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Going by the book
In the photo of the Collins Library reference collection [summer 2002], I was pleased to see on the shelves the multi-volume New Interpreter’s Bible commentary series. From the project’s inception in the fall of 1989 to the spring of 2001, I was privileged to be the project director for The New Interpreter’s Bible. It was a grand experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world, working with some of the best biblical scholars to create something useful to the ecumenical church. The exhausting Mrs. Hill The spring issue of Arches surpassed even the high standard we’ve come to expect from this publication. I refer especially to the entertaining report about stalking the South American bush dog and to the fascinating article about Abby Williams Hill. I must confess that, fine as her art may be, Hill’s life is what really intrigued me. What a curious, unconventional woman! After reading Professor Fields’ account, I was left with many questions: How did her children adjust to an upbringing so different from that of their peers? What kind of people did they grow up to be? What kind of relationship did she have with her husband? Reading between the lines, one guesses that Hill must have bf!n an exhaustingly energetic and quite difficult personality. One feels for Dr. Hill and his “melancholia,” and wonders what the years between 1924 and 1943 were like, both for him and for her. We hope that one day UPS’s collection of Abby Hill’s art may travel to the Bay Area so that she becomes known to a wider audience. At the same time, perhaps a collection of her letters and diaries will be made available to the public. Indeed, a doctoral dissertation may already be in the works. Helen Pellegrin, Palo Alto, Calif. Professor Fields replies: Hill was financially independent, which allowed her considerable mobility, and one does get the sense that the companionship of Dr. Hill was not high on her list of needs. Her duty, she maintained, was to her children. Despite her activities with the Congress of Mothers on behalf of children everywhere, the program she carried out for her own had its repercussions. Romayne and Ina remained at home and were never employed in any capacity. Eulalie became an elementary school teacher. And because of a dispute over clothing, Hill broke off all communication with Ione, never to see her again. None produced children of their own. Hitting upon an idea
Nancy Brones, Tacoma More great profs I just wanted to let you know that I enjoy Arches very much. In the spring 2002 issue I noticed that you published the article on Jacquie Martin under the heading “Good Teachers, Good Friends.” I am enclosing a copy of a poem I wrote in February of 1987 on the occasion of the retirement of two of my good teacher-friends, Bob Albertson and John Phillips. It was presented to them by the religion department, framed, and adorned with medieval colors of gold, red, blue, and green. Later I also gave copies to a few other “teacher-friends,” some of whom displayed them in their offices. I cannot help but wonder whether you saw one of the copies. I realize, of course, that you could have come up with this title on your own. At any rate, I felt you might enjoy this poem by an alumna. Higher math Your article on the various professors [“Great Profs,” winter 2002] was quite good. I remember most of them. Especially Professor Anderson (my adviser), Professor Albertson (my confidant) and Professor Lantz (my math professor and climbing friend). In June 1961, I was in a party led by Larry Heggerness ’60 that attempted to climb Mt. Rainier. This was in celebration of Larry finishing his calculus course. Professors Goman and Lantz were in the party also. Both Larry and I had taken math courses from the two professors and were in the Tacoma Mountain Rescue Organization. The picture [below] shows Larry attempting to throw his calculus book into a crevasse above Camp Muir and Professors Lantz and Goman trying to stop him. (This was in fun). We did not make it to the top that time because of an ice fall that was in our way, and it would have taken too much time to climb over it. We had to turn back. The following year (1962), I took a summer math course from both Professors Goman and Lantz. I told them that at the end of the course in August I would lead a climb up Rainier via the Emmons route (easier but longer). The climb was successful and the faded picture shows us at the top. Bob Reese ’65 The spring 2002 cover story on Tacoma painter Abby Williams Hill generated correspondence from far and wide. Letters ranged from that of a graduate student in Montreal, Canada, who was preparing a thesis on female American landscape painters, to a worker in the Burlington, Vt., plant where Arches is printed, who saw the article coming off the press, picked up a copy and, after reading it, decided she had to know more about this remarkable woman. She called asking how she could get a copy of Professor Field’s book, Abby Williams Hill and the Lure of the West. Apparently the woman was not alone: The Puget Sound bookstore reports doing a land-office business with the book since the article appeared. Although out of print, a few copies are still available; call 253-879-3270. |
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Shelby Clayson, one of the profs pictured in the winter 2002 Arches, is a friend from the Habitat for Humanity family selection team. She told me that, as a result of the article, she had heard by mail, e-mail, and phone from many students. But the most interesting contact was a box mailed from Connecticut by Robert Wright ’88. Robb noticed that she was pictured in the magazine holding an old-fashioned, straight-handled claw hammer. He decided that a former professor of occupational therapy should be properly equipped, and sent her two ergonomic hammers of different weights. 