Thanksgiving, 1872

Last year we shared a collection of menus from Vassar Thanksgivings past. This year we’re moving beyond the food to offer an account of how Vassar students spent the full holiday nearly 140 years ago, from dawn to dark. The piece appeared in the January 1873 issue of the Vassar Miscellany.

Main Building, late 19th century

Main Building, late 19th century

Thanksgiving Day dawned clear and bright upon us. That is to say, although we can not assert this for a fact, not having made any personal observations in the matter, it is safe to suppose that a perfect dawn must have preceded the perfect day which followed. The air blew fresh from the far-away mountain-tops, with a dash of snow and a tingle of ice in it that was particularly exhilarating. The sun did his very best beaming, the sky intensified its blue, and the clouds piled up their fleeciness. If we had not such an extreme dislike to anything which savors of originality, we might have been led to exclaim, “O, what is so rare as a day in November!” As it was, we bit our lips, and kept the sentiment in its proper place.

Main Dining Room, 1878

Main Dining Room, 1878

The half-past eight arrangement for breakfast was highly satisfactory to all parties. To tell the truth, the arrangement seemed much more satisfactory than the breakfast. But that was to be expected: for students are proverbial grumblers; and the occasional remarks overheard about “spreading things out” and a “consistent evenness” must have been the product of thoughtlessness or—the north side of the dining-hall. However that may have been, it was indisputably proved that “a short horse is soon curried.” Prayers after breakfast brought back “ye olden time,” and reminded us that Thanksgiving Day was not appointed for the sole purpose of eating turkey. Some, of us had difficulty in realizing this fact, and it required a great deal of logic to convince us; but in time we all assented to it.

Student Studying, ca. 1896

Student Studying, ca. 1896

As soon as practicable we joined the company of anxious and scribbling Juniors in the library, who were poring over Shakespeare and Lamb and Froude in a last desperate struggle with those eternal essays. Burying ourself in a corner, we proceeded to pound our head against a wall of books, hoping that such a performance would send ideas showering upon the paper. Judging from analogy and experience, we concluded that every other girl was doing about the same thing. As fast as a respectable number of ideas were thus knocked out, one after another departed, wearing that particular smile of relief which is especially exasperating to the captive ones.

Thanksgiving Menu, 1872

Thanksgiving Menu, 1872

For two hours or more before dinner the grounds were pervaded by people “getting up an appetite.” This was preparatory to “getting up a toilet,” and both objects were accomplished with a wonderful degree of success. To describe the former would be unkind; to describe the latter would be impossible. Behold us, then, O imaginative reader, seated in the dining-hall at half past three, each with her “own particular,” her best gown, best behavior, best smile, and best appetite. The dinner was gotten up in the very best style of our steward, and was as like the one of last year as anything well could be. Those brave individuals who began with the “intention of partaking of every dish, gave up in despair before half accomplishing their purpose. It was, indeed, rumored that one plucky damsel had achieved the glorious work, but she has not since been heard from. The question of time was clearly not involved in the solution of this problem, for whatever in that line cannot be accomplished in three hours, is so infinitesimal that it may practically be disregarded.

We draw a veil over the hour that followed. Enough to say, that at its expiration we seated ourselves in chapel to listen to readings by the President. His kindness in reading to us was only exceeded by the excellence of his elocution. The selections were from the “Merchant of Venice,” and included nearly all the favorite scenes.

President John H. Raymond and Lady Principal Harriet W. Terry

President John H. Raymond and Lady Principal Harriet W. Terry

 

Miss Terry received in the parlors till nine o’clock, when we mustered our forces tor a fresh attack in the dining-hall. All things considered, the victory which we achieved was marvelous. We accomplished all that could reasonably have been expected of us.

The spirits of just men made perfect, held undisputed sway over the house that night. Our ancestors from time out of mind passed in solemn procession before our astonished vision. Ghosts of long-forgotten friends with mournful visages, shook the finger of reproach at us. Hollow-eyed children, imps of darkness, weird and fantastic forms, floated around our pillows, and the air was full of heavy oppression. Night was eternal; the sun had set forever; the firmament was a blank; existence was just becoming utterly unbearable, when a vigorous shake from our room-mate recalled our wandering wits.

