7p, one sided pages, mimeograph on matte off white paper. Faculty present- Hirschfeld, Dr. and Mrs. Emilio de Hofmannsthal, Mrs. Helen Huckel, Mrs. Lily Hoerber, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Leonard, Wilhelm Levinger, Karl Overmann, Victor Ornstein, Mrs. Helene Reiche, Mrs. Catherine Ruminoff, Trudi Straus, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Vishniak, Miss Mignon Couser, Mrs. A.S. Tibb, Mrs. Barbara Dreier, Mrs. Walter Gethman, Miss Elizabeth Kellogg, John H. Jovett, Mrs. Ann Kurtz, Miss Rosamund Tuve, Kenneth Kurtz, Dr. Herbert A. Miller, W. Robert Wunsch. Work Camper: Anne Gledhill, Ted Hines. Visitors- Mr. and Mrs. Werner, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Terzhagi, Rodrigo Alvarez de Toledo, Miss Devora Denenholz, Mrs. Helen Huckel, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Leonard, Wilhelm Levinger, Karl Obermann, Miss Radiana Pazmore, Frank Vitullo. Staple in top left corner, one horizontal fold.
BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE COMMUNITY BULLETIN
College Year 10 Summer Bulletin 10
Monday, August 16, 1943
CALENDAR:
There will be a meeting of the Faculty and the Student Officer’s this afternoon at 4:30 o’clock in the Kocher Room.
The Drama Since Ibsen class will read aloud, Wedekind’s “Earth Spirit” on Wednesday evening at 7:15 o’clock in the Kocher Room.
The Board of Fellows will meet at 5:00 o’clock on Thursday afternoon in Study 10.
The Class in Drama Since Ibsen will give a program of Poetry, Drama and Recent Reading on Saturday evening at 8:30 o’clock in the College Dining Hall.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Miller are leaving on Friday afternoon for Philadelphia an other cities in the east. They will return to Lake Eden in September.
Mrs. Robert Orr, Daniel and Janie have gone to New York City. They will vacation there for several weeks; they will return to Lake Eden around Labor Day.
Margaret Stendenhoff left on Tuesday afternoon for her home in New York City. On her way East she visited Darney Voigt in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Her present address is:
Miss Margaret M. Stenderhoff,
3260 Hatting Place,
Locust Point,
Bronx, New York City
WITH FORMER STUDENTS:
New Addresses:
A/C William F. Hanchett, Jr.,
Class 44B, Squadron A,
63rd. A.A.F.T.D.
Douglas, Georgia.
Elinor Schaffle,
242 Harsten, Apartment II,
Detroit 2, Michigan
Dick Myke
1231 N.W. Third Street,
Miami, Florida
Excerpts from Letters:
Bill Hanchett writes from Georgia: “Bulletins are better than ever. Enjoy farm reports especially.”
George Randall and Pete Hill recently sent donations to the College with the suggestion: “Changing our minds for utilitarian (rather than artistic) uses on which the enclosed funds might be expended, we recall (how could we forget?) that the roof and shower of South Lodge, North Attic, were always in agitated competition as to which could leak most effectively. Perhaps something could be done to avert further disaster caused by this unnecessary competition.” George and Pete are at Camp Edwards in Massachusetts.
Dick Wyke writes from Miami: “I’m joining he Air Corps as soon as I get the necessary recommendations. I have already qualified physically and mentally.”
BMC COMMUNITY BULLETIN- Summer Bulletin #10- page 2
WITH THE 1942-43 STUDENTS:
New Addresses:
Private Homer Bobilin, 12219064
Company K, 003 Signal Training Regt.
