Stephens: A Look Back - 1961

It’s 1961 in our Look Back series, and Stephens women are abuzz over presidential candidate John F. Kennedy.

This is the first year Stephens had Young Democrats and Young Republicans chapters—and judging by the club photos, the Young Democrats group has three times as many members. One student, Fran Farr, even had a chance to meet Kennedy. Spoiler: She ended up marrying Prescott Bush III, a nephew of George H.W. Bush. Pictured with Richard Nixon is Judy Wangelin -- you can read more about her below.

This year’s Stephensophia yearbook is full of great photos, such as these. We’re told bicycles are the “latest fad.”

There’s not much text describing academic programs this year, other than science—which is appropriate because science remains popular at Stephens. This description is not unlike science here today;

 Individual experiments bring a clearer understanding of the problems in science ... The science program at Stephens is structured to accommodate the students wishing to specialize, as well as those desiring a scientific acquaintance with the world in which they live. In the physical and biological sciences offered here, laboratory work is and always has been an integral part of the educational method. All of the fields which comprise our science department provide the student with the opportunity of studying the subject first-hand. A well stocked laboratory is available for every student of science at Stephens.

Performing arts is and was also strong. A couple of great images, including one showing the transformation of a character:

This year, Hal Holbrook—just 34 at this time—brought his “Mark Twain Tonight” production to Stephens.

Stephens also hosted Canadian ballerina Melissa Hayden.

Among notable Stephens Women this year is Barbara Willis, who is deemed “Best-Dressed Stephens Girl.” Today, she’s Barbara Hearst (yes, “that” Hearst, as one online bio describes her) and is a well-known artist and philanthropist. She is founder and president of B. Hearst Designs a “for-benefit company” that supports women’s causes. A former media consultant, she’s also served on a number of boards and organizations.

Shannon Illges represents the Ideal of Courage. Today, Shannon Candler is also an artist who has had exhibits in galleries around the country.

And Judith Wangelin, editor of this year’s Stephensophia, would go on to serve as a teacher and administrator at Three Rivers Community College.

And Linda Kessel is a champion tennis player at Stephens. She went on to be Linda Koenig, a tour manager and guide in St. Louis and a former teacher appointed by President Ronald Reagan to be the special assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. 

Here are some more great images from the 1961 Stephensophia:

Stephens: A Look Back - 1960

The Stephens of 1960 looks a lot like the Stephens of today.

The programs that have given the College national prominence are thriving this year, according to the 1960 Stephensophia, as they are today.

There’s fashion

Education, complete with an on-campus children’s school

Equestrian studies

Film—in 1960, television was the rage; today’s it’s filmmaking

And, of course, performing arts

Speaking of the latter, there’s another important tie between past and present. In 1960, creative writing instructor and an Avery Hopkwood Fiction Award winner Jack LaZebnik debuted his original production “John Brown” at the Playhouse Theatre. You might know that Jack’s son, Ken LaZebnik later served as our dean of Performing Arts and today is helping the College develop new programming around filmmaking.

This year’s Stephensophia yearbook contains a lot of photographs but few words. There’s a section devoted to new students and orientation—processes much like our 250 new freshmen are going through this week. 

And there are several photos of dances and formals held on campus.

One notable difference between the Stephens then and Stephens now are the admissions counselors. In 1960, we’re told: “Your grades? Your dates? Your suggestions of prospective students? All of these are questions from the daddys of the campus, who first introduce each student officially to Stephens, who bring news from the hometown just visited and who give encouragement to ‘his girls.’”

While our admissions counselors today certainly encourage young women, they’re mostly female (and are more friend than mother figure!).

The Foreign Relations Club this year hosted campus guests including Clement Atlee, prime minister of Great Britain; Madame Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, an Indian diplomat; John Scott, an editor at Time magazine; and William Worthy, one of few American journalists to enter Red China at the time.

A couple of noteworthy Stephens Women include Civic Association President Karen Vandersloot, who went on to be Dr. Karen Vandersloot Richards, a faculty member at the University of Connecticut. 

And Donna Peltz is president of the campus Standards Council this year, a group dedicated to making sure students adhere to rules. It’s a fitting position—Donna went on to be Donna Young. Her first job was a s the child protection officer for Norfolk, Va., and was the driving force behind the enactment of Virginia’s child abuse law. She later moved to New York where she worked at the Institute for International Education, administering the Fulbright scholarship for Near and Middle East students.

The series will continue Aug. 20

The Look Back series will continue Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Stephens: A Look Back - 1959

It’s  1959 in our Look Back series, and it’s the beginning of another era for the College.

It’s Seymour Smith’s first year as president. He comes to the College from Yale, where he taught after studying divinity. Spoiler: He will go on to serve nearly 20 years, will transform Stephens into a four-year college and will later write “The Education of Fifty Thousand Women: A Reflection of Stephens College, 1958-1974.”

And even though he’s new this year, he already has a following. The Stephensophia yearbook staff writes:

We're with Smith The biggest smile in Missouri ... the man who is impressed by and works for change ... the down-to-earth president who is never too busy to help his Susies further their personal education ... the Eloise man ... the leader who is cheerful, witty, full of modern ideas ... the prexy who dreams of a school whose purpose is not to teach, but to learn . . . the chief who studies his school . .. a man who goes for the unusual, yet holds to the basic traditions ... the man who, with emphatic hand motions, affirms his belief that Stephen's education should be dedicated to the growth of a woman... WE'RE WITH SMITH

The yearbook this year is all about change. It’s full of photos with little text, and what copy there is is dedicated to reflection and memories (rather than information about programs and people). There are quotes such as “Times change and we change with them” throughout the book, almost as if this last class of the 1950s knew the 60s were going to change everything.

