National Louis University - National Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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THE NATIONAL a -------------------------------------.------------------- --------- f Elizabeth H afrfrison HE death of Elizabeth Harrison, founder and President Emeritus of the National Kindergarten and Elementary College, on October 31, 1927, was an inestimable loss to the College and brought to a close a career which, in achievement and benefit to humanity, has few equals in our own or other generations. Miss Harrison, who was born in Kentucky in 1849, received her early education in Davenport, Iowa, and later attended the Froebel Kindergarten Training School in Chicago, the St. Louis Kindergarten Training School, Madam Kraus Bolte's School in New York and studied with outstanding edu' cators in Europe. In the early eighties Miss Harrison opened a kindergarten in Chicago and realizing the need of mothers for education in the care and training of their children she opened classes for the mothers of her kindergarten children. The outgrowth of these classes was the organization of the Chicago Kindergarten College fnow the National Kindergarten and Elementary College in 1886 with Miss Harrison and Mrs. ohn N. Crouse one of her kindergarten mothers as co principals. The growth of the College in forty one years from a handful of mothers meeting in one small room to a College with a yearly enrollment of 700 can be explained only through a realization of the splendor of the vision which Miss Harrison had caught the indomitable will with which she faced the task of making the vision a reality and the service and sacrifice which she willingly poured out to attain the goal. A brilliant lecturer Miss Harrison was one of the first women to appear on the program of the National Education Association' she was a leader in the International Kindergarten Union and many other organizations and the author of books on Child Study unsurpassed for clearness of vision and sym- pathetic understanding ofthe little child. In 1920 owing to failing health Miss Harrison resigned from the pres idency of the College and from that time until her death lived in San Antonio Texas where the end came quietly. Her work is not ended' it lives on in her books and in the lives of those she touched. Even to the students who did not have the opportunity of knowing her she is a wonderfully real person. Through contact with those who knew and loved her we have come to know her toowtall slender dark her fine eyes and her understanding smile-and Miss Bakers words have brought her close to us: Elizabeth Harrison was the most inspiring woman I have ever known. Cver and over again this tribute has been paid-I cannot suggest all that con tributed to that inspiration for like every truly great personality she eludes definition. When she entered a room no matter how silently you felt her pres ence. As you turned to look you discovered her with a look of keenest inter est in her face whether it was a little child a group of students or a work of art that she was observing. It was an intensely human face full of light especially when she smiled and often vibrant with feeling. It was the sort of face that impelled your conidences' you liked to talk to Miss Harrison. Nor was she an entirely silent listener- she contributed to the conversa tion-a word of appreciation of encouragement of joyous comradeship of 9 , I , L s I , 1 1 f f 3 3 , 7 5 7 7 f 1 J 7 5 5 7 7 7 1 1 L s L 5 1 s 1 u L f , 1 7 f 7 , Q , 7 7 9 9 L s ' 3 , 5 5 AX Q' Y uulluumr mul lllm X ' lx- ' Q l Eighteen

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THE NATIONAL 9' E mul llIllllmmllllllllllllllllmlnllllnmlululnluul ummm:ullllulllnllr j 4 To Miss Baker, the President of their College, the students here express their admiration and loyalty. In one small person she embodies the qualif ties that spell National for them, and with her inspiring dignity has won the sincere love of each student. F 'J i 3 lullllllmn r muluum Seventeen

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V! THE NATIONAL wise suggestion, of humorous anecdote, for she had a keen sense of humor. She knew well how to mingle all of these until you went out of that delightful communing of spirit with a heart for anything. Out of her breadth of knowlf edge and the depth of her own interest in all of creation animate and inani mate the world over she gathered the stores of concrete illustration of vivid imagery of clear insight upon which she drew so lavishly to feed the hungry who came her Way. She believed Hrmly in the possibilities for happy and useful living of every individual and when she once discovered the capacity of a young woman she would guide her into a vital responsibility and place all the conf fidence of her own great personality behind that timid struggling young life. The same dynamic drive that we have witnessed in contact with an in dividual life was present when she taught a class lectured to a group of mothers or held a great audience under the spell of her eloquent appeal. She had an absorbing interest in children-she wanted tremendously to help child hood and counted no sacrifice too great to make for this end because she be lieved that to help childhood was to help the race the fundamental way of bringing the kindom of heaven to pass. When she spoke therefore the prif mary source of her inspiration was the depth of her unselfish desire to help every person in her audience. Through her as through a beautiful violin the great Master found a pliant instrument for the expression of spiritual truth. Someone must always sing that note she once said and so I do it. The Memorial Service Harrison Hall Sunday November 13 1927 Who of those attending will ever forget November 13 1977. To me it was a day set aside for a tribute to one whose life work has grown to be known in all parts of the world. A tribute which so wonderfully ful filled its mission that it lingered closely for many weeks afterward. The music sent out its heartffelt message and the instruments gently whispered the beautiful tribute that they had to offer. To me it said A soul is winging its way up up and upward into the heavens finding its lofty place among those whose lives have benefited mankind. Edwin Herbert Lewis of the Lewis Institute in giving the memorial address spoke to his audience in a friendly and uplifting manner. The depth and feeling he expressed could be easily grasped when one from the platform scanned the faces of the listeners. Many of us had never actually seen Elizabeth Harrison but we had pictured her from various references made by those who did know her. Now she was brought closer to us through these services by one who had known and studied her life. The address made me want to be alone with her and reach to her for a helping hand to guide me in the climb of those steep rocks of destiny that lead to the perfect life a helping hand of one who has gone before and who knows the stumble stones of experience over which to guide me. May our lives broaden Elizabeth Harrisons scope and bring to little children everywhere the joys we hate learned in the institution which is the fulfillment of her dream. May we never forget! lr. 1 7 9 9 K a 9 7 4 s 7 9 7 1. 4. 1 7 3 7 1 1 3 7 s 9 s 1 s s as 9 9 3 3 7 3 5 1 t' ZH 1 c 3 s 1. a 3 9 7 'o 'o s 3 1 9 h 9 3 1 v I Lb r. A . fllilllll lllllumur mmm: llIIIIIlllluullulullnlu:X fv 44- - i Nineteen