Some Recollections of the Beginnings of Bennington College
Date
1957-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Bennington College
Abstract
.59 "Dr. Booth wanted to start an educational center for girls.. the old inhabitants of the town were dying out and an educational center would bring in young life to the community.."; 1.30 Mr. James Colby Colgate to donate 45 acres and eventually all of Mount Anthony; 2.40 Study the history of textiles and branch out from there. Mrs. McCullough discussed why this appealed to her personally; 3.14 Dr. Booth appointed twenty-one women on the "continuation committee", later called the "Committee of Twenty-One"; 4.50 She learned of Antioch's Plan, alternating 6 weeks study and six weeks full time job; 5.00 Swarthmore's group tutorial system; 5.20 December 18, 1923 meeting of the Committee of Twenty-One at Mrs. Holden's home in Old Bennington; 5.46 Mrs. Colgates camp chair breaks when she sits down "with emphasis"; 6.10 Miss Stoke and Miss Sanford considered socialists. "Socialists in those days were considered dangerous radicals, however refined and cultured they might be.."; 9.30 Mentions Dr. Kilpatrick; 13.00 Colony Club meeting date set 4/28/1924; 14.47 Mr. William Van Duzer Lawrence of Bronxville, New York approached Dr. Booth with the offer of his home and a million dollars in memory of his wife, Sarah Lawrence; 16.06 News of the College spreading all over the country; 1700 Colony Club meeting - curriculum discussion; 17.56 Miss Marian Coates, first president of Sarah Lawrence, reported to Dr. Kilpatrick that she had changed her curriculum to fit the educational discussion at the Colony Club on April 28, 1924; 19.19 Conference of Educators, August 1924 at the home of Mrs. John G. McCullough; 20.55 Autumn of 1924, Continuation Committee met and decided that the "College was a potent meed for the future of education in the United States. The charter was granted on April 21, 1925. The Continuation Committee became the Board of Trustees on August 19th; 23.02 Dr. John j. Coss Joins the Board; 23.24 Committee to choose a president begins; 31.13 Amy Kelly goes out into the country to survey women's education; 32.06 Robert Devore Leigh; 36.30 Dr. Leigh makes his first speech as President of Bennington College at the Hotel Commodore; 37.44 The Board sends Dr. & Mrs. Leigh to Europe during the summer of 1928 to study school and university systems of England, France, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark; 38.00 College office opens in Old Bennington at the Old Library; 40.49 The Depression hits Bennington; 42.30 Mr. Colgate lost hope for the College and withdrew his offer of land. Mrs. Frederick Jennings gave Bennington 140 acres in North Bennington; 46.57 Mrs. McCullough donated $100,00 of an inheritance she received from her uncle; 48.34 A jubilee meeting was called, but it was more like a funeral; 50.27 Mr. Hull said, "The depression is so terrible I think it very unwise to proceed, and to save you people I shall probably have to say no and put the old cat out of its misery.."; 52.26 Mr. Hull questioned board members about how they know Bennington will succeed; 53.10 "you people seem to want it so, I'll go with the ship" - Mr. Hull; 53.10 "Stella the Steamshovel" arrived;
Description
item.page.type
Recording, oral
item.page.format
Keywords
Mccullough, Edith van Benthuysen McCullough, Historical, Audio, Booth, Vincent Ravi, Committee of Twenty One, Colgate, Mr., Old Bennington, McCullough, Mr. Hall Park, Comstock, Ada, Jennings, Mrs. Frederic B., Benthuysen, Ethel van, Graves, Dr. Frank Pierpoint, Lawrence, Mr. William van Duzer, Sarah Lawrence, Coates, Miss Marian, Swan, Mrs. Joseph R., Coss, Dr. John J., Leigh, Robert Devore, , Hull, Mr., Audio Recording