Port Kenmouth, New Jersey
Erik Haugaard,
A.C.2, R.2363211
No.5, Hanning Depot,
Lachine,
Quebec, Canada
A/S Robert H. Marden, 14101733
Squadron I-I
N.A.A.C.- A.A.7.C.C.,
Nashville, Tennessee
Private I.S. Nakata,
Co. F., 422 Infantry
Camp Shelby, Mississippi
Jacqueline Tankersley, J.2/C
IIF. Darnard Hall,
University of Wisconsin,
Madison, Wisconsin
Excerpts from Letters:
After spending little over a week at Fort Dix, four Camp Edison, and six weeks at Camp Wood, Homer Bobilin is now at Fort Monmouth. He writes from there: “I received my basic training at Camp Edison; was classified as a radio operator, then sent to Wood for training. Two weeks ago I was graduated from Wood as a qualified radio operator; then, sent to Monmouth after a three days pass, for further training which was to make me a high speed operator. They gave me a test as soon as I started school; as a result I was reclassified as a Fixed Station Operator which I understand, is about the best job you can get as a radio operator. It’s a four months course; so, if my luck holds out, I’ll remain near home for those four months…… we were instructed that everything is confidential…… civilians, nevertheless, have told me more about the school than I knew myself….”
Erik Haugaar writes from Quebec, Canada, where he is a member of the Canadian Legion: “I am now a warrior and sing God shave the King everyday. It is a tragedy that the fellows here have so little idea what the war is being fought for. Some say they are fighting just for the pleasure of it, for the thrill of getting their hands on those dirty Germans; about 10% say they’re fighting for the empire; about thirty for Democracy, undefined; about sixty say they just don’t know….”
Bob Marden writes from Nashville Tennessee: “I am in the middle of a week of tests to determine my various physical and mental aptitudes…. I am trying to make navigator, altho the great demand now is for pilots…. Army barracks life is rather grey- the range of existence is between medium discomfort and annoyance- and a mild relief at not being bothered by anybody…… I’m afraid I won’t get to B.M.C. for a good while- furloughs are practically unobtainable in the Air Corps……”
Private Ike Nakata writes from Mississippi: “My first week of basic training is over…. It is amazing to find out that many of these people here were not discharged after Pearl Harbor. I understand that on the Pacific Coast Japanese were being discharged immediately after Pearl Harbor
BMC COMMUNITY BULLETIN- Summer Bulletin #10- page 3
Until the writes complained that it was not fair to them. The whites clamoured for discharges, too, so the Japanese were kept in the service and sent elsewhere…. The weather here is intolerably hot….. Since coming here I have run into many old friends and friends of my friends. We recount old incidents, places and people whenever we can, and there is no end of nostalgia feeling for deer old Hawaii. About two thirds of the boys are from Hawaii….”
WITH FORMER TEACHERS:
New Addresses:
Jay Nelson
47 West Twelfth Street
New York City, New York
Corporal John Evarts
Company A,
S.C.U. No. 3414 S.T.A.R.
University, Alabama
Excerpts from Recent Letters:
A.A. Babcock writes from International Falls in Minnesota: We’ve been up here in Canada for almost seven weeks waiting for word from the Navy. And that much dreaded letter arrived several days ago, saying that Bob’s Ensign Commission had gone through. So- we leave here this week-end. Bob will take the oath or whatever, in Minneapolis where he also receive his orders….. If possible Bobby and Henry (the dog) and I will go with Bob and be with him through as much of his training as we can. Then it’s Evanston for us for the duration, I imagine…. We’ve had several glorious weeks, though- we’ll never forget them…. You’ve no idea how we devour the Bulletins…… we’re lonesome for you all and speak of you often……..”
WEEK SUMMARY- WEEK OF AUGUST 9th to 14th.
At noon Saturday the Miller apartment was cleared of empty paint buckets and papers; this is only remarkable in that we planned to finish it by the end of the week. The Stone Cottages has indications of a start having been made on three or four walls.
In the shop the bookbinding has been rebuilt by Harold Yanagi. One, of a- unit of three bookshelves has been built for the library. This has been done by Mr. Freud. The cutting and fitting of the other two units is also finishable.
The upper line of the Mountain pasture fence has been gone over and repaired. The beef cattle may not be able to get out anymore; what is more likely is that they will get out and be unable to get back in. Our neighbors in Bob Tree valley will let us know.
The Kog Fence is progressing. All the stakes for the outer fence are set ready for wire.
Regular farm work has gone along as usual: scything, mowing, weeding, getting potatoes, tomatoes, corn, and other vegetables to the kitchen.
At noon Saturday the bottoms field lacked event minutes of being completed; this is only remarkable in that we planned to finish it by the end of this week.
