Agnes Scott College - Silhouette Yearbook (Decatur, GA)

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Top: Margaret Taylor Phythian, Professor of Fr Bottom: Assistant Professor Melissa CiUey, Assc Florence Dunstan, and Instructor Mary Herbert of the Spanish students. Top: Assistant Professo Clark, Associate Prof. Professor Mary Virgin! his oral-practice classes. Bottom: Muriel Harn, Prof. Alle of the type he The French, Spanish and German Departments en- deavor to help students gain the ability to read foreign literature with enjoyment and to speak foreign languages fluently. Through speaking English as little as possible in class discussions and through regular oral practices teachers emphasize oral proficiency. In the literature courses students learn to appreciate all that is fine and artistic of the French, Spanish, and German authors. The French Club is a very enjoyable part of the French department. At the first meeting this year, held at the home of Miss Phythian, the old students presented a num- ber of short plays. Later in the year members saw a French movie and heard a program of French music. At Christmas time they joined the other language clubs in singing foreign carols during the Sunday evening party in the Hub. The visit of Senora Maria Ortegas was a high point in the activities of the Spanish department and Spanish Club this year. Having made a study of Sou.h American folk music, she sang a variety of Mexican songs in chapel and accompanied herself on the guitar. Her visit was one of many ways in which the Spanish department promoted a better understanding of South America among the students. Miss Harn entertained the German students at her house several times during the year. At her Christmas party students joined in singing carols. Miss Harn showed them her quaint wood carvings of the Nativity scene. The French Club gathered at Miss Phythian ' s for a Christmas play. Senora Ortegas sang for Spanish Club.

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i-sirr- B. O. Z. (the meaning of these initials is held to be a secret known only to members) was the upper class, creative prose writing club. There were eleven members this year with Jean Gregory as president. The number was kept small in order that each member might read one of her works at least once a quarter. Members con- structively criticized each other ' s writing. Meetings, held at the home of Miss Preston, were informal and enjoyable. There was usually plenty of good food and a big fire to lend a cozy atmosphere. The English Department was a basic and a popular branch of the college. Freshmen, through work in their English courses, increased their ability to write and think clearly. Gaining an appreciation for good literature, many st udents went on to take advanced English courses. There were a large number of English majors and students doing independent study on subjects ranging from the writing of T. S. Eliot to that of William Faulkner. Dr. Hayes played in The Skin of Our Teeth. Miss Leyburn last year worked in California on Swift. The speech classes played an active part in college life. A speech choir, which met twice a week for choral reading, was organized in the elementary classes. In chapel a few weeks before Christmas speech students presented the story of the birth of Christ, under the direction of Miss Roberta Winter and Miss Julianne Hale. George P. Hayes, professor of English is pictured in his study, tiilking to some of his students. Emma May Laney, professor of English advises Sarah Petty about her work. Members of B. O. 2. were: Jean Gregory, President; Helen Pokes, G. B. Christ opher, Donna McGinty, Ann Allred, Pat Hale. Jane Frist, Polhill Smith, Susie Benson, Ann Lane, Dot Members of the English department chat with Robert Frost at a luncheon held in his honor. They are left to right: Roberta Winter, Ellen D. Leyburn, Lois Barr, Mr. Frost, Dr. Hayes, Emma Mae Laney, Annie May Christie, Julianne Hale, Janef Preston, Margaret Trotter.

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p ' ' .- M ' The History Department consisting of Dr. Posey, Mrs. Sims, Miss Deschamps f S and Miss Smith, is such a busy and ■ 3 mM popular one that we could only man- o-V m age to trap the head, an expert in JPfc i» m Rob head of the math depart- cheerfully explains for the tenth Dannie and the other girls seem njoy math under Miss Gaylord, tant Professor of Mathematics. Although she may have difficulty adding 2 and 2 and get- ting 4, the Agnes Scotter who comes in contact with Math 101 or the more advanced courses soon appreciates the Mathematics Department as it is directed by Professor of Math. Henry A. Robinson and Asst. Professor Leshe Janet Gaylord. So that the students can appreciate mjre than the mechanics of math, Dr. Rob stresses the beauty of math and this year brought Dr. Tebor Rado to the campus. Members of Chi Beta Phi iiere: C. Alford, President; P. Waller, Vice-Pres.; G. Lucchese, Cor. Sec; J. Gaissert, Rec. Sec; H. Jackson, Treas.; N. Adams, A. Bullard, A. Clayton, L. Fine, H. Haynes, B. Jensen, M. Schepman, S. Shippey, M. Vann, C. Wells. The 19 54-55 college year was marked m the History and Political Science Department by the return to the campus of Professor Walter Brownlow Posey who had been teaching abroad during the past year, the appoint- ment of Dr. Catherine Sims to the chairmanship of the committee to select Fulbright scholars for the United Kingdom, and the granting to Miss Margaret Deschamps of a Fellowship from the Board of Christian Education of the Presbyterian Church for post-doctoral work in Scot- land. Under the instruction of Mr. Posey, Mrs. Sims, Miss DesChamps and Miss Florence Smith, students followed courses of study including all phases of present and past national and world events. The aim of the history and political science department is the enlightenment of the student as a conscientious citizen, with a background of the past for a more comprehensive interpretation of issues today. Pertinent outside reading is encouraged by the department and clear interpretation in addition to knowl- edge of facts. The national honorary science fraternity, Chi Beta Phi, had a chapter (Alpha Sigma) at Agnes Scott. Members were elected from among majors in all the sciences and were initiated at a formal banquet in the fall. The club met every other Thursday, with business and or a speaker as the program. If there was a speaker, the meeting was held at night and the campus community was invited to hear the visiting scientist. In the spring the members paused in their observations for a picnic (and probably classified every butterfly and cloud formation they met.)