Beloit College - Codex Yearbook (Beloit, WI)

Page 15 text:

OT . or helter-skelter—whether or not daily quizzes are his habit and especial delight— and perhaps if we have listened particularly attentively we’ve been able to discern what other courses he has taught in the past. But we do not really know members of the Beloit college faculty. The students of Beloit need an introduction to the faculty! High in the ranks of favored and honored sons of Beloit college who have either remained or returned to Beloit to teach succeeding generations of students is Prof. Hiram Delos Densmore, oldest member of the faculty in point of service. Professor Densmore, or “‘Denny”’ as he is popularly called by his pupils young and old, began wearing his pedagogical robes in 1889, long before many mothers and fathers of present graduating seniors were born. [or forty years ‘““Denny” has been a familiar figure on the Beloit campus and has endeared himself to thousands of students, many of whom are sending their sons and daughters into his sphere of influence today. For forty years Professor Densmore has held sway as director and head of courses in Botany before and since a department was established, and few courses or professors have equalled his popularity. His advanced y ears and long service should not be misconstrued as indicative of mustiness and old-fashioned ideas. Beloit’s peer of education has kept abreast of the times by the use of the latest in textbooks and by contributions to the science by his own pen. ‘The text now used is one of Professor Densmore’s publications. Nor does “‘Denny” confine himself to the classroom and the laboratory in Science hall; the fields and woods in the vicinity of Beloit and Lake Delavan are his lab- oratory. Seated in his Ford, which he considers the most luxurious and satisfactory form of transportation, Professor Densmore rambles here and there collecting specimens. Most surprising is the fact that ‘‘Denny”’ not only examines trees and plants, but stops to scrutinize every fence post and telephone pole. His interest lies in the kind of wood, the animal life inhabiting every crevice, the amount of decay, and the resistance to the elements. Beloit college athletes have a faithful supporter and ever admiring faculty rooter in ““Denny’’. He not only cheers but gets into athletics himself. It has been a hobby with him to play tennis and there was a time when he and Professor Forrest EF. Calland held the faculty tennis championship. ‘These old timers know the game and play it with enthusiasm. Professor Calland, affectionately known as “‘Pa”’ Calland, is second in point of service among faculty members. Professor Calland has a great deal of faith in the younger generation and admits that his son is a better boy, and a better tennis player than he was. “Pa” operates the Book store and heads the department of Classics, occupying his place on the campus since 1900. Going backtothe Bookstore reminds one that “‘Pa”’ makes it a habit to “‘treat”’ his students with candy bars and small packages of advice for life and the struggle after college “which is a greater course than any you'll take in college’. Those little impromptu lectures which ‘“‘Pa” delivers on the stairs around the corner from the Bookstore or on the steps of Old Middlecollege will long be remembered by students when the classroom prep- aration and recitations are forgotten. Gardening is ‘‘Pa’s” delight on a Saturday afternoon and he takes great pride in his lawn and trees. In spite of his dirty blue overalls, canvas gloves, soiled felt hat and wheel-barrow in hand one can’t fail to recognize “‘Pa’”’. ‘That smile and WA

Page 14 text:

CTE AH E eB ASG Us Gel YS GAs a cli Kes Oa WS Ee ial In Beloit college there is a group of approximately forty-five cultured, sympathetic and inspirational men and women who have assumed in a professional way the difficult task of opening the proverbial door of knowledge to approximately 500 more or less aspiring, energetic and headstrong younger men and women. ‘This first group comprises the faculty of the college; the second the student body. There are times when students hoist the red flag and cry vengeance and there are times when departmental heads are justified in whatever methods they pursue. In the main, however, the white flag and the olive branch adorn the halls of learning, and there is serene fellowship and scholasticism abiding betwixt sage and neophyte. It is concerning the keepers of the rod, the key and the scroll that this billet doux is written. Professors, associate professors, assistant professors, instructors, and assistants! How very little we know about this faculty of ours! Founders’ Day brings with it prolific “tales of the past’? of how buildings were built and classes conducted. Stories dealing with all phases of student life and activity flow from reminiscing lips. But what of the faculty? We, the students, daily associate with some fifty persons, listen to their lectures, observe their classroom habits, struggle over their ingenious examinations, and complete courses with them. ‘To what end? ‘To the extent that we know perhaps whether or not the professor calls on students by rows A

Page 16 text:

OL, musical drawl are a dead give-away everytime. Oh, yes! ‘“‘Pa? has a car named “Calpurnia,” in honor of Caesar’s wife. The car is treated with regal attention, getting the best of oil and gas and a lot of publicity in “‘Pa’s” classes. No story of Professor Calland would be complete without a mention of the gigantic Roman baths of which ‘‘Pa” speaks so frequently. Roughly they cover the campus and a large section of the city adjacent to the campus, and the stories of their history are embellished with tales of pretty blue-eyed and fair skinned damsels of the days when Rome was in her hey-day. You’ve neglected your education and missed half the fun of college if you haven’t taken a course in history from Prof. R. K. Richardson, known to be a friend to students since his coming to Beloit in 1901. ‘“‘Dickie”’ for many years has lec- tured to Medieval history students at 8:40 o’clock three times a week, and we'll never forget those lectures which we attended in the basement of Science hall prior to the erection of Morse-Ingersoll hall. ‘Dickie’ gave us the inside story on St. Augustine, Charlemagne, Louis XIV, the feudal barons, the Crusades and the Huns who roamed Europe before the Pilgrims or their ship were dreamed of. With- out a note in his hand ‘“‘Dickie” lectured and lectured, revealing the private lives of saints, warlords, queens and diplomats. ‘There were times when his jokes led him to stray and meander for centuries as students chuckled and listened long after passing bells had rung. We've heard of few students cutting “‘Dickie’s”’ lectures. They’ve become a Beloit tradition! Professor Richardson doesn’t confine his activities to the college alone, but is a man of affairs in the community. He is a member of the First Congregational church, has served as president of the Mens’ club of the parish, and was for a time chairman of the fashionable SixO’Clock club of the city. He is also a supporter of student activities and a supporter of athletics. His hobby is bicycling. If you’ve ever been confined to Municipal hospital by an illness of any kind you probably appreciated the visit of Prof. John Pitt Deane, who makes it a part of his business of living to cheer up other folks. Professor Deane, or “Johnnie Pitt” as he is called, came to Beloit college in 1907, and since that time has taught Biblical Literature and Classics in an attractive manner. It takes a good man to recreate the past in an understandable and interesting manner and Professor Deane can fill the bill. Professor Deane reminds us of Norman Thomas and his life in several incidents has been similar. Both “Johnny Pitt”? and Thomas were ministers and have come to be strong advocates of liberal thought. We’ve learned a lot from Professor Deane in the matter of looking at social problems and creating a world with the maximum amount of happiness for the greatest number of persons con- cerned. Professor Deane fills pulpits in the vicinity from time to time and is called on to do considerable speaking. He, too, is a member of the Six O’Clock club, and is prominent in community affairs, having taken an active part in the presidential campaign last fall. “Ah! Did you get it? Did you see the point? That’s all right—let the bell ring, but stay just a moment. I’m teaching all the time, I’m still teaching. Be scholarly and comprehensive in what you say, and remember the glory of the government which has never been guilty of collusion with any band of undesirables. | Look at the boy in the third row. We'll call on him and see if he knows.” A A