Phillips Exeter Academy - PEAN Yearbook (Exeter, NH)

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Edward Harkness. This section takes on added meaning when one realizes that the '36 P01111 was dedicated to lfdward Stephen Harkness. Color was employed throughout the '37 Perm for the first time in several years. The skillful use of red lines. dark back- grounds in the photographs. and white space made for an attrac- tive annual. The '37 l'ci111 was another large book. liven more clubs had been added to l'fxeter's long list: the Outing Club, Radio Society. and the Ski Club. l.ikc every other I't'.1l1 of this period it had a spectacular cover. Simplicity dominated the '38 I'UiIll,' the over-all impression was quite good. A great deal of the writing was done well and with thought. 'fDuring our several years at Exeter, we, the graduating class, have met with many good things, success, happiness, and scholastic attainment. Only once in a while did we encounter a bad thing, that was generally the product of the imagination . . . These moments have quickly passed, and with our many activities and studies we may say that we have been happy in our work, far too busy to notice even the passing of time. lffxeter life can be so full that the present, future, and the past all merge together. Color was not used, but an increase in candids, and the effective use of black lines and white space made this Perm artistic. The country came out of the depression, and the P01111 came out of a rut, an editorial rut. The executive board of the '39 Penn called their effort an 'experimental guinea pigf for later editors. By observing its reception they may learn how lCxeter students prefer to read about themselves-lightly or factually. Probably a combination of the two. humor and serious facts. is what can have the most meaning. lt was encouraging that the editors of the '39 Penn tried to get out of this editorial rut. The senior editorial was written in the first person, and although not unusually profound. interesting. The article on the Senior Council is more perceptive. The Senior Council, however, accomplishes little as a student body. but Tfxeter docs not pre- tend to have student government and never will. The layout of this annual was a change. This must have satisfied the school, which was beginning to complain bitterly The construction of Phillips llall for the llarkness Plan.

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a successful team. NVe have, reader, endeavored to mix in our picture of a year's life at lixeter the colors of light and the colors of shadow, the views of repose and the views of activity. This is worth reflection . . . Because of a few external changes the '29 Penn was an improvement. Changes in type, stronger and more glossy paper, and better screening for the photographs, and better en- graving combined to make this PC7177 more at- tractive. Although the fiftieth anniversary had not been well marked by the 1930 Penn fa very dull and unimaginative onej, the hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Acadeiuy received slightly better treatment in the 1931 Penn. The history of the Phillips Exeter Academy is closely con- nected with that of our country. Both were founded on the same principles of freedom and toleration . . . So it is with mingled feelings of hope and fear we respectfully dedicate this book to the Phillips Exeter Academy-not only to its illustrious past but also to the promise of a glorious future. The 1932 l ea11 was a dignified rhapsody in silver and black. There was a definite atmos- phere of grim austerity-perhaps a reflection of the depression. In fact the times were reflected in the senior editorial. We cannot afford to waste our precious years in college groping blindly and uncertainly along the walls of knowledge. To underestimate the importance of making this choice early is to invite failure. The dedication of the '33 Penn is very signifi- cant, because it shows a remarkable calmness in the time of depression. To: UE. Wells Kerr, Dean of the Academy, who cares for the big things and for the little thingsg and because he cares, the Academy continues a place of order and of strength. Strict conservatism was in vogue in '3-f. Magistro probatissimo, and the dedication to Mr. Hatch continued. For the benefit of the small minority of lixonians who could not re- member enough liatin to translate the dedica- tion, a special insert in linglish was included. TVe would like to quote from the senior class editorial. We have for several years enjoyed the benefits of the gift of Mr. Harkness and the work of Doctor Perry and the other faculty members. For it was during the depression that Exeter made such progress. More buildings were constructed, almost one-third more facul- ty members were appointed. Conventional as the book is, we hope that we have presented the facts in an accurate and understandable way. This preface to the '36 Perm stated precisely what the editors succeeded in presenting. And yet its best feature was not conventional. Four full-page scenies, each oppo- site another page empty but for the words Truth, Reverence, Knowledge, and Culture. The Academic Procession headed by Principal Lewis Perry at the liflth Anniversary celebration. Next year will mark the l75th Aimiversary of the Academy. Outdoor dancing at Commencement.

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Xxfllfh the completion of the Thompson Science Building there were no more chemistry laboritories such as this one. that the P00117 had been the same for the last fifty years. There was a great deal of justification for this complaint, although it is true that no matter what any executive board changes, there will always be some who will not stop screeching. The 1939 Perm makes no pretense to perfec- tion, but it entertains hopes of beginning a happier tradi- tionf, It went a long way towards that tradition. The 1940 Perm was a disappointmentg it wasn't even a good imitation of the '39 annual, There are, however, two things worthy of mention. From the In Memoriam to Simeon Murch: He said little because he knew what to say. He expected the best from a boy and he got the bestg but he never expected more than a boy could give. All of us knew the integrity of Mr. Murchf' From the ln Memoriam to Mr. Harkness: But more than buildings, lectureships, medical centers, and charity funds services. There is thc story of a man. A world too often cynical may, find inspiration in a man of whom it may be said with all sincerity: 'He loved his fellow I11CI1.H7 It has been the good fortune of the Academy to be blessed with such people as these two men, one a faculty member, the other a benefactor. Rising printing and engraving costs because of the war hindered the 19-ll Perm, but nevertheless the layout was changed from a conservative style to a more modernistic one. The placement of the candids throughout the book was quite excellent. Perhaps this satisned the numerous complaints from members of the Senior Class that the Perm had been the same for over Hfty years. Probably not. 1942 was a year of change, both in the school and the Perm. Although the Class of 1942 has in itself differed little from others, some of the external events which occurred during its four years at Exeter have effected radically the outlook of its members. This history goes on to describe the coming of the war to America and what that meant to this class. The certainty of war, of course. had destroyed whatever individual aims most stu- dents had. Fraternities were abolished after graduation of the class of '42, To some, the passing of these societies has come as a shocking example of faculty interference in student affairsg to others, it represents a long overdue reform in the democratic structure of the school. lt seems likely that the latter view is closer to the truth. When fraternities were started, they were a necessity, for there were hardly any dormitories, the centers of student life. But since those days the school and its social structure had changed. Change marched on in 1943, although rising costs and wartime difficulties proved a hindrance. The Senior Coun- cil story is indicative of the restlessness of the Exeter scene.