “Mackintosh was a fair man and reconsidered his decision, either for monetary matters or because he doubted the veracity of the allegations,” Redman says. “In that sense Wabash comes off looking much better in this whole thing.” - Evan West [W1999]

 http://www2.wabash.edu/blog/pa/2007/11/founders_week_placher_looks_ba.html

This last address is a link to Bill Placher’s Chapel Talk from November of 2007. You can listen to Bill’s take on the college history of 100 years ago. Included in this talk was a thoughtful look at Ezra Pound and his time here. Pound was hired as the Chair of the Modern Languages Department and taught French and Spanish. Placher concluded with some of Pound’s poetry and thoughts on the future of Old Wabash. It was a remarkable Chapel Talk, one I still love to hear.

I hope you have enjoyed these links to Ezra Pound and, on the poet’s birthday, thanks to these three Wabash men Jim Rader [W1960], Evan West [W1999] and Bill Placher [W1970] for sharing their views on this complex and controversial former member of the Wabash faculty.

Best,

Beth

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October 28, 2009

A place like no other...

Photo and map from the collections of the Library of Congress

Having just returned from San Diego, I am still a little beach bleary. In between catching up on my e-mail and voice mail messages, I find myself thinking about one of my favorite places there. When I visit Coronado Island, I love to visit the Hotel Del Coronado. A big, old wooden hotel built like no other. All white frame and red roof, it was intended to be the world’s largest beach hotel. “Too good to be true” was how it was described at the time and almost exactly how I would describe lunch at the “Del” followed by a trip to the candy shop. In reading the history of this amazing place, I became intrigued by the name of one of its founders, Elisha Babcock. I have heard this name connected with business in Indiana and so, being the curious type, I dug a little deeper. Along with Babcock, who was from Evansville, there were a few other founding investors in Coronado Island. Among the names listed on the original documents of the Coronado Beach Company was a fellow Hoosier and Wabash man - Josephus Collett [W1857].

Josephus Collett, along with his brothers, John and Stephen, attended Wabash in the 1850’s. Josephus made his money in real estate and railroads. In a biographical piece it is noted that he had real estate interests in New York City, the Adirondacks, Chicago, Minnesota, Florida, Indianapolis, Texas and San Diego, California – and lived in Terre Haute.

Three investors bought all of Coronado for $110,000 in 1885. Further capitalization was needed to attain the lofty goals of these three investors so Babcock brought in his brother-in-law and Josephus Collett, described as “a railroad stockholder.” These men put together a million dollars and founded the “Coronado Beach Company” April 7, 1886.

This excellent bird’s eye view map from the collections of the Library of Congress shows their venture in its earliest days. To the right and below the image of the island is a listing of the officers of the company which includes Josephus Collett of Terre Haute, Indiana. The architects of the Hotel del Coronado were also from Evansville. Equipped with all of the modern conveniences of the era, the “Del” was the first hotel to be wired for electricity while under construction. Thomas Edison was a consultant on the project.

Those who are familiar with the history of Wabash know the name of Collett – there are the Collett tennis courts, a Collett Chair of Rhetoric and – as the Phi Gams know, or should know – the owls on the front of their new house were purchased by John Parrett Collett [W1924] and brought home from Europe for the old house. This same John Collett, President of the Board of Trustees of Wabash College for 10 years from 1965-1975, was the great-nephew of Josephus Collett.  

Josephus died in 1893, at the age of sixty-two, having served Rose Polytechnic as President of their Board following the death of his friend Chauncey Rose, the founder of the school we know as Rose-Hulman. Josephus's will endowed the Josephus Collett Chair of Mechanical Engineering at Rose.

If you have the chance to head to San Diego, stop into the Hotel Del Coronado and admire the fruits of Josephus Collett’s investment. It really is a place like no other!

Best,

Beth Swift

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October 06, 2009

Hovey's man

William Terah Lawson [W1876] was one among hundreds of Hovey's men. These former students who studied under, and came to adore, this brilliant and passionate naturalist went out into the world but always remembered their beloved Professor Hovey. This is evidenced by a letter we recently received. A few weeks ago I was contacted by a woman whose grandfather had attended Wabash in the 19^th century. She had two letters to her grandfather, one from Hovey and one from John Lyle Campbell and wondered if we were interested in having them in our collection.

Young Lawson graduated from Wabash in the “Centennial” Class of 1876 and this bright student  went on to study medicine in Cincinnati. The first item that I opened was a very warm letter from Lawson’s good friend Dr. Edmund O. Hovey  written in November of 1876, the fall after Lawson’s graduation. The letter is a great example of faculty to student, then alumnus, interaction in this time period. This letter seems to indicate that Lawson was a little more than a regular student, “Your successor Mr. Coyle fills his office I believe pretty well. We miss “Lawson” however in several respects. You earned a good reputation while you occupied that narrow room & performed the somewhat varied duties devolved upon you.” The record does not say, but I wonder if Lawson might have been a lab assistant....

Also in this letter Hovey sends along a short summary of day to day life at the College. He includes  this bit of news, “My family is well & I work some upon the Cabinet nearly every day…” The “cabinet” Hovey refers to could also be described as his life’s passion and was a  sizable collection  of natural history specimens. In the Catalog of 1876 a description of the Cabinet says that it included  birds, plant samples, rocks and minerals, “…especially  rich in coal, ores of gold, silver, mercury, copper, lead and iron…” Collected over his lifetime, Hovey’s Cabinet was so large that it came to fill the Polytechnic Gymnasium which was then renamed the Hovey Museum.Here is a great image of part of the collection in the Museum.

Hovey’s passion for his Cabinet was tied up with the notion of having real materials that Wabash students could touch and examine on the spot for a more effective learning experience. Many collections came about through donors, but in some instances the College bought them. When Hovey died he left the college many things, among them a catalog listing every item in the Cabinet.

A lasting record of Hovey's lifelong passion for natural history.

Best,

Beth

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October 01, 2009

My Favorite Little Book

A request this morning reminded me of this book. I say it is one of my favorites because I recommend it a few times each year. It is from the Wild Plants in Flower series with photographs by Torkel Korling and essay and species notes by Robert O. Petty – longtime biology professor here at Wabash College. My favorite is Volume III The Deciduous Forest. Maybe this is because these are the plants that I know best; the flowers from the woods of my childhood. The excellent photography of Mr. Korling is still, all of these many years later (the book was published in 1974), just as fresh as ever. But I think the real reason that I like it so very much is because of the essays and species notes by Bob Petty.

Listen to this description of the image on the cover, “Spring light in a young forest, a crowd of trillium above decaying leaves – we have been here before. But long before us, before the millennia of glaciers brought summer as but a taunting of the sun, recurrent drought had shaped evolving strategies – autumn and spring of the deciduous forest, where to survive was to win by loss, or not at all. Slowly our curve of earth tilts south again, and here and there we find the ancient secret.”

 

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September 23, 2009

Homecoming in the 20s and 30s Part II

This is a continuation of the homecoming 1920s and 30s story...B

Here are a few freshmen in their pajamas and pots working their way around the bonfire.

Here is a shot of the 1939 Chapel Sing with members of the freshman class on the steps of the Pioneer Chapel. The upperclassmen, probably members of the Senior Council, are closely watching for the least mistake. Unlike the Chapel Sing of today, in this era and for decades after, all freshmen took part and it was every man for himself.

Lastly, here is a great picture of the Lambda Chi house all decked out for Homecoming 1939. Enjoy the week and enjoy the game on Saturday!!

Best,

Beth

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