BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE NEWS LETTER Volume V Number I November 1946

. FOURTEENTH COLLEGE YEAR OPENS

GROWING PAINS awaited buildings are spaced over Black Mountain College is larger the grounds: one below South Lodge, this year than it has ever been. When one between the Studies Building school opened, September 18, 92 and the Office, two in the rhododend­ students were enrolled: 49 men and ron thicket above the Mac Wood 43 women. Forty of these were new cottage. Until these are completed, students. At BMC as elsewhere, ten students must room at Mrs. Pat­ growth has its effects on living. ton's, down the road a half mile; Four units of temporary government and many share studies. housing for GI's have been under construction for some weeks and are In spite of the best efforts of the expected to furnish additional sleep­ faculty in providing a varied cur­ ing and study space by the first of riculum and in advising against too the year. Students on the work pro­ heavy a schedule, classes are large. gram are providing part of the labor The following courses are being supply, turning their earnings over offered: .to the college. These impatiently

Drawing Ilya Bolotowsky Painting Ilya Bolotowsky American Civilization David R. Corkran Mechanics and Mathematical Analysis Theodore Dreier Introduction to Theoretical Chemistry Fritz Hansgirg Woodworking Mary Gregory Book Binding Johanna J alowetz Cultural History of the Greek World Albert William Levi Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle Albert William Levi Problems of Musical Form and Structure: Gregorian Chant to Bach Edward E. Lowinsky Counterpoint Edward E. Lowinsky and Charlotte Schlesinger Harmony Charlotte Schlesinger Introduction to Music Charlotte Schlesinger Voice Johanna J alowetz A Capella Edward E. Lowinsky ~Chorus Charlotte Schlesinger Piano Edward E. Lowinsky and Charlotte Schlesinger Ensemble Edward Lowinsky

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Latin Theodore Rondthaler Weaving Francisca Mayer Race Problems Herbert A. Miller World Today Herbert A. Miller Historical Introduction to Present-Day Economic Analysis Karl H. Niebyl International Economics Karl H. Niebyl Shakespeare Mary Caroline Richards Literary Criticism Mary Caroline Richards Human Relations John Lewis Wallen Psychology of Social Issues John Lewis Wallen Typewriting and Shorthand Alice K. Rondthaler

In addition to these, spontaneous acted as interpreter and taught Rus­ interest has created informal groups sian to officers and enlisted men. which meet regularly to work to­ Francisca Mayer is continuing the gether on "extra-curricular" material. instruction in textile design which They range in emphases from art she began at the Summer Art In­ history to creative writing, play read­ stitute. Born in Hamburg, she re­ ing, the study of French, modern ceived her teaching diploma from dance, and economic theory. Johanna Brunson's Weaving School in Stockholm, and was associated FACULTY: NEW AND OLD with workshops in Denmark and Since Anni and Josef Albers are Germany. In 1938 she became weav­ on leave this year, weaving and art ing instructor and designer for the are in new hands. lIya Bolotowski, industrial department of the Gren­ a member of the Modern Abstract fell Association in Labrador. During Group, is teaching drawing and paint­ the war she worked as occupational ing. He was born in Russia in 1907 therapist and assistant director of the and was educated at the French St. Grenfell orphanage. In 1945 she Joseph College in Constantinople and came to the U. S. and was connected at the National Academy of Design with workshops in New York City. in New York City. His work has Miss Mayer is a niece of Dr. Dehn. been widely exhibited both here and abroad and is represented in several Newly a member of the music depart­ museums and private collections. He ment, Charlotte Schlesinger came to has designed and executed murals at Black Mountain this fall from the the New York World's Fair, the Foxhollow School in Lenox, Mas­ Williamsburg Housing Project, and sachusetts. Originally she came from Welfare Island. During the war he Berlin, where she took professional served with the U. S. Air Forces and training at the Hochschule fur was stationed at Nome, where he Musik, majoring in composition.