Mary Gregory
EVALUATIONS OF THE AMERICAN SEMINAR:
Excerpts from written speeches given on Monday, August 9th.
BMC COMMUNITY BULLETIN- Summer Bulletin #10- page 4
“The time has passed very quickly here, but I think all of us will leave these green fields with some sentiment of full satisfaction. I have not asked everyone of our group if their impressions are exactly the same as mine; but I think I can care to suppose this feet and speak in the name of all Seminar members. Now, that is the reason of this general satisfaction? If we were living in a totalitarian state, we should have simply to accept this feet without even the right to pose a question; but here in this free country we are allowed and authorized to investigate and to analyse the background of this general geeling. It is not only the fact that the exterior aims we have set up at the beginning of this seminar have been reached. All of us without exception- one a little earlier, others a little later- have escaped from a country where he had to suffer, unde a economis and political oppression, partly even deprived of our most essential civic rights, and we arrived in America in a mental condition not yet appropriate for the process of adaptation to a new country, so necessary for our future settling here. From our bad experience in the old world, we have carried with us a certain inferiority complex, most of us had scarcely left our segregated group of immigrants had not yet found the occasion- or perhaps the courage- to penetrate into the society of 100% Americans. But here we have found the subtle psychological understanding of the experienced sociologist as is Dr. Hiller, one of the world’s finest specialists of minority problems. He was the first to teach us that we had not to fear any national or racial predjudices among thinking Americans, nor any pretended supremacy from this society, as most of its members have a similar origin as ours, only a few generations ago, and are not ashamed of it. He brought us in contact with different persons of those liberal democratic circles where we found ourselves accepted as equals, and he, with his wholesome optimism, encouraged us to consider ourselves as equals.
So it seems to me that perhaps, unconsciously for most of us, we are going to leave B.M.C. in a much better psychological condition, for now we can look out with free eyes and quiet spirits upon this land where our future lies.
Oliver Freud
“In the prospectus of the Seminar were promised: tutoring of the English language and lectures about America in order to know better. We have found here much more.
“Professor Miller’s lectures, completed by those of Mr. Kurtz and Mr. Wunsch, gave us a new and better picture of America.
“The average European doesn’t know much about America. He knows something about American history; he knows that this young nation has built up here in a short space of time a powerful country, powerful before all other countries in economical and financial regard. But about the cultural and spiritual life of America, the average European has known very little, nor has he been interested in it. This lack of interest was chiefly because he has known nothing about it.
“How are are beginning to know that American life is influenced and directed by various religious, philosophical and social forces and currents, that it is so less complicated and complex than the life of any European country. Just today we were introduced by Miss Tuvo to an American poet who says: “Brotherhood is not by the blood, but by fighting and loaboring together.”
BMC COMMUNITY BULLETIN- Summer Bulletin #10- page 5
“The hardest work was done by our teachers. We thank them deeply, that they were so concerned with us, to help us to overcome our difficulties and to improve our language.
“But we have to think, besides Dr. Miller and our teachers, all those who have contributed to shape Black Mountain and its spirit as we have experienced it these past weeks, this spirit which combines community life and freedom for everybody. We met this spirit for the first time when Mr. Wunsch gave us, in his simple and modest, but very impressive manner, his lecture on the origin and ideas of Black Mountain College.
“As I mentioned above, we have found in this Seminar on America, besides lectures about America and tutoring of the English language, something else, perhaps more precious. We have felt that you Americans have been interested in understanding us, who have come from foreign countries and out of different conditions of life. We have felt a stream of sympathy flowing from you to us.
“This we have received from you, knowledge, understanding and sympathy, the best things one can give to another. And that is for what we have to thank-you.
