Sweet Briar College - Briar Patch Yearbook (Sweet Briar, VA)

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: % BRIAR PATCH C1)r Jirst Cm J)rars of mt Briar Sweet Briar College opened on Septembei 27, this number was small i1 was a great beginning, and deeply indebted to them, for they were the pioneers of a college without am ideals or customs and entireh with thirty-six students. Though ve who K« k back on the early .lays are lur college history. Think of beginning unfamiliar surroundings. The college consisted of the Refectory, Carson, Gray, and the Academic Building. There were ihapel and no gym, but they used our present library for a chapel and the English room for the library. Sine., the number of students was so small there was no need for a large faculty and administrative force. Among the fevi who have been at Sweet Briar since its founding are Mr. Dew, Dr. Harley, and -Miss Carroll. The most significant fact about the whole beginning was that S. G. A. was in force from a Larkins the association ml tier associates we owe h e have onlj modified as life of unrestricted ease. rush madly down to the refectory, thej breakfast ed in real comfort, for dining the start. Under the presidency of An made great strides. To Anna Larkins the constitution of our S. G. A., which we have found need. Truly theirs was Where we in 191 luxuriated in bed a rules were practically unknown. They were allowed to receive their men friends in the middle rooms of the suite-. In the days of the original thirty-six they had little need to make, such re- strictions. The Y. W. C. A., under Nan Powell, made it- first start, ami laid the foundation id ' the association which now ha- such an active life. A Dramatic Association was formed, but it was not then separated into chapters as it is at the present time. As then- were no gym and hockey field, there was little of what might he termed organized athletics, but to the efforts of Helen Schultz, we owe our present well-established athletic association. The May Day of the year 1906 was in truth quite simple. Instead 21

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PATCH all aspects of the life of the modern community, but the higher education lays an obligation upon each member of the faculty to do some part through investigation, or through active personal participation, to make himself a necessary part of the institution and of the community. Such universities as Wisconsin have issued a call to the service of the state, to which no college can fail to hearken. Nowhere is this service more needed than in the South. Never before has tin- South been more keenly alive to its educational needs and to its ability to contribute materially and spiritually to the life of the nation through the re-creation of its rural and agricultural life. To this end it needs leaders, both men and women, who will understand its possibilities, sympathize with its aspirations, and have the sound judgment and trained minds to best direct its energies. Such a college as Sweet Briar, drawing its students as it does from every part of the country, can do much, not only to turn the minds of its students to the needs of the community, but also to the meaning of the larger nationalism, free from prejudice, free from sexualism. a nationalism which should be the possession of the educated mind and heart. Emilie M: McVea.

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BBIAR PATC1- of the elaborate evening dresses which are won, at present, the members cf the court were clad in white summer dresses, l ut much ■ it i he beauty of this occasion lay in its sim- plicity. The Queen, Anne Rural, marched at the head of tin ' procession, and the peacock, by voluntarily following the Queen, added greatly to the dignity of the coronation. Ihey gave some old English folk dances, and the music was furnished by an old Amherst fiddler, who could find no one in the eounty able to keep up with him. The second year brought new life to the struggling activities of the college, and with the increase in the student body the S. (i. A. gradually formed now rules to meet the changing conditions. Ihis year s;n the greatest improvements made during the history of the college. Wo acquired a new Mis. a now station, and a tea house. We must acknowledge that we owe L907-08 an immense debt in founding the tea house, which has saved main- lives during its short career. The second May Queen was Mary Brooke. The year 1908-09 was another year of fortunate beginnings and great progress. Ran- dolph Ball was built to accomi late the one hundred and eleven students who brought in an intense college spirit, which was especially noticeable in athletics, [nterelass basket- ball games were held, and Field Day exercises took place for the first time. The faculty gave the Athletic Association a cup to In- presented to the winner of the day. Ellen V. Hayes. Furthermore, new clubs were organized, the Boating (lull. Tennis Club, and Golf Club. Y. Y.