Page four
THE TWIG
December 8, 1950
Dissertation on Gene Talmadge
Is Being Written by Miss Lemmon
FROM THE MUSIC WORLD
By JEAN TAYLOR
Have you ever heard of Gene
Talmadge? If you know Miss
Sarah Lemmon, assistant pro
fessor in the department of
history and government at
Meredith, the name of this con
troversial figure in recent
Southern history is probably
very familiar to you. Miss Lem
mon is now writing her doctor’s
dissertation on the public ca
reer of Eugene Talmadge, cov
ering the period from 1927 to
1937, when Talmadge was Com
missioner of Agriculture and
later Governor of Georgia.
Since a dissertation for a
doctorate most be concerned
with a subject no one else has
ever completely studied, the
choice of a subject is quite a
problem. After considering
many possibilities for her dis
sertation, Miss Lemmon sud
denly decided to write about
Talmadge. One morning the
thought dawned on her, “Why
don’t I write on Gene Tal
madge?” She describes her
choice of a subject as simply as
that! Being a Georgian, she was
naturally interested in Tal-
madge’s career and it seemed a
perfect topic for her disserta
tion. Since that time Miss Lem
mon has been absorbed in the
“ins and outs” of Georgia
politics.
Amount of Research
It is very unusual for anyone
to chose as the subject of his
dissertation a figure of the con
temporary period. A disserta
tion must cover all of the
available material on a given
subject. When the dissertation
is finished, its author is supposed
to be the foremost authority on
the subject of his dissertation.
Naturally many candidates for
doctorates would rather write
about a subject on which an
overwhelming mass of material
does not exist.
In the past, famous figures did
not leave a great deal of their
personal papers. Fortunately or
unfortunately, the famous peo
ple of today leave masses of
papers and letters filed for pos
terity. Therefore, in writing on
a contemporary figure or sub
ject, a tremendous amount of re
search is involved. There are
newspaper accounts to be read,
personal and governmental pa
pers to be covered, interviews
with persons involved to be ar.-
ranged. The task is difficult. But,
according to Miss Lemmon, it
is challenging and rewarding.
Last summer Miss Lemmon
devoted her time to research.
She worked in Atlanta at the
office of the governor, in Tal-
madge’s old law office, and in
the state library. Since Herman
Talmadge, Gene’s son, is the
present governor of Georgia,
Miss Lemmon was given every
help in her task. She was given
access to all of Talmadge’s pa
pers and even worked at Tal
madge’s old desk.
While Miss Lemmon was
working in Atlanta, Georgia
politicos were planning for the
State Democratic Convention.
This contributed an atmosphere
of excitement to her research,
and offered many interesting ex
periences in the field of politics.
Recording Material
At present Miss Lemmon, in
addition to teaching at Mere
dith"; is recording the material
she gained last summer. She
manages to fit her writing into
her crowded schedule by devot
ing every Tuesday and Thurs
day afternoon and night to her
dissertation. The dissertation is
sent, chapter by chapter, to her
adviser at the University of
North Carolina, who “blue-
pencils” it.
After he returns the material
to her. Miss Lemmon rewrites
it. It is then returned to the
University of North Carolina
where other authorities in con
temporary American history
read it and make suggestions.
Miss Lemmon again rewrites the
material, which is then in its
final form.
(Continued on page six)
By JANE SLATE
The first graduation recital at
Meredith College for this year
was given on December 2 by Dot
Allen. We all give her a rousing
cheer for her excellent program
and look forward to her
Bachelor of Music recital to be
given in the spring. Look out,
you rising organ majors; you
really have a record and a half
to live up to.
The second of the faculty
recitals was given on December
5 by Miss Helen Ashley. By this
and other performances given
and to be given we know that
leredith offers to her students
the very best teachers to be had.
Speaking of faculty perform
ances we cannot overlook the
very lovely solos sung by Miss
Beatrice Donley in the Messiah
last Sunday at Memorial Audi
torium.
One of the highlights of the
past few weeks in the world of
music around Raleigh was the
presentation of the opera “La
Boheme.” The two leads, Davis
Cunningham as Rudolpho the
poet (tenor), and Marguerite
Lamb as Mimi, an embroiderer,
(soprano) did an excellent job
in the portrayal of two lovers.
Their stirring duet in the third
act will not be soon forgotten by
the audience. The lesser part of
Musetta (Graciela Silvain) and
her ® lover Marcello (Richard
Torigi) can not be passed with
out comment of their portrayal
of a coquette and her lover who
tries to keep her in hand.
One of the best supporting
actors was William Wilderman,
a philospher (bass); the true
beauty of his voice was shown
in the fourth act where a
moving aria is addressed to his
battered coat when he is forced
to self it. Ralph Telasko as
Benoit, the landlord, and Al
cindoro, a rich admirer of
Musetta, also deserves credit for
supporting roles. Before closing
this discussion of the opera I
think it only fitting to mention
the very lovely scenery which
greatly added to the effects of
the entire performance. I am
certain that the opera was en
joyed thoroughly by all its
listeners.
The concert last Friday, was
one of the highlights of per
formances given at Meredith
this year. The Beal Duo violin
ists displayed their talents in a
marvelous fashion with a
brilliant display of technique and
a varied repetoire. Their pro
gram was out of the ordinary
for a chamber music concert but
was heard with much pleasure
by the audience. They were true
masters of their instruments,
but of the two, Gerald Beal
showed a better developed tech
nique than his brother Wilfred.
Evidence of this fact was re-
(Continued on page five)
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In the
Alumnae World
By JOAN LANGLEY
Meredith’s alumnae, it seems,
are not lacking in Christmas
programs. Several chapters
have already reported as having
planned pre-Christmas meetings.
The Durham chapter had its
meeting on November 28 with
Mr. Allen Bone, director of the
Durham Civic Choral Society,
speaking about music. This ■^s
a dinner meeting at the home
of Mrs. George Watkins, mother
of the president of the chapter,
Jane Watkins Sullivan, a grad
uate in 1946.
The Greensboro chapter has
had .its meeting on December
5 at the home of Mrs. Lois
Sawyer Pritchard with Mrs.
Loretta Nichols and Mrs. Ger
trude Hutchings as hostesses.
Mrs. Hedrick of Greensboro will
talk on Christmas decorations
for the home and illustrate it
with mantle and door decora
tions. Mrs. Jewel Hyatt Penny,
of the class of ’46 is the presi
dent of the chapter. The Wake
County Chapter will also have a
meeting, in 'December.
It might be of interest to the
student body to hear that since
the Alumnae Magazine had to
curtail the publication of the fall
and winter issues because of
financial reasons, a vote of the
Alumnae Council on November
10 made it possible to publish
the spring issue, according to
information given out by Miss
Mae Grimmer, Alumnae Secre
tary.
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