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Ivy Oration
Ida Kilpatrick, ’45
Each year the graduating class plants
a sprig of ivy at the foundation of one
of our buildings. Throughout the ensu
ing seasons this small shrub wends its
way slowly and tenaciously to the top.
It spreads its tendrils and branches over
the tiniest crevices and not only prevents
deterioration and decay hut also adds
richness, natural beauty and ancient
dignity to man’s handiwork.
It is highly appropriate that such a
gesture should be the parting gift of the
Senior Class. The ivy will survive as a
tangible memorial and lasting tribute to
hallow four years of fond memories and
intellectual progress. Yet. important
though it may he to establish a claim
in the memories of yesterday, still bet
ter is the planting of the ivy symbolic
of our dreams and hopes for the future.
We are the newly planted ivy. Just
as we selected and prepared the vine
and then chose the spot for embedding
the ivy which will be an evergrowing
memorial to the class of 1945, so it has
been with us. Our parents, during our
infancy and early childhood, directed
and guided our actions. Then the school
proceeded to supplement the home and
finally. After four years of college train
ing, we are prepared to embark upon
our life’s careers. We. as Seniors, are
analagous to the ivy because, like the
tender young plant, we are ready to
commence our independent growth.
Having been planted and watered the
vine becomes rooted in the soil from
which it receives nourishment. It
spreads its branches in all directions
and as it creeps along the side of the
building it develops as a thing of use
fulness and beauty. The journey up
ward is not devoid of trials and ordeals,
for the ivy must endure the heat and rain
of July as well as the icy blasts of Janu
ary. Regardless of the buffeting which
the elements inflict upon it, the ivy
continues to climb. It is in a continual
state of growth and as it climbs, heed
less of wind or weather, it exhibits
strength and tenacity of purpose in its
attempt to protect and embellish the
building. The ivy is of an eternally
verdant nature and nothing is able to
thwart the persistent efforts of the ever
green plant to spread its blanket of
green.
We, too, have been nurtured and
trained, our roots are prepared to take
a firm hold in the community and the
world at large. Let us hope that <>ur
branches will follow the pattern set by
the ivy an upward growth.
Our journey through life, like that of
the climbing ivy. will not he easy. Many
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C \ M P l S MI R R 0 R
The March of Years
1941-1945
Ollie Woods. ’45
As we roll hack the pages of time,
w r e review a record of rich experiences,
experiences which began with our en
trance at the gates of our Alma Mater
in 1941. It is with us, as it has been
with other classes who have spent four
years here: we pause to recall past
events which have left vivid impres
sions on our lives on this campus.
September, 1941. one hundred forty-
two freshmen from all parts of the
United States and from Trinidad. West
Indies, as well, entered the wide-flung
doors of Spelman College. We were
young women, wide awake and ready
for this new adventure, and we pos
sessed a natural curiosity as to the ac
tivities that make up college life. Dur
ing Freshman Week we became ac
quainted with many aspects of our new
world. How well we remember the talks
given by Mrs. Lyons, Dr. Mays, Mrs.
Andrews, and Mrs. Jeffries, who was
then dean of freshmen! Amusements
included a Y. W. C. A. party and a
campus picnic. A joint Morehouse-
Spelman entertainment gave us our first
opportunity to meet the Morehouse
freshmen. But at last this week, like
all other things, had to come to an
end; however, we had been given a good
start in our college career and we had
been made to feel that we belonged
here.
After the activities of Freshman Week,
we began the academic work for the
year. Though many of us were diffident
at first, we soon became adjusted to the
two freshman “bugbears,” history and
biology, and came through our courses
with some satisfaction. Our ranks were
slightly reduced at the end of the se
mester. leaving fewer of us to begin the
second lap of freshman year.
Aside from class work a number of
interesting cultural events took place
that term. The Rt. Honorable Dudley
Leigh Aman, Lord Marley, visited our
campus for the second time. He spoke
to us on the subject of “The Secret of
Russian Resistance. ’ An outdoor music
festival was given on the steps of the
Atlanta l Diversity Administration Build
ing. Marian Anderson, the world's fa
vorite contralto, visited the campus.
Later we were thrilled by hearing the
mellow, rich voice of Dorothy Maynor
in a concert at the city auditorium. Mis-
Elizabeth O-l >ome came to our campus
bringing to us information concerning
personality essentials, such a- poise, %i-
tality. voice, grooming, manner and
dress. She spoke on the subject “The
Impression We Leave. We found our-
Class Poem
Doris LaVerne Daniels. '45
The moon is down and all around is
darkness.
There is silence as if all is hushed for
ever.
The stars have ceased their chasing, no
longer is there celestial play.
They are moving onward, outward, to
summon the breaking day.
Clothed in her regal riches comes the
dawn — an off'ring new
To you who must arise this daybreak to
embrace.
It has been made for you, a gift
Of a tomorrow 7 in the vesture of a king.
See, your tomorrow is even now at hand;
From this day on forever present it shall
he.
Arvake to duty as the times demand!
Face it and conquer, through God tri
umphing mightily!
selves putting into practice much that
she had taught us. Among the number
of interesting convocation speakers were
Dr. E. Franklin Frazier, who spoke on
“Some Aspects of Race Relations in
Brazil" and Count Carlo Sforza. whose
subject was “Present Psychological Con
ditions in France and Italy.” The decla
ration of war on December 7, 1941. with
its consequences, caused us to become
more conscious of the world situation
and set us thinking and planning ways
in which we might contribute to the war
effort our nation was to make.
As we drew near the close of our first
year we knew more certainly the sig
nificance of the emblem, “the lighted
lamp.” left to us by the seniors of 1941.
Like them we desired to follow its light
and truth.
September. 1942. we were sophomores,
sophisticated, you may he sure, hut sober
with the realization that our goal was
still far in the future. It was our am
bition and our goal to uphold and pos
sibly excel the high standards which had
been set by former classes.
Greatly reduced in number, we start
ed the year with enthusiasm and con-
fid once. How good it seemed not to be
referred to as a freshman! More ac
customed to college life, we -aw the
events of the year pass smoothly. We
shall always remember that the entire
student body went to hear the glorious
Marian \nderson concert. That vear we
-aw the Mlanta l Diversity Players' pro
duction of “Craig's W ife," and three
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