Bl~!;k Mountain College Bulletin Newsletter VolJlme V Number 1 November, 1946 Issued five times a year, in November, February, March, April, and May. Entered as second-class matter November 4, 1942, at the Postoffice at Black Mountain, North Carolina, under the Act of August 24, 1912. 2 And also where she won the Beethov­ Dr. Max Dehn is on leave until Feb­ en prize in 1929 for a chamber music ruary. He is teaching mathematics work. Between Berlin and the U. at the University of Wisconsin this S., Miss Schlesinger taught in Vienna fall. and in Kiev. She directed the first European performance of Hinde· Dr. Erwin Straus and Trudi left the mith's opera, "Wir hauen eine neue end of August for Lexington, Ken­ Stadt." tucky, where Dr. Straus has accepted a position as director of clinical Dr. Karl Niebyl, economist newly psychiatry at the Veterans Hospital. appointed to the faculty, arrived He has just completed two years of with his wife after a summer as research on a fellowship at Johns visiting professor at the University Hopkins, the results of which will of Texas. Dr. Niebyl took his degree be published in a series of papers at the University of Wisconsin. He some time during the winter. has taught at Carleton College and at Tulane University. During the Elliott Merrick, who taught English war he was active in the educational here last year, is now doing an services of the Navy. editing job for the Forestry Division of the Department of Agriculture in Mrs. Margaret Brown joined the Col· Asheville. lege staff this year as supervisor of the dining room and kitchen. She "Unwanted: Liberal, creative, sound had previously been youth counselor educational living, by complacent, and assistant director of the coopera­ sedate, well-established college," an tive camp and small community at article by John Wallen, BMC psy­ Circle Pines Center, Cloverdale, chologist, appears in the current Michigan. "Peggy" is a Westerner, issue of Motive, a magazine of the from Jackson Hole and the Teton Methodist Student Movement, pub­ county in Wyoming, where she lished in Nashville. Wallen believes managed a dude ranch. Mrs. Brown that the "human climate" of the and her sons, Jerry and Stanley, college may be more important than occupy the old Straus cottage its curriculum, that "the deepest and (which, by the way, work crews most significant learning comes as have completely redecorated). a result of close contact and inter­ change with other persons." "The Christa Noland, wife of one of the task the liberal arts college must students, Harry Noland, is a register­ face," he writes, "is that of enabling ed nurse and has been given charge the student to define the ends for of the infirmary. which he lives." Wallen suggests ways in which this task may be per­ 'Theodore Dreier, back from his formed. Last January his book, year's leave, has been re-elected Counseling with Returned Service Rector and is teaching mathematics. Men, was published by McGraw-Hill. He and Mrs. Dreier have a new It was written in collaboration with baby girl, Barbara Beate, born in Dr. Carl Rogers, head of the training Asheville on August 9. program for psychological counseling at the University of Chicago. "We 3 wrote the book," Wallen reports, shown at the Art Institute of Chi­ "for a non-technical audience. It is cago, and the Egan Gallery in New addressed to people whom veterans York. are likely to consult - teachers, preachers, personnel agents, and so BUILDING forth - people who are not trained Permanent Building Plans for the counselors but yet have to function College are being studied and a re­ well in a counseling situation." port on them will be made later. The building fund has now reached $11,­ Dr. Edward Lowinsky has been a­ 508.85 thanks to a recent anonymous warded a Guggenheim Fellowship, gift of $5,000.00. which he plans to take advantage of next year. He expects to write a BAS ALLEN history of the motet, from Ockeghem Bascomb Allen died on August to Orlando di Lasso, and hopes to do 27th, without regaining conscious­ his research in Rome. Although the ness, three days after being hit ~y award was made for 1946-7, Dr. a truck while crossing the street m Lowinsky petitioned for a year's the town of Black Mountain. He was postponement of the prize so that 58 years old. he might carryon the music program Bas Allen had general supervision of here and rebuild the department all maintenance work at the college. which suffered such a profound loss Although he was not officially on in the death of Dr. Heinrich J alowetz the faculty, he was an indispensable last February. His book, Secret teacher and much that one learned Chromatic Art in the Netherlands from him was not to be found in Motet, was published by Columbia books. The way one learned was by University Press in March, 1946. working with him"on the job, oil all kinds of jobs. Josef Albers was one of three invited to lecture before the annual con­ He joined us when the College ference of the Cooke-Daniels Me­ started, in September, 1933, ,and had morial Foundation, held July 23 to been with us ever since. From the 26 at the Denver Art Museum. Other first he entered into the spirit of lecturers were Sheldon Cheney, well­ our educational venture and has known author of art history, and been well known to every generation Georgy Kepes, professor at Massa­ of students who have come. Nearly chusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. all have at one time or another Albers' lecture, "On General Educa­ worked with him. He showed us tion and Art Education," will be how to farm: how to plow and how published by the Foundation. to harvest and everything in be­ tween; he taught us how to fire ~ur Early last spring two collections of boilers, install and repair our heatmg prints by Josef Alberts were shipped systems, plumbing, and the electric about the country to be shown at wiring. He was always on the job, Yale University Gallery, Cranbrook and thou.,.ho he showed many others• Academy, San Francisco Museum, what to do, he always got an Im- San Diego Museum, and other mense amount done himself. Some­ places. This fall his prints are being times we would ask him to meetings 4 where we hoped to get the work REPRESENTING STAFF MEMBERS better organized. He never was very AND FACULTY WIVES tolerant of too much talk, however, Alice Rondthaler and a familiar and often much· REiPRESENTING THE STUDENTS needed bit of advice from him was, OIavi Sihvonen "Let's stop talking and do some Harry Weitzel' work." Jose Yglesias (Secretary) THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE AT LARGE Established last spring, the Com­ Suzanne Teasdale munity Council has two main func­ tions. First, to enable all community HARRIETT ENGELHARDT members to share realistically in the MEMORIAL COLLECTION governing of the community. Second, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Engelhardt to thus free the faculty to con­ of Birmingham, Alabama, parents of centrate its weekly meetings upon Harriett Engelhardt, a student at matters of more direct academic or Black Mountain College in 1939, educational concern. have generously made a gift of $2,­ Composed of representatives elected 011.31, the entire amopnt of Har­ from the students, faculty, staff mem­ riett's estate, to the College to be bers and wives, the Community used in memory of Harriett. She was Council operates under authority of killed in Germany, October 26, 1945, its own which was delegated to it by in a jeep accident, while serving the faculty. This means that the overseas with the American Red total community now participates in Cross. decisions on matters of concern to the total community. Formerly, since Part of the sum represents a contri­ such authority resided in the faculty~ bution by the Japanese American there was always the possibility of 522 Field Artillery Battalion with the faculty over-ruling decisions of whom Harriett had worked for the student government. Also the several months; part was a personal staff members and the faculty wives gift of friends, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard previously had no direct voice in Lobman of Birmingham; the major