In fact, we’re told the “Greatest Tradition of Stephens is Change.” The staff writes:
There is only one girl on campus and her name is Susie. She had many good times and you were with her. You shared her laughter and her tears. You went everywhere with her. She worked and played and dreamed with you. You crammed for mid-terms and finals with her. She double-dated with you in the Grill. You tiptoed down the aisle with her at Vespers. You studied in the library with her. You whispered confidences to her late at night. You got her mail for her and she got yours for you. She praised your achievements and sympathized with your failures. She sang, "Way Down in Missouri" with you. She got cookies from home and you ate half. She went on a diet and you counted calories too. Together you went to the plays, the operas and the lectures. She watched the regulations change and you did too. Together you pictured the Stephens of 1999 as the new dorms arose. She sobbed at the last convo and you promised never to forget. She listened for the Bell and you listened too. Together you walked past the chapel on your way to graduation. You study this, your picture book of Stephens and remember all the traditions of which you were a part. While recalling all the changes that took place. You concentrate and reminisce, for You are Susie.

And this is a great description of life on campus (with apparently a lot of gawking Tigers):

SCENES AT THE TRAINS . . . President and Mrs. Smith surveying the arrivals . . . landing of the new recruits ... Seniors hunting Juniors . . . mass invasion of exhausted, wrinkled Susies-to-be . . . mad shuffle of luggage . .. beanies . . . stuffed animals . . riot of color ... air electric with tension ... SOUNDS AT THE TRAIN... "Look at all the silly hats!" .. . "Where's Stephens?" ... "I wanna go home!" . . . "Gads, how many juniors are there?" . .. "I thought you dressed like a lady here." . . . "Hey, that's just three of my suitcases, where's the other four?" ... SCENES ON THE CAMPUS ... Senior Pals waiting, shifting feet . . . M.U. men looking, looking, looking . . . empty rooms and over- flowing trunks ... everyone standing patiently, patiently ... SOUNDS ON THE CAMPUS . . . "Where are the darn buses?". "Hold it men, here they come ... mmmm-m-m-m" . . . "You mean you all came in one taxi?"... "And this is your home away from home." . . . "Meet your senior sister." . . . "What did you say your name was?" ...

And, finally, this gives us a glimpse into the world circa 1959:

Changing Scenes. WORLD: The Berlin Crisis and the controversial American occupation make Willy Brandt, Berlin's young mayor, an international figurehead . . . Castro and Batista arouse political emotions of the young and the old ... The restless force of negro nationalism sweeps through Africa and breaks out in riots, reprisals, and bloodshed in Nayasaland. U.S.A.: Senatorial Committees investigate crimes - reveal coast-to-coast syndicates, implicate McCullen . . .Cancer, the dreaded enemy, temporarily halts the career of distinguished John Foster Dulles . . . Ike signs a senate bill and adds two stars, Alaska and Hawaii, to the flag... The Little Rock integration squabble calls out the National Guard and brings criticism to Governor Fabus. SCIENCE: The world watches the international race for supremacy in the commercial jet airline transportation . . . Excelerated missle [sic] program-Thor, Vanguard, and Regulus zoom through outer space . . . The nuclear submarine, Nautilus, makes headlines as it skims the ocean floor beneath the North Pole . .. The latest American satellite relays vital statistics from its orbit around the sun to the earth. SPORTS: World Pole Vault record crumbles as Don Bragg uses his powerful arms to lift himself over a 15 feet 9 1/2 inch bar ... Silver Spoon wins Santa Anita Derby and is favored for the Kentucky classic . . . John Thomas, Boston University freshman, shatters high jump record, new mark, 7 feet 11/4 inches ... Roy Campanello, famed Dodger catcher, injured in an automobile accident, struggles to regain the use of his paralyzed arms.

ENTERTAINMENT: Susies rave about Jack Parr's subtle sense of humor... the first lady of the jazz world, the fabulous Ella Fitzgerald . .. Pat Boone, the boy you wish lived next door . . . sexy sensation, Paul Newman .. .the favorite collegiate crooners, Kingston Trio.... fascinating Auntie Mame and her "top drawer girl." FASHION: High fashion reflection of the twenties, the chemise boufante, empire, skirts and matching hairdos . . .hound's tooth checks and ever popular shirtwaists . . . shocking floral prints and pointed-toe T-straps with pencil thin heels . . short, short skirts... raccoon coats ... versatile Mu Mu. INFLUENCES: Sounds of North Beach and Frisco . . .poetry and jazz infect the nation . . . Bruebeck falls from King to lowly noble . . . Picasso's abstract murals and Joan Miro's new titles cause a revolution in the art world ... Dylan Thomas's influence spreads... Carl Sandburg creates a new Chicago. STEPHENS: Later hours on weekends, but no late dates . . .The greatest addition in two centuries, President Smith . . .Re- form movement brings relaxed jurisdiction . . . The self study emphasizes Stephen's improvement . . .Siesta three day a week . . . Dreams of the future begin with the 40 year plan.

The “King and I” production, hosted by Burrall Symphony Orchestra, was a big deal on campus this year. It starred Annamary Dickey, the theatre star who played in the original Broadway production.

The Aviation Club reached a milestone this year, becoming a chapter of the national honorary aviation fraternity, Alpha Eta Rho.

Among the notable ’59 seniors is Constance Mertz, who this year is the Ideal of Self Discipline. She would go on to be Constance Freeman and raised and showed quarter horses.

“Claude” Sutherland, president of the Civic Association, is Claudette Sutherland, who went on to Yale and enjoyed a theatrical and television career. She now teaches creative writing.

Some more photos from this very photo-heavy issue of the Stephensophia: