Newspaper Page Text
4
Dr. Mercer Cook
Carolyn Taylor, ’44
This is the first of a series of articles
about the people to whom we are so close
hut of whom we know so little. 'They all come
under the common name of faculty. The first
person on whom the camera is focused is Dr.
Mercer Cook. Since Dr. Cook left the country
before he could be interviewed, the materials
for this article came from his friend and
colleague, Mr. Clarence Albert Bacote.
It was on a bright September Thursday
morning that I entered, by appointment,
Mr. Bacote’s office and asked him to give me
a few highlights of the life and accomplish
ments of Mr. Cook for the first edition of
our campus paper. After offering me a chair,
and pulling out several desk drawers in
search of his pipe cleaner, Mr. Bacote be
gan—
“The thing I can’t understand is why I
can’t be interviewed about myself for the
paper. But I suppose that is due to the fact
that I haven’t been here long enough. You
see, I’ve been here only fourteen years.”
I told Mr. Bacote that in the near future
he would be interviewed about himself. With
this assurance, he continued:
“Well, Dr. Cook began his teaching career
in 1926 at A & T College in Greensboro,
N. C. From there he went to Howard Uni
versity in Washington, D. C., and then came
here to Atlanta University, where he is chair
man of the French department. Of course,
the work at these three places doesn’t cover
the span of Dr. Cook’s existence during this
period. For several years during this time
he lived in France and traveled throughout
that country and the French West Indies.”
“What do you think of Mr. Cook as an
individual?” I asked.
“I think he is the most democratic mem
ber of our faculty. He is quite jovial—he
likes to hear jokes and he likes to tell them.
“I think Mr. Cook is best known as a
writer although he is a poet, too. He has con
tributed to numerous publications, including
‘The Journal of Negro History,’ ‘The Ro
mantic Review,’ ‘The Crisis,’ ‘Opportunity,’
‘The French Review,’ ‘Phylon,’ ‘The Bul
letin of Negro History,’ and the ‘New Re
public.’ Dr. Cook has brought great en
lightenment on the lives and accomplish
ments of French and Latin-American Ne
groes through his articles.
“In the year ending September, 1941, Mr.
Cook received the prize of one hundred dol
lars for writing the best short story for the
year printed in the 'Journal of Negro His
tory,’ an account based on the life of Julien
Raimond. I tried to borrow two bits from
Mr. Cook after that, but he gave me a copy
of his brain child instead.
“For the year 1942-43, Dr. Cook was
granted a fellowship by the General Educa
tion Board to study at the University of
Havana. V hile there, he was also a corre
spondent of the Afro-American newspaper.”
(Continued on page 8)
CAMPUS MIRROR
Chinese Actress Visits Campus
On Thursday, October 7, at 11 a.m., in
Howe Memorial Hall, Miss Soo Yong, versa
tile Ch inese actress of stage and screen, ap
peared in an original monodrama entitled
“Out From the Inner Apartments.”
Miss Yong was born of pure Chinese
parentage on the Island of Maui, and was
graduated from the University of Hawaii.
She completed her education at Columbia
Univeristy where she earned her master’s
degree.
In a series of six scenes, “Out From the
Inner Apartments” depicted the stages of
the emancipation of the Chinese women
from their enforced confinement within nrl
vate domestic quarters at the time of the
Revolution of 1911 to their present day ac
tive participation in public life. Comedy,
pathos and instruction were woven together
in the drama to make a truly entertaining
program.
Miss Yong brought out by humorous illus
trations how various aspects of western cul
ture have been introduced into China. She
showed great skill in interpreting the char
acter of both the old-fashioned and the
modern Chinese woman, and in creating the
illusion that there were actually other char
acters on the stage. With each change of
costume and make-up she seemed to take
on a new personality. Her grace, poise and
command of the English language added
much to the enjoyment of the performance.
The actress made her Broadway debut with
Catherine Cornell in “The Letter.” In Holly
wood she played with Greta Garbo in “The
Painted Veil,’ with Clark Gable in “China
Seas, and with Shirley Temple in “The
Stowaway.” She had the leading role in
MGM’s “The Rainbow Pass,” and in “The
Good Earth ’ she had two exacting char
acter roles.
Meet the Freshmen
Estelle Richards, ’47
Yesterday they were young girls graduat
ing from high school — ankle socks, hair rib
bons, and a girlish giggle. Today, they are
young college freshmen — ankle socks, hair
ribbons and a woman’s laugh.
They were the class presidents, the most
popular girls, the most likely to succeed,
and, perhaps the class prettiest. Now they
are Spelman freshmen — interesting and vi
vacious.
Mother Rose, as the girls adoringly call
the freshman housemother of Morgan Hall,
says, “I consider the freshman class this
year as an extraordinary one from every
point of view. That pertains to their char
acter, co-operation, and conduct in general
in the dormitory.” Taking it from an “au
thority,” one might say that the 201 members
of the class of 1947 will distinguish them
selves.
To the New Upperclassmen
To the new upperclassmen of Spelman
we send a most hearty welcome. Most of
you seem already at home, and we hope that
you will work with the old students to carry
on the Spelman traditions and make it the
Utopia of all who live here. May you work
hard, enjoy good wholesome fun, and, above
all, make this, your first year at Spelman, a
year of innumerable joys.
The Ex-Faculty Members
The year 1943-44 finds many absences
among the faculty and staff membership and
to those of you who are interested to know
what has happened to your favorite teacher
this column is directed.
Mr. Baldwin W. Burroughs, who headed
the dramatic department here last year, is
now a member of the United States Navy.
Mr. Burroughs will long be remembered for
his excellent play productions which in
cluded “Shadow and Substance,” “Craig’s
Wife, ’ and “Prometheus Bound.”
Miss Thursa Davis, who for eight years,
taught in the Chemistry department, is now
at Bennett College, Greensboro, N. C.
Dr. A. W. Loos, of the Department of
Philosophy and Religion, directs the Federa
tion program for men in the Service in Chi
cago. Dr. Loos is fulfilling his desire to be
employed in work more closely related to the
present emergency.
Mrs. Naomah W. Maise, of tHe Department
of Music since 1932, has matriculated at
Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio, in the
department of Social Work.
Dr. Anna Grace Newell, of the Biology
department for twelve years, is now in Miss
Gill’s School, Bernardsville, New Jersey.
Miss Dannetta M. Sanders, of the Educa
tion department since 1941, is teaching at
Jackson College, Jackson, Mississippi.
Dr. Hilda Weiss, Departments of German
and Sociology from 1941 to 1943, is situated
at Clark University in Massachusetts.
Mr. Hale Woodruff, one of the renowned
Negro artists of the present day, who has
taught in the Art department since 1938, is
on leave, studying in New York City and
residing in Greenwich Village.
Mrs. Ernestine Brazeal, Secretary of Alum
nae Records, is in Chicago awaiting the
stork.
Miss Elizabeth Duffield, formerly Secretary
to the Registrar, is residing in Washington,
D. C., as a member of the staff of the Wash
ington Council of Churches.
Miss Hazel Davis is employed by the gov
ernment in Washington, D. C.
Mrs. Rae Jamison Anderson has joined
her husband, who is scheduled to embark
for overseas duty soon.