determining community policy. portion was what Harriett had saved out of her earnings as an aeroplane At the present time the Community mechanic and Red Cross worker. Council is preparing a program of community education which will Since Harriett was especially inter­ lead to a democratic decision by the ested in work in Weaving, the pro­ community as to how the emergency ject for this memorial will be a buildings given us by the Federal collection of textiles to be known as Government are to be utilized. the Harriett Engelhardt Memorial The personnel of the Community Collection. The material for this Council is as follows: memorial is to be collected under the direction of Aimi Albers, adviser to REPRESENTING THE FACULTY Harriett while she was at Black Mary Gregory Mountain College. In order to dis­ Johanna J alowetz play the textiles, ancient and mad: John Wallen (Chairman) ern, part of the gift is to be used for 5 the purchase of exhibition show­ represent the student body on the cases. These showcases will be placed Senior Division Examinations Com­ in the Art Room or Weaving Room mittee. until the day when Black Mountain College builds its own museum. Henry Adams, Lenoir, North Caro­ lina, and John Urbain were elected ANNUAL MEETING by the faculty to represent the stu­ OF THE FACULTY dent body on the Academic Pub­ The annual meeting of the faculty licity Committee. Other members of the Corporation of Black Moun­ are David H. Corkran, Alice K. tain College was held on Tuesday, Rondthaler, and M. C. Richards. October 1. Theodore Dreier was elected Rector of the College for the GRADUATIONS year 1946-47. At the same meeting Theodore Rondthaler was elected to In June 1946 the faculty gradu­ the Board of Fellows for a three year ated William McLaughlin, of Easton, term; Albert William Levi, Edward Pennsylvania, in the field of Amer­ E. Lowinsky, and John L. Wallen, ican History. His examiner was Clar­ for one year terms. ence D. Stevens, Professor of Socio­ At a subsequent meeting of the Board logy· at Antioch College, Yellow of Fellows, Albert William Levi was Springs, Ohio. elected Secretary and Theodore Rondthaler Treasurer of the Cor­ poration. In September 1946 the faculty grad­ uated Miss Beate Gropius, of Lin­ coln, Massachusetts, in the field of STUDENT OFFICERS Art. Her examiner was Thomas M. AND COMMITTEES Folds, Professor of Art and Head of Officers chosen by the student the Fine Arts Department, North­ body to serve for the first semester western University, Evanston, illi­ are: Moderator, Henry Bergman, nois. Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; Olavi Sih­ DEMOCRACY AT vonen, V 0 I u n town, Connecticut; Harry Weitzer, Jr., St. Louis, Mis­ WORK AT HOME souri; and Jose Yglesias, Tampa, Last month ten members of the Florida. ,lack Mountain College community attended the Southern Negro Youth Larry Fox, New York City, and Mrs. Congress, held for three days in Co­ David H. Corkran were elected to fill lumbia, S. C. Our delegation, an en­ vacancies on the Admissions Com­ thusiastic iota of the total 1200, re­ mittee. Other members are Herbert turned with a fortified sense of per­ A. Miller, registrar, M. C. Richards, sonal commitment to the aims of the Mary Gregory, John Urbain, Detroit, organization, which they communi­ Michigan, and Lucy Swift, New York cated to us all. City. Consequences in action have already Francis Foster, Detroit Lakes, Mich­ been felt on our campus. The col­ igan, was elected by the faculty to lege's bi-racial program has been ex- 6 panded to admit Negro :t;nen ~s well "The excellent working spInt and as women, with a specIal VIew to good results were due to our guest the GI need. The desirability of a teachers: Jean Varda of Monterey, scholarship fund came up in t~is California, and Jacob Lawrence. of connection, and ways of amassmg New York City, each teaching pamt- such aid are being sought. ing for the full eight weeks; Con­ cetta Scaravaglione of Sarah Law­ PIANO rence College and Leo Amino of New York City, each teaching sculp­ Black Mountain College needs a ture for four weeks; Will