Curry College - Curryer Yearbook (Milton, MA)

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A Memorial Dedication Edwin P. Booth 1898-1969 Views On Curry College, History and Teaching This is the last formal interview with a great professor and fine historian. We have changed this dedication little because he, we feel, would have wanted it this way. However, the fact that we have recently lost him makes his words that much more relevant.

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And Where Individuals Are Striving To Find Themselves.

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EDITOR: As a historian, what impact will the Apollo 11 space flight have on man- kind ? BOOTH: In my opinion it will reinforce a direction in which mankind has been mov- ing for many centuries. Mainly it will prove the largeness of the universe and give us a new concept of the earth ' s relationship to the other planets. EDITOR: What would you say is your greatest achievement in your lifetime? BOOTH: My greatest achievement is to have lived almost 50 years in the same com- munity, trying to hold friendships and over- come enemies and develop co-operative life. EDITOR: You have met many important people in your lifetime, who impressed you the most? BOOTH: This would have to be answered according to the different areas of life. In politics I think Winston Churchill; in reli- gion it would be a toss up between Albert Schweitzer and Mahatma Ghandi. But there are other areas, I was deeply impressed by Roland Hayes ' growth from slave birth in north Georgia to one of the greatest singers that the Western World has known. EDITOR: How would you sum up your years at Curry College? BOOTH: I have been exceptionally happy here. My years at Boston University had to do with professional training for religion and Philosophy. Here at the college level I ' m completely happy as I see a larger mixture of student background and a larger future of student hopes. EDITOR: What event in your lifetime stands out most prominently? BOOTH: I think the death of my son in battle would have to be the answer there. I don ' t know how I could evaluate the assas- sinations of the Kennedy ' s and Martin Lu- ther King. EDITOR: What do you think is the main reason for all the troubles we are having on so many college campuses today? BOOTH: The evolution of a totally new society. 1492-1914 are relative dates for a great flowering of Western European society. This is now over and new forms of life must be discovered. EDITOR: Do you think that students should have a greater say in college policy? BOOTH: Yes I do but I am not of the opin- ion that they should have too great a say in the evaluation of professors except as re- gards the actual classroom itself. EDITOR: Since you are a history professor, could you give reasons why anyone should take up history as a major? BOOTH: Yes I can very definitely. Many men have said it but Abraham Lincoln said it very clearly that if you don ' t know where you have been, you don ' t know where you are and if you don ' t know where you are you don ' t know which way to go. I do not con- ceive of history as giving us rules for the future, but I do conceive of history as the knowledge upon which those rules can be discovered. EDITOR: If you could change any historical event which event would you change and why? BOOTH: I think I would change the Cru- sades. I would like to have seen Islamic civilization and Christian civilization meet each other in conversation and co-operate rather than in bitter warfare which still haunts us. EDITOR: We know you are both a history professor and a minister, but if you could have chosen any other profession which profession would you have chosen and why? BOOTH: Some of my friends have suggested and I have always felt it keenly that per- haps I should have been on the stage as was the man for whom I am named. I would have been glad to have been an actor. EDITOR: What impact do you think the Vietnam war will have on our society? BOOTH: A very serious one. It is bringing into question the whole experience of vio- lence as a way to produce or halt social change and it is also elevating the citizenry of the United States to a sense that they should have more to say in governmental decisions than they now have. EDITOR: What future do you see for Curry College? BOOTH: I see a great future for the small college. We greatly need colleges to act as an intermediary between the school, high school, and graduate level. The only trouble is the financial cost to the student who attends these small colleges.