State Teachers College News Letter
Elizabetli City, N. C., December, 1956
Volumei 17
Number 2
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
May this Christmas bring happiness and cheer to you.
Let it be the biggest and finest that you have ever had. To
each of you the members of the Newsletter Staff wish a Wonder
ful Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Choir Presents
“THE MESSIAH”
For its final Vesper service of the
year 1956, State Teachers College
Choir presented the Christmas portion
of the “Messiah” by George Frederic
Handel. This outstanding oratorio was
also presented by the Choir in
Williamston and Robersonville, North
Carolina, December 17. Another pre
sentation will be given at the Naval
Base in Weeksville, North Carolina,
on Tuesday, December 18.
The solos and choruses were very
beautifully sung. Soloists were; Ethel
Terry, soprano; Mary B. Spivey, con
tralto; Adolph Humphrey, tenor; and
Albert Home, bass.
The final activity for the year will
be Christmas Caroling, an annual
tradition of the Choir.
The Choir is directed by Miss E. A.
Johnson and Mr. Winston Bell.
S.T.C. Plans For
Yearbook
The students of Elizabeth City State
Teachers College are proud to co
operate with the Student Council in
carrying out the plans for the pre
paration of a yearbook.
Irvin D. Cordy, President of the
Student Council, and his associates
and students believe that the year
book is a wortliwhile project. They
believe that the book will be a con
tribution long to be remembered by
the College.
MAKE IT HAPPY
Christmas is the time of the year
when everyone, old and young, will
agree that it is good to be at home
sharing the spirit of Christmas with
loved ones. Christmas, which is cele-
b r a t e d throughovit the Christian
world, has a deep religious signific
ance. It means also Santa Claus and
his gifts for the kiddies, the beauti
fully decorated tree that we all love,
and many other customs in observance
of the Holiday Season.
Christmas carols, first sung to glor
ify the Birth of Christ, are beginning
to gladden the air and create the
spirit of worship. Gifts are being
wrapped and exchanged. Colorful de
corations are seen from house to house,
and even in the streets. Cards are be
ing sent to friends, both old and new.
Housewives are busy preparing de
licious foods. O what fun can be
shared!
DEAN G. L. DAVIS
PUBLISHES ARTICLE
The Dean of the College, Dr.
George L. Davis, has had published
in the fall issue of the Western His
torical Magazine an article Pitts
burgh’s Industrial Representation in
Fairs and Expositions 18.32-1900 . This
is his second article to be accepted by
the Western Pennsylvania Historical
Society. The first appeared in the June
1953 issue under the title Pittsburgh s
Negro Troops in the Civil War .
HONOR ROLL
Fall Quarter, 1956-57
The Dean’s list of honor students for
tlie fall quarter has just been released.
Students averaging 2.00 and above
are:
FRESHMEN—Evelyn Louise Byrd,
Naomi Augusta Collins, Thelma Tru-
milla Johnson, Lois Annette Parker,
Barbara Ann White.
SOPHOMORES — Christine Artis,
Georgianna Barnes, Noami Cousin,
Evelyn Louise Harris, Sara Marie
Heckstall, Lizzie G. Houpe, Esther
Katrina Johnson, Helen Delois Kates,
Carolyn Louise McArthur, Cleo Mc
Pherson Robertson, Vivian Clemtime
Sharpe, Leon White.
JUNIORS—Ivola Banks, Lizzie Mae
Brown, Willie Rogers Gist, Catherine
Ophelia Grandy, Josephine Maggette
Gray, Shirley Salome Moody, John
Henry Spellman, James Clersie Whit
aker.
SENIORS — Daisey Lee Barclift,
Marian Willette Booker, Carlton Eu
gene Cherry, Margaret Coley, Irvin
Donald G o r d y , Dorothy Ehzabeth
Hammonds, Oche Carlise Hardy, Von-
nie Harris, Johnson, Alelia Leanner
K o o n c e, Carolyn Juanita Mitchell,
Mary Luvenia Parker, Annie Marie
Riddick, Mary Antionette Sharpless,
Mary Magdalene Spruill, Marva
Michelle Thomas, Katheryne Delois
Torrence, Shirley Jean Uzzell, Cleo
Caroline White.
NOTED ARTISTS IN 1956
LYCEUM SERIES
The first in the series of Lyceum
programs for the year was the Harp
Trio in concert on November 30.
Other artists will appear during the
coming months.
The Grass Roots Opera Company
will give a presentation on February
15. This company has developed into
a professional organization since its
founding in Raleigh, North CaroUna,
in 1948. Vivian Scott, a brilliant pian
ist who is winning enthusiastic ap
plause from critics and music lovers
everywhere, will appear in Moore
Auditorium March 22. Lawrence Win
ters, baritone, will be in concert on
May 1. Mr. Winters has been a lead
ing star with the New York Civic
Center Opera Company.
All programs begin at 8; 15 and are
held in the Moore Auditorium at the
College.
S.T.C. EXPANSION
At a recent meeting held in the
office of President S. D. Williams, a
committee of the State Board of High
er Education conferred with the Board
of Trustees of our College on the
issue of expanding the program of the
College to include other vocational
areas in addition to tlie training in
(See EXPANSION, page 3)
ORRIN CLAYTON
SUTHERN, II, IN CONCERT
Orrin Clayton Suthem, II, organist
from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania,
was presented in a brilliant and in
spiring concert in the auditoriiun of
the Elizabeth City State Teachers
College on Thursday, November 15,
by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Never has there been a more re
ceptive audience nor a more thorough
example of sound musicianship and
expertness of technique than tliat dis
played by Mr. Suthem on his instru
ment. The organist displayed versatil
ity in his conmiand of registrations
during the first part of tlie program
which included “Prelude’ and
“Fugue” in E Minor and Chorale Pre
ludes, “Sleepers, Awake” and “In Thee
is Gladness” by Johann Sebastian
Bach, but the greatest treat to the
audience was his rendition of the
“Toccata” from “Suite Gothique” by
Boellmann and Vieme’s “Finale” from
the First Symphony, when his accur
ate and swift pedal technique capti
vated the listemers.
The program was an exacting one,
yet Mr. Suthem exhibited unusual
ability and expertness in his interpre
tations as well as in i;ianual and pedal
facility.
Previous to Mr. Suthem’s present
duties as Professor of Music and con
ductor of tlie famous Lincoln Univer
sity Glee Club and Choir he establish
ed an outstanding reputation as con
ductor of the Florida State Agricul
tural and Mechanical University Choir,
the Bennett College All Girls’ Choir,
and the Dillard University Choir.
Mr. Suthern was the first Negro
recitalist to appear at the American
Guild of Organists’ Convention. Like
wise, he was the first Negro instru
mentalist to participate in a major
Southern Symphony in New Orleans,
Louisiana in 1945. On several oc
casions, the artist has appeared in
concert with the Columbia Broad
casting Net:work.
As a student of such outstanding
organists as Seth Bingham and Carl
Weinrich, Mr. Suthern continues to
develop techinique and enrich the
depth of his cultural presentations.
This was indeed a most outstanding
concert, richly presented by a thor
ough and scholarly musician.
Cadet Teachers Have
Interesting Experiences
The fall quarter gave many and
varied experiences to seniors who
taught in the elementary schools of
Elizabeth City.
The cadet teachers at Training
School were: Marva Thomas, Carlise
Hardy, first grade; Katherine Tor
rence, second; Marie Riddick, Daisy
BarcHft, third; Margaret Spruill, Lillie
Jackson, fourth; Alelia Koonce, Wil-
(See CADET, page four)