Mount Vernon Seminary - Cupola Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Frontispiece 4 Dedication — 5 History of School 7 Mrs, Somers’ Picture 9 Mrs, Hensley’s Picture 10 Miss Cole’s Picture 1 1 Faculty . 12 Cupola Staff 14 Senior Class 16 School Calendar 48 Junior Class 50 White Class 52 Yellow Class 54 Literature 57 School Events 89 Dramatics 99 Athletics 103 Clubs ] 15 Jokes — 125 Student Body 131 Advertisements 1 36 6

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The Cupola Board of [925 dedicates This Jubilee Book To Mount Vernon Seminary the old and the new To The Alumnae who have given the school its traditions and To Mary S tracks n, president of the senior class, whose unconscious influence has for six years helped to mak e tor honor and integrity and school spirit in its finest sense 5

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THE HISTORY OF MOUNT VERNON SEMINARY OUNT VERNON SEMINARY had its beginning’ in a quiet home at 204 F Street. There, fifty years ago, about twenty girls studied under the direction of Mrs. Elizabeth J. Somers, whose influence in their lives was never effaced. Those daughters of the former Mt. Vernon Seminar)’ will always remember the homelike atmosphere and spirit of comradeship that Mrs. Somers created. This pleasant family of hers soon outgrew the accommodations of her home, and, five years after the founding of the school, the house at the southwest corner of Eleventh and M Streets was acquired. But the number of pupils continued to increase, and the demand for even more space resulted in the purchase of additional property that of Mr. Noyes, the editor of “The Evening Star,” Mr. Noyes house was enlarged, and in 1902 Senior House was added to the group of buildings. I hough the school had expanded as far as possible in all directions, the need for accommodations was not satisfied, and Mrs. Somers wisely realized that she must find another and larger home. The idea came to her that, by incorporating the school, a new institution with an assured future might be formed. But, before the far-sighted founder could execute her plans, failing health forced her to retire. So it was not until 1916 that Mrs. Somers ' dreams materialized, when the incorpora- tion was carried on by Mrs. Adelia Gates Hensley, who, for many years, had been associate head mistress. Under a board of directors, with Mrs. Hensley as president, a non-profit-making institution was established, and a site on Nebraska Avenue chosen as the permanent home of Mount Vernon Seminary. But the cost of erecting a desirable building was found to be prohibitive for the funds then in the possession of the school. Mrs. Hensley, however, was not a woman to be discouraged by diffi- culties, once she had determined on a course to pursue. She asked the old girls to make loans to the Mount Vernon Seminary on unprotected notes, giving her word as security. Large sums of money were advanced; Mrs. Hensley’s word was security enough. The school also borrowed heavily of several banks in Washington. By 1923 all the securities advanced by the Alumnae had been repaid. When Mrs. 7