Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

Page 11 text:

FRILL GERTRUDE BECKWITH Artist and Teacher of Art Frill Gertrude Beckwith was born in Bay City, Michigan, where she lived until she prepared for college in Ann Arbor. In college she did not brag of taking Art for fear of being accused of looking for snaps. She took all courses offered in Art, however, having studied it privately since childhood. At the end of her second col- lege year she was offered an opportunity to go to an Art School in the East, provided she proved that she could teach. She was very successful in teaching both Art and Manual Training, but was influenced to choose the latter through her study with Miss Osterholm, a graduate of Finland ' s finest school, Sweden ' s finest school, and Colum- bia as well. Miss Beckwith says, Out of a clear sky I decided on Boston. Some one told me of Agassiz ' s daughter (Mrs. Shaw) and all she was doing. I do not know what good fairy guided me. Not alone the school but the influence of Mrs. Shaw was something that cannot be expressed in mere words. While studying in Boston, Miss Beckwith taught in a number of Settlement Houses, and at Chestnut Hill Private School. Then back to Michigan, to supervise Manual Training (cooking, sewing, wood- work, and craft work) in Lansing, with the special problem of keeping over-age boys in school. So skillfully did she solve this problem that she was called to Yakima, Washington, to do the same thing. After another year of study, Miss Beckwith re- ceived calls from Los Angeles and from Bridgewater. This account is finished in Miss Beckwith ' s own words. I accepted Bridgewater, where I spent twenty-one delightful years. Any one who knows anything of Dr. Boyden knows that means getting the best and giving the best. While at Bridgewater I had a wonderful experience — ' My trip abroad. ' I went to the International Art Congress at Prague with Dr. Henry Turner Bailey. I consider that I have been very fortunate. First Dr. Angell of Michigan University; second, Dr. Boyden,- and third, Dr. Bailey — all masters of the Art of Living. I am sorry I had so short a time with Dr. Scott. During the time I was with him I felt his enthusiasm, and his appreciation of what I tried to do. I felt his courage, under- standing, and sympathy. I start in once more studying Art in Detroit next week. Wish me luck. I think I have found another wonderful teacher.

Page 10 text:

FRILL G. BECKWITH

Page 12 text:

HARLAN PAGE SHAW SCIENTIST AND TEACHER OF SCIENCE Harlan Page Shaw was born July 31, 1866, in Waterville, Nova Scotia. He re- ceived his early education in the schools of Berwick, Nova Scotia, and in Horton Col- legiate Academy, Wolfville, Nova Scotia. For two years he was manager of his father ' s orchard and farm, and then spent one year at machinist ' s tools and woodworking in Worcester, Mass. Mr. Shaw returned to Nova Scotia, and studied one year to pass the provincial examinations for a teacher ' s license. For a short time he was principal and teacher of a primary school, and enjoyed this work. In September, 1 886, Mr. Shaw entered Bridgewater Normal School, and was gradu- ated from the four years ' course with high rank. During the last three years as a student at this school, he also taught woodworking to all of the Normal students. Despite all these activities, Mr. Shaw found time for school athletics, excelling in the pole vault, tennis, and football. Mr. Shaw became a regular member of the Normal School faculty in September 1 890, and has continued to the present time. While carrying a full-time teaching pro- gram at Bridgewater, Mr. Shaw has also covered much outside study in connection with the Lowell School of Science, M. I. T., Hyannis Summer School and Harvard. These courses have been in physiography, geology and chemistry. He has taken many field studies in geology in company with N. S. Shaler and J. B. Woodworth of Harvard, and W. O. Crosby and George H. Barton of Technology. Four summers Mr. Shaw taught mineralogy and chemistry at Hyannis Summer School. For a short time preceding the appointment of Dr. Zenos Scott, he was acting president of Bridgewater State Teachers College. Mr. Shaw has published A Course in Woodworking, The Study of Minerals, Laboratory Course in Elementary Chemistry, Outlines of Historical Geology, and A Course in General Science. Mr. Shaw ' s varied interests have led him to association with many scientific educa- tional societies. For twelve years he was a member of the Bridgewater School Com- mittee, and the Town Planning Board. He has always been active in civic affairs. For forty-six years, Mr. Shaw has not lost even a single half-day of teaching because of illness. Evidently teaching runs in Mr. Shaw ' s family. Teachers in his immediate family in- clude his father, two of his brothers, one sister, and five of his sons and daughters. One of his brothers, Dr. Avery A. Shaw, is now president of Denison University, Granville, Ohio.