Germantown High School - Record Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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THE CLASS RCSE NETZCRG KERR ORN in Mecosta, Michigan, a little town settled as a lumbering center, Rose Netzorg Kerr recalls many memories begun in the last decade of the last century. She remembers herself as a plump little girl who liked to think things out for herself, and act accordingly. In her father's store, a dry goods and clothing enterprise which bartered calico for eggs, and knee pants for potatoes, her first interests in colors and costumes began to grow under the encouragement of her parents, through making doll clothes. Her school years began in Big Rapids, Michigan, where a kindly and understanding kindergarten teacher used clay and weaving mats, and sewing cards with colored yarns. The family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, where the public schools provided able and sincere instruction in the essentials of the day with drawing added as a special subject. In high school, she was elected art editor of the Paean, the high school annual. The principal, T. Paul Hickey, now Director of the Detroit Institute of Technology, encouraged her use of pen drawing, and drew her attention to the work of Howard Pyle, the American artist. Harry Gage, a young painter, was then making murals in the high school, and through him, she gleaned the essentials of making clean black and white drawings. On graduating from the high school at Battle Creek she attended Western State Teachers College at Kalamazoo, Michigan, enrolling in the music and art course. After two years of teaching these subjects in the public schools of Grand Haven, Michigan, she was asked to return to Western State Teachers College as a faculty member, later becoming the chairman of the Fine Arts Department succeeding Emilia Goldsworthy Clark, her former teacher. During vacations and sabbatical periods, she studied intensely at the Art Institute at Chicago, Illinois, under the direction of Elmer Forsberg, now Finnish Consul in Chi' cago, from whom she received 'fine training in drawing, painting, and composition. Later, in New York City, she became a pupil of Howard Giles, A. N. A., who was teaching life drawing and Dynamic Symmetry at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art. It was while there that she met James Wilfrid Kerr, then an art student, and now a painter, etcher, and publisher. They were married in 1922, Mrs. Kerr resign' ing her position at the Teachers College, and beginning her professional work with her husband in New York City. The Kerrs now have a studio home in Waldwick, New jersey, where they work together in the arts, chiefly for graphic arts reproduction. Mrs..Kerr prefers costume drawing to all other, for it gives her an opportunity to express the drama in the human figure. Tree drawing has always been an intense interest, and she finds in trees the expressions of personal differences just as though they were people. Her hobbies are music, cookery, needle crafts, and people. Children of any age, create for her a world infinitely worth while and close to the creative work she loves so well. How people behave under any and all circumstances provide more dramatic interest to her than does the stage, the radio or the movies. 25

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UN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

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UN E 1940 GREETINGS UNE, 1940, marks the end of twelve years of assof ciations and friendships formed in the course of our public school education and culminating in our graduaf tion from Germantown School. These associations and friendships have influenced our lives, and their memories will be cherished in years to come. As we pursue our individual ways in college or in business, our paths will be divergent and it may be we will see one another only on stated occasions or at reunions. It is my wish that success may attend you, and give you the happiness that may be your portion. You have honored me by electing me your president during the past four terms, and you have loyally sup' ported me in the fulfillment of the duties of the oiiice. I am grateful, and thankful for your cooperation. As we separate, may I wish for each one of you that strength of character, and that sturdiness of purpose which will make you a worthy alumnus of our Alma Mater. Vale! Ever your friend, JANE BARBER. JANE BARBER, President ALBERTA TWINING, VicefP'rcsidem PHYLLIS MAIR, Secretary BARBARA WELSH, Treasurer 26