Victor Ornstein
PERMANENT ADDRESSES OF THE AMERICAN SEMINAR:
Seminarians:
Mr. and Mrs. Archie Abbott
Mrs. Ehrmann
Hotel Westover
254 West 72 Street
New York City, New York
Rodrigo Alvarez de Toledo
325 West 77 Street
New York City, New York
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Freud
William and Mary College
Williamsburg, Virginia
(at Lake Eden until August 27th)
Mrs. Elizabeth Hirschfeld
115 Payson Avenue
New York City, 34, New York
Dr. and Mrs. Emilio de Hofmannsthal
69-09 100th Street
Forest Hills
Long Island, New York
Mrs. Helen Euckel
309 West 99th Street
New York City, 25, New York
Mrs. Lily Koerber
168 West 98th Street
New York City, New York
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Leonard
2210 Auburn Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio
Wilhelm Levinger
752 West End Avenue
New York City, New York
Karl Obermann
505 West IIIth Street
New York City, 25, New York
BMC COMMUNITY BULLETIN- Summer Bulletin #10- page 6
Victor Ornstein
102 Grand Avenue
White Plains, New York
Mrs. Helene Reiche
4445 Post Road
Fieldston, New York City
Mrs. Catherine Ruminoff
Nevada Apartment House
2025 Broadway
New York City, New York
Trudi Straus
Black Mountain College
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Vishniak
112 West 71st. Street
New York City, 23, New York
Tutors:
Miss. Mignon Couser
(until Sept. 10)
Mrs. A.S. Tibb
2268 Shasta Avenue
Berkely, California
(after Sept. 10)
“Foxcroft”
Middleburg, Virginia
Mrs. Barbara Dreier
Black Mountain College
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Mrs. Walter Gethman
Northfield Seminary
East Northfield, Massachusets
Miss. Elizabeth Kellogg
(until Sept. I.)
Colnel John H. Jovett
1821 Upperline Street
New Orleans, Louisiana
(after Sept. I.)
Westover School
Middlebury, Connecticut
Mr.s Ann Kurtz
Black Mountain College
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Miss. Rosamund Tuve
Connecticut College
New London, Connecticut
Lecturers: Black Mountain College, Black Mountain, North Carolina
Kenneth Kurtz, Literature
Dr. Herbert A. Miller, Sociology, Director of the Seminar
W. Robert Wunsch, Introductory Writing
EXPECTED:
Work Camper:
Mrs. Anne Gledhill of 739 Greenwich Avenue in New York City. She will arrive tomorrow.
Guests:
Mr. and Mrs. Werner of Cincinnati. Mr. Werner is a musicologist.
Mr. and Mrs. Karl Torshagi of Winchester Massachusetts. Mr. Toshagi is Professor of Soil Mechanics at Harvard University and is a member of the Advisory Council of Black Mountain College.
BMC COMMUNITY BULLETIN- Summer Bulletin #10- page 7
ARRIVALS DURING LAST WEEK:
Work Camper:
Ted Hines of Washington D.C.
GUESTS:
Rodrigo Alvarez de Toledo
Miss.Dovera Denenholz
Mrs. Helen Huckel
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Leonard
Wilhelm Levinger
Karl Obermann
Miss. Radiana Pazmore
Frank Vitullo
THE STUDENT OFFICERS
Every mail last week brought checks and bills from former students, parents of former and present students, former teachers, and other friends of the College. The gifts range in size from five dollars to one hundred and fifty dollars. They came in response to a letter sent by the Student Officers on August 5th.
Excerpts from notes from one days mail. (Yesterdays.)
Mrs. Douglas Bement wrote from Seattle Washington: “Mr. Bement died in May of this year. I know he thought colleges like Black Mountain should go on and be examples to other sections of the country. I am sorry that the contribution is small, but it is enthusiastic.”
Lieutenant Tommy Brooks wrote from Camp Campbell, Kentucky: “This is the most that I can contribute to the College at this time. I feel I should do more, but I’m happy to do what I can…. Good luck!”
Private Otis Levy wrote from Camp Joseph T. RObinson, Arkansas: “I received your letter a few minutes ago. Enclosed you will find my humble contribution to the B.M.C. financial transfusion. It’s a quarter of my pay and nearly all I have right now. When I’m paid again I can send more. Keep me informed about the campaign. My regards to the others. Would write more but we’ve got a campaign on too. Good luck.”
Holtje Weston wrote from South Britain, Connecticut: “Enclosed is a bill to keep B.M.C. functioning for another year. That’s all I can share now”
In the same mail was a check for fifty dollars from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.