However blessed the man who invented Thanksgiving may be, the demented individual who got out a patent on the day after, should have been forced to leave the country.

You can read this account in its original form on pages 124-126 of the Vassar Miscellany, January 1873.

 

Happy Ada Lovelace Day!

On October 15, 2013, we celebrate Ada Lovelace Day, an annual event recognizing achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and math.  Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) was an English mathematician and writer, as well as a countess, and is known for her work on mathematician Charles Babbage’s early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine.  Her work included what is considered to be the first algorithm meant to be processed by a machine — granting her recognition as the world’s first computer programmer. [1, 2]

It is in this spirit of scientific exploration, critical thinking, and a liberal arts education that we recognize the many women scientists, engineers, technologists, and mathematicians that are part of the Vassar community.  (We salute the many men, too, of course — but it is Ada Lovelace Day!)  Two of the more notable women whose work can be found at the Libraries include:

Maria Mitchell, faculty member and astronomer

Maria Mitchell with students viewing eclipse in Denver, CO (1878)

Maria Mitchell with students viewing eclipse in Denver, CO (1878)

The first person appointed (1865) to the faculty at Vassar — male or female — and first director of the Vassar College Observatory, Mitchell was already famous for her 1847 discovery of comet C/1847 T1, known as “Miss Mitchell’s Comet.”  Her scientific work was matched by her dedication to her students, who responded in kind.  “[M]y joy over Astronomy is extreme,” wrote student Julia Pease in 1874, describing Mitchell’s difficult class but her commitment to making sure her students fully understood the material.  Pease’s letter to her sister noted:

Just let me tell you a little secret. Some weeks ago three of us had become so much discouraged over it [Mitchell’s astronomy class] and thought ourselves too dull, that we had serious intentions of dropping it and taking something else.  Miss Braislin [a Vassar mathematics professor] got wind of our little plan and confided it to Prof. Mitchell, who came immediately and took each one separately, encouraging her and urging her to go on. She was so lovely that we could not help keeping on… [3]

Beyond a dedicated faculty member, Mitchell was an ardent suffragist and abolitionist, and an early proponent of equal pay for male and female faculty members.  Despite her fame, she learned that she was paid considerably less than her male counterparts at Vassar and demanded a raise — and got it.  Mitchell even received her own Google doodle last August!

Christine Ladd-Franklin, mathematician and logician

Christine Ladd-Franklin, mathematician, logician, and philosopher

Christine Ladd-Franklin, mathematician, logician, and psychologist

Christine Ladd-Franklin (VC 1869) was a mathematician, logician, and psychologist.  Her talents were considered extraordinary by her professors, though she often expressed self-doubt of her abilities in her diaries.  Ladd-Franklin’s interests were varied; for example, on October 15, 1867, she wrote of her studies:

Oct. 15. This has been a most successful day to me. I completed an original demonstration in Physics, which to be sure did not appear before the class but which gained the approbation of my room-mate, Fanny Case. Then in Astronomy I also had the pleasure of working out an original demonstration of the sextant which was “very gratifying” to Miss Mitchell. Again in Greek, I met with most brilliant success (p. 25).

Upon her graduation from Vassar, where she studied with faculty such as Mitchell and noted, “The renown of having been educated at Vassar College has secured for me many pleasures,” (p. 45), Ladd-Franklin applied to Johns Hopkins for her doctorate before the university accepted women.  Though she completed the requirements for the doctorate, it was not awarded to her until 44 years later.  Her career in logic, in particular, included a breakthrough in the logic problem of the transformation of the syllogism. [4]

Vassar scientists then and now…

Students working in Vassar Brothers lab (c. 1890)

Students working in Vassar Brothers lab (c. 1890)

Other notable women scientists from Vassar include:

  • Ellen Swallow Richards (VC 1870), early ecologist, considered by many to be the founder of ecology.

  • Grace Hopper (VC 1928), computer scientist, noted for her invention of the compiler.

  • Gladys Hobby (VC 1931), microbiologist and pioneer in penicillin trials for humans.

