It was a difficult time–President Kennedy had just been assassinated–but not even death stops the march of the academic calendar. It was still busy:
Much of this sounds interesting but of course I don’t really understand most of it and so I can’t say if one of these seminars and colloquia is especially remarkable. However, one of my ongoing projects is an exploration of the history of Jews at Rice–a truly fascinating and quite surprising story–so the exhibit of Chagall etchings in the chapel and lecture by Rabbi Kline drew my attention. Some quick research turned up not one but two Thresher articles about the exhibit. The first was written in advance of the event (and contains, incidentally, the first mention I’ve ever seen of the chapel library and it’s librarian, Mrs. Meeks):
The second is a review of the lecture, which frankly left me with more questions than answers:
Bonus:
Is the box of handsets available?
I know someone looking for some of that vintage.
They’re lab equipment.
Dang, I’m sorry I missed that lecture on hibernation. A few of those lecture topics reminded me of George Fuermann’s column in the Sunday edition of The Houston Post. It was titled “Post Cards” and was sort of a magpie’s collection of short items: society gossip, business blurbs, comments on local news events, etc. He always included an announcement of a lecture at Rice Institute on an abstruse subject, usually related to science or engineering. The title would typically consist of 30 polysyllabic words that made no sense at all to laymen and women.
Isn’t there a little reading room on the north side of the chapel next to the door? I think that’s what’s meant here. I wouldn’t think that would have been a full time staff position, though.
A lot of those spaces that were adjacent to the Chapel have been reallocated to other purposes.
I wonder what happened to the books . . . and Mrs Meeks.
I’m amused by the ad for H&H music that suggests there was a banjo instructor wandering the halls at Rice seeking students.
I’m going to write about that tomorrow!
I was wondering about the books too.
Campus Police were in that area at least for the late 70s. Reminds me of our adventures in trying to catch bike thieves.
There’s a decent chance I can figure it out–given enough time, of course.
I am sure you will.
Chapel Library and Mrs. Meeks in November, 1959: http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth231132/m1/3/?q=Mrs.%20Meeks
Mrs. Meeks’ given name appears to have been Maymee.
Maymee Meeks worked for many years in the room to the north of the chapel where Cathi Clack now has an office. She scheduled the use of the chapel and worked with the various campus ministers, among other things. I believe the library was maintained in cooperation with the Religious Studies Dept. and Prof. Neils Neilsen, its chair for many years. I remember a Thresher article (or was it Rice News?) about Maymee, including a picture, when she retired (likely in the late ’70s or early ’80s).
I caught “Les Sorcieres” on Wednesday night which meant that I didn’t have time for the lecture on Chagall, just a brief glimpse at the lithographs ( I had Masterson’s 8:00 am freshman History class on Friday and I probably hadn’t completed the reading ). That brief moment impressed me to the extant that I have become enchanted by his stained glass works. The piece at the UN is a magnificent burst of color.
Barney L. McCoy, Hanszen 67