:5uu-year evolution
McCormick to look at microscope progress
Dr. James B. McCormick, well-
known in the histotechnology field,
will speak at the Yeager Recital
Hall Monday, March 6, at 8 p.m.
Dr. McCormick will present a
rare look at how microscopes and
microscope slides evolved from a
form of art into a tool of science
during the past 300 years.
The presentation is being co
sponsored by the Carolina
Biological Supply Company of
Burlington and the Biology Depart
ment of Elon College.
The one-hour program, “Three
Hundred Years of Histotechnology:
Polycystina shells arranged in
a radial design, as viewed
through a microscope. The slide
includes more than 50 shells and
seven varieties of the shell fami
ly. Mounted by W. Wasson, cir
ca 1870.
What’s inside...
An Art Form of Natural Science,”
will feature a wide-screen slide
presentation of antique medical in
struments and microscope slides.
Dr. McCormick’s presentation
shows how early microscope
technicians, such as Robert Hooke,
used microscope slides to make
minutely detailed engraving and
works of art.
Early technicians prepared the
intricate microscopic slide designs
using components such as butterf
ly eggs,, single-cell structures, and
scales from insect wings to create
microscopic mosaics and fine
works of art.
Examples of art formed by these
early slide arrangements include
snowflakes, Venetian glass bottles,
and cornucopias with butterflies
hovering over them.
Contest were held to see who
could create the prettiest slide.
“But in the process,” Dr.
McCormick commented, “they
developed techniques for mounting
and viewing that are essentially un
changed today.” Dr. McCormick’s
collection includes thousands of
18th and 19th century slides
representing works of art. Most of
the slides are in mint condition.
Dr. McCormick said,
“Throughout the 18th and 19th cen
turies there was little general
awareness of the discoveries made
with the microscope, but there was
a great appreciation for the
aesthetics of microscopy.”
“They didn’t know what is was,”
Dr. McCormick explains, “but
they knew that a particular beetle
was pretty, so they collected the
beetle for its artistic appeal.
When the technicians, or
preparators as they were then call
ed, worked at their benches prepar
ing slides, they were more concern
ed with the beauty than they were
with the content of the subject.”
Howard H. Edgerton, Head of
the Plastomount Department of
Carolina Biological Supply Com
pany, said, “Dr. McCormick is ex
tremely well-known for his work in
histotechnology, and we’re pleased
to co-sponsor his program at Elon
College. His program will be very
interesting for everyone. It’s not
just for those individuals who work
with microscopes.”
Dr. McCormick is President and
Chief Executive Officer of the
Swedish Covenant Hospital, a
325-bed community hospital on
Chicago’s northwest side. He is
also chairman of Pelam, Inc., a
Chicago-based company serving
industry through computerized
health evaluation systems.
Dr. McCormick earned the B.S.
degree at the University of Notre
Dame and the M.D. degree from
the University of Illinois College of
Medicine.
James R McCormick, MD
Internationally speaking
London students write home
By Kelly Potter
London Correspondent
Centennial time capsule to be opened
f^n Tlllv 1Q O —1 • _• 1 .1 — _ _ * _
On July 19, 1889, a crowd bet
ween one and two thousand
assembled to witness the laying of
the cornerstone in Old Main, the
first building to be constructed on
the Elon College campus. The im
pressive ceremony was conducted
by the Masons of Bula (or Beulah)
Lodge.
According to Durward T. Stokes’
Elon College: Its History and
Traditions, a number of articles
were deposited in the cornerstone:
a Bible; copies of the Alamance
Gleaner, the Burlington News, the
Christian Sun, and the charter of
Elon College, names of the ar
chitect (now unknown) and the
builders, a volume entitled Facing
the Truth, various coins, and other
miscellaneous documents and
publications.
Old Main burned nearly to the
ground in 1923, but the present
Alamance Building, which was
built on its site, contains a cor
nerstone bearing the 1889 date, the
Masonic insignia and the name of
Old Main’s building contractor,
John W. Long.
Is it the original cornerstone?
Are the contents intact? Or did
they, in the intervening years, fall
victim to the fire, the ravages of
time, or the ingenuity of students
ever seeking the ultimate prank?
On Thursday, March 9, 1989,
just two days before the 100th an
niversary of its charter date, Elon
College will open the 1889 cor
nerstone during the weekly College
Coffee. All interested friends are
invited to attend. (There is no truth
to the rumor that Geraldo Rivera
will be present for the occasion.)
No matter what the outcome of
the cornerstone opening on March
9, a new time capsule will be
begun. Coordinated by the students
group Writers Bloc, items which
best represent the Elon of 1989 are
being collected.
They will be sealed for posteri
ty - perhaps Elon’s bicentennial in
2089. Saturday, April 29, the col
lege will host a campus-wide Open
House featuring lectures,