Burtin of grand piano. (As a matter of fact, it New York City, Art Director of needs at least two grand pianos and Fortune and Leonard Lionni, Art two uprights. However ... ) We will Directo; of N. W. Ayer & Son, Phila­ be delighted to pay shipping costs delphia, each lecturing on advertis-. on any instrument given us. And we ing art for three weeks; Balcomb are prepared to accept contributions Greene of Carnegie Institute of Tech­ to a piano fund, looking toward a nology, Pittsburgh, lecturing on the Steinway. history of painting, and Beaumont Newhall, of the Museum of Modern JOSEF ALBERS COMMENTS Art, lecturing on photography. Mem­ ON THE SUMMER ART bers of the Black Mountain College INSTITUTE 1946 faculty who taught during the eight weeks were Josef Albers, design and "The third summer art institute color; Anni Albers, textile design; was held from July 2 to August 27. Francisca Mayer, weaving; and Mary Connected with it was a small sum­ Gregory, woodworking. mer work camp and so the campus T~e resul~s appeared very active. "The College appreciates the con­ achieved may justify a belIef that It tinuing interest in the summer art was a successful summer. institute of the following donors and sponsors: Dr. John E. Burchard, "Over one hundred inquiries were Sheldon Cheney, Mrs. Suzette Ha­ received; fifty-two students were ac­ mill, Mrs. Alice Wilson Haible, Mr. cepted for the full period..These and Mrs. Andrew H. Hepburn, Mrs. with the work campers occupIed all Emma Hoffman, Dean Joseph Hud­ available space. Among the students nut, Mrs. Romero J ames, Mrs. Anna were three architects, four teachers D. Jamieson, Mrs. T. Catesby Jones, from colleges and art schools, and The Samuel H. Kress Foundation, three high school graduates. The Mrs. Elizabeth C. Morrow, Ralph M. greater number were transfers from Parsons, Felix Payant, Paul Rand, other institutions, here for the sum­ The Julius Rosenwald Fund, Mrs. mer session only. Seventeen were Constance Wharton Smith, Mrs. L. regular Black Mountain College stu­ B. Sayman, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wil­ dents. Students enrolled from Can­ liam Stix, Mrs. Wilma M. Straus, Mr. ada to Florida; from New York to and Mrs. George B. Thorp, Robert California. Among them were two N. S. Whitelaw, The William C. Negroes, one American-Japanese, and Whitney Foundation." one Chinese. Ten of the students were GI's. 7 STUDENTS, SUMMER ART INSTITUTE 1946

Altman, Haro,ld New York N.Y. Asawa, Ruth Glendale Ariz. Bergman, Henry Beaver Dam Wise. Blaine, Lorna Jaffrey N.H. Brunell, Richard Riverside R.I. Cole, Dorothy Chicago Ill. Cox, Kendall Winnetka III. Darling, Philip H. New York N.Y. -Ewing, Caroline B. Villa Nova Pa. Fiore, Joseph A. Willoughby Ohio Florsheim, Claire Chicago Ill. Fromer, Karen Brooklyn N.Y. Green Sally Bronx N.Y. Gropius, Beate Lincoln Mass. Hawk, Eleanor Jacksonville Fla. Jaeger, Henry Denville N.J. Johnson, Doris Woodstown N.J. Johnson, Raymond Detroit Mich. Joseph, William Cincinnati Ohio Kadden, Lore Brookline Mass. Levine, Josephine Brooklyn N.Y. Li, Suefong Shanghai China Lipsett, Lillian New York N.Y. Malkin, Robert S. Richmond Hill N.Y. Mayhew, Dorothy Tallahassee Fla. Miller, William B. Concord Mass. Moore, Susan Winston-Salem N.C. Morse, Alexander B. Washington D.C. Murphy, Ro·bert B. Charleston S.C. Muzenic, A. Nicholas Kansas City Kan. Newhoff, Theresa Lexington Ky. Oberlander, H. Peter New York N.Y. Parker, Harley W. Toronto Can. Parks, Mary Jeanne Atlanta Ga. Phelan, Mary St. Louis Mo. Pinchuk, Rene Royal Oak Mich. Prager, F. Zena Brookline Mass. Schmitt, Elaine Wauwatosa Wise. Schwartz, Leonard Paris France Seidler, Harry New York N.Y. Sihvonen, Olavi T. Voluntown Conn. Spaulding, Freda Lineoln Nab. Stack, Joan Minneapolis Minn. Stein, Barbara New York N.Y. Stepner, Bacia R. Providence R. I. Topp, Helen Pittsburgh Pa. Urbain, John A. Detroit Mich. Walker, Janice Athens Tenn. Williams, Evelyn Kress Tex. Williams, Ora Marie Ferndale Mich. Williams, Paul Winnetka Ill. Wight, Don Cleveland Ohio

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