  • Winifred “Tim” Asprey (VC 1938), instrumental in the creation of Vassar’s Computer Science Center (1963) and the Computer Science Program. Professor Nancy Ide (another incredible Vassar computer scientist, noted for her work in computational linguistics and the Text Encoding Initiative) wrote a wonderful summary of the history of the Program for Vassar’s 150th anniversary.

  • Vera Cooper Rubin (VC 1948), recipient of the National Medal of Science and worldwide honors for her pioneering work on dark matter in the universe.

  • Ellen Kovner Silbergeld (VC 1967), MacArthur Fellow who studied neurological problems caused by lead, and among the first to advocate for lead-free interior house paint.

  • Bernadine Healy (VC 1965), the first woman appointed head of the NIH and creator of the Women’s Health Initiative.

  • Debra Elmegreen (current VC professor), Professor of Astronomy on the Maria Mitchell Chair and former President of the American Astronomical Society.

Vera Cooper Rubin as a student at Vassar

Vera Cooper Rubin while a student at Vassar

Although we couldn’t possibly list all the Vassar women who have done significant work in the sciences, we hope the stories of these extraordinary women and their intersection with Vassar encourage you to explore more about the sciences at Vassar, the information we have at the Libraries, and of course, Ada Lovelace herself.  Happy Ada Lovelace Day!

Notes:

[1] http://www.findingada.com/who-was-ada

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace

[3] http://digitallibrary.vassar.edu/fedora/repository/vassar%3A24866, p. 2-3

[4] http://innovators.vassar.edu/innovator.html?id=78

The Mark of the Renaissance Printer

Posted on behalf of Katherine Durr, 2013 Vassar Ford Scholar

The marks of Wechel, Albrecht, Cavellatt and Worde.

The marks of Wechel, Albrecht, Cavellatt and Worde.

Over the summer, I worked as a Ford Scholar on a project entitled The Mark of the Renaissance Printer: Developing a Digital Humanities Project on Printers’ Marks in the Windows of the Vassar College Library with Professor Ronald Patkus, Director of Archives and Special Collections. The focus of this project began with the arched windows in the north and south wings of the Thompson Memorial Library, as well as the large, central window in the Class of 1951 Reading Room. Each of these windows contains one or many printer’s marks – symbols and monograms developed by European printers, publishers, and booksellers during the 15th and 16th centuries. Eighty-two of these marks were installed in the original library, however, due to renovations, only sixty-six remain today.  They represent printers from nine geographical regions throughout Europe. Prior to beginning my research, the only available information regarding these windows was contained in a now outdated pamphlet published by Vassar librarians in 1917. This document featured the names of the printers, their years of activity, and images of their marks, but did not include biographical information, historical context, and explanations of the marks themselves, information that library visitors often are curious about.

Thierry Martens, 1473

Mark of Thierry Martens, 1473.

My central goal was to compile biographies for each printer, charting their innovations in the art of printing, as well as taking into account their cultural involvements – both religious and political. I also compiled descriptions of the printers’ marks.  Because many of these printers were active during the years of the Protestant Reformation, much of my research revealed significant developments and lines of influence among those involved with the publication of both sacred and secular texts. For example, printers who generally published Christian works – usually Bibles, the literary works of saints, and papal documents – often included elements of Christian symbolism in their marks and printing devices. Whereas those involved in the publication of popular humanist texts adopted more personal emblems, frequently including Classical and commercial motifs. In addition to demonstrating greater historical involvements, the marks and monograms of printers indicate patterns of stylistic influence, clear within circles of printing presses, publishing houses, and very often, families. Most marks underwent several stages of evolution and variation throughout decades – even centuries – of activity.  Accordingly, my initial focus opened up from a study of Vassar’s own history into a tracing of both the development of printing and its lines of visual and cultural transmission.

Jacques Bouchet, 1522-1545

Mark of Jacques Bouchet, 1522-1545

After writing these biographies and visual analyses of the marks themselves and compiling corresponding bibliography, I published my entries to a website within Vassar’s Digital Library. In my efforts to enhance Vassar’s digital archives and to preserve our own visual and historical artifacts, I also hope to contribute to a larger area of research and scholarship, known as the digital humanities. This growing field explores the benefits of transferring materials and resources into more organized, widely available domains.