Annie Wright School - Shield Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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6) From many entrees, the one written by Nellie Bridgman Plummer was chosen, and has since been the song of the Seminary. At the Alumnae Association luncheon that June, about 1915, Bishop Keator made the award, and also announced in his enthusiastic, inspiring manner that ground had been purchased by the trustees on which to build a new school. He urged the Alumnae to help finance the new building, suggestina that they be resoonsible for the chapel. At the following business meeting, the Alumnae Association accepted his chal- lenge, and pledged themselves to raise ten thousand dollars to build the chapel provided that it be a memorial for Mrs. Raynor, and that it bear her name. To start this Raynor Chapel fund, Nellie Bridgman Plummer gave the ten dollars, she had just received for her sona and this was the first money given for the building of the new school. Mary Berry Post. THE SCHOOL SONG Hail to thee our Alma Mater Seminary Fair, May achievements crown thy labors Is our earnest prayer. Chorus II Deep and clear as those blue waters Thou art reared above. May the characters thou moldest Hold thee in their love. Chorus III Pure as yonder snow clad mountains Where our glances fall. May we in the years to follow Answer to thy call. Chorus Chorus: Hearts turned toward our Alma Mater, May our lives at length Prove thy daughters bear thy motto. On from Strength to Strength Page twenty-two

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(9 I7 7 tF T SHi ' eL i © As I had no mother, my father told me I was to go through to graduation. That meant twelve years. After five years I ' d count to myself Seven more years. After eight years. Only four more. It was the only world I knew except summer holidays with an aunt and classmates. I admit it was often very lonely because I had no boxes of goodies and not many letters from home. I decided that someday I would make up for being in one place all those years — I would see the world I learned of in geography. Later, after college. I went to Europe to i- a,. Much to surprise I knew the historical background of all I was seeing. Paintings in museums were old friends, languages were easy for me. especially French. Then I looked back to see where all this latent knowledge came from. Most of it I learned at the Seminary. I seemed to know more than all my companions put together and I had never been considered to be a precocious child. You can imagine my gratitude to my Seminary teachers OS I climbed cathedral towers, walked cobbled streets hoary with history, or stood before Leonards de Vinci ' s masterpieces, because they had introduced me to them years before in the classroom. While I remember the fun, even some little troubles, and many dear good people, after all underneath a fine, solid education was going on — knowledge was being gained. Since then further travel to almost every part of the world has made me appreciate even more the good foundation I received at the Seminary. During twelve years I saw students come and go. principals come and go. faculty come and go while I remained on at the Seminary. I out-stayed them all. After these long years of boarding-school I graduated in white cap-and-gown. Several years later Bishop read a sweet wedding service for me in candle-lit, chrysanthe- mumed St. Luke ' s church. That was the last time I remember seeing Bishop and one of the last times St. Luke ' s was used. The old order changes, but It is supplied by one progressive and new. My love and best wishes for the success of my Alma Mater are ever with Annie Wright Seminary and those that are now carrying its banner aloft. Vernita Swezea Seeley, (Mrs. Paul Stark Seeley) 500 Vista Ave ' ue Por+hnH O ' - oc ' . Miss Preston, 1913-1929 Saved from oblivion by Mrs. Wells, carried through financial stress by Mrs. Wh ite, maintained and upheld by Miss Fitch, and ever blessed and nurtured by the inspiring love and loyalty of Mrs. Raynor. the Seminary was ready to enter a new period of her development, when Bishop Keator with rare wisdom and foresight, chose Miss Preston for principal. Highly educated herself, and experienced in the fine art of teaching, she knew the value of superior scholastic - --- ' ' ' ' a, and raised the rating of the Seminary to first class. She also realized the desirability of building up customs and traditions in the school that would give it individuality, and inspire loving devotion to Its memory. At her suggestions Bishop Keator offered a ten dollar prize to the member of the Alumnae Association, or of the Student Body, who should write the best school song. Page twenty-one

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(9 ZTv Z Hi-eL i 6) 1927 ADELAIDE B. PRESTON Miss Adelaide B. Preston, who for six- ?en years was principal of the Annie vVright Seminary, built the scholastic stand- ng to one of high repute on this coast, and ner work was recognized in the East where she sent girls to the established women ' s colleges. She strove to make the Annie Wright Seminary supreme in scholarship, culture, and standards of conduct. She en- couraged traditions that the school might recall the same pleasures to students of •uture classes. Miss Preston bent her energies first to creating a high standard and then with an equal amount of interest to planning the new school building. She worked persis- tently till she saw the completion of one of the finest boarding school buildings in the West. Miss Preston took a very personal inter- est in each girl so that all of us who knew her, think of her with admiration and love. Mary Berry Thomas, ' 27. 1928 APPRECIATION OF MISS PRESTON It is my privilege to express on behalf of all the girls who have known her as counsellor and friend, our gratitude and regard for Miss Adelaide B. Preston. Miss Preston came to the school first in 1913, when the old building still seemed very fine, and the enrollment was a great deal less than it is now. It is owing in great part to her guidance and unfailing effort that the school was increased to the point when it was possible to build our beautiful new building. Always she worked and planned, with at first only the dream of the new building in mind, and it was a proud day for all of us when at last the corner-stone was laid, signifying the culmination of the labor of years. Thus it is particularly fitting that our love and gratitude to Miss Preston should be expressed by a member of the class of ' 28, since ours was the first doss to pass four high school years in the new building. During the years of Miss Preston ' s regime, customs grew into traditions, and traditions into institutions, and the school was acquiring its own particular atmosphere. And always Miss Preston will be associated in our minds with the cherishing of these traditions and institutions which have helped to make the school what it is today. We thank her with deepest gratitude and affection for her many years of devo- tion to the school and to the students who have come to know and love her. Elizabeth hlosmer. ' 28. Page twenty-three