Name/Title
Dorothy Black Letter to Jane Sutherland (1930)Entry/Object ID
2023.093Tags
Ward-BelmontScope and Content
A letter, dated March 18, 1930, from Ward-Belmont student Dorothy Black to fellow student Jane Sutherland. Written on Black's personal stationary, the letter reads as follows:
"My dear Jane: The Seniors have asked me to convey to you, the Junior-Middles, their very sincere hope that you will be one hundred percent for the Seniors on Senior-Senior Middle Day. As you know, it has been customary in previous years for the Senior High School Class to be rooters for the Senior College Class; and we are trusting you to carry out this precedent. We should also appreciate your influencing the under-classmen to wear Senior colors, too. We will have the yellow and white ready to give you the Thursday night before Senior-Senior Middle Day, as you go to study hall. The Seniors want your support - please don't disappoint us. Very Sincerely, Dorothy Black, President of the Senior Class."Context
Senior-Senior Middle Day refers to a traditional day of friendly rivalry between the two Ward-Belmont classes. The Senior Middle class held an annual social banquet each year "as an evidence of their good will," which marked the beginning of "the spirit of rivalry which has its climax on Senior, Senior-Middle Day" (1929 Ward-Belmont Hyphen). Described as "one of the oldest and finest of all traditions at Ward-Belmont" in the 1934 Milestones yearbook, the day involved each class decorating the campus with their respective colors, class parades, sports tournaments/competitions, the singing of class songs, and finally a dinner together, where the winner of the day was announced.
Dorothy Black, originally from Liberty, Missouri, was a student at Ward-Belmont from 1928 to 1930. A "senior middle" in 1929 and a senior in 1930, she served as president of the Senior Middle class '28-'29 and president of the Senior class '29-'30, a member of the Advisory Board '29-'30, the Glee Club '28-'29, the choir '29-'30, and the Twentieth Century social club. She was a member of the orchestra '28-'29 and '29-'30, serving as its president '29-'30 - the Hyphen often mentioned her playing the violin at various events on campus.
Jane Sutherland was a student at Ward-Belmont from 1926-27 to 1930. A freshman during the 1926-27 school year and a member of the Junior Middle class in 1930, she held several leadership positions as treasurer of the Day Student Council ’28-’29, vice president of Ariston Club ’29-’30, president of Penstaff literary club ’29-’30 (member in 1929), president of the Junior Middle class ’29-’30, and an active member of the Athletic Association ’30. Per the 1930 Milestones yearbook, she enjoyed the outdoors, and was thanked in the acknowledgements section as one of the students in the Literary and Art Departments who “[strove] to make [the yearbook] a success.”Collection
Harpeth Hall School ArchivesLexicon
Search Terms
Ward-Belmont, Letter, 1930, Dorothy Black, Jane Sutherland, Senior Senior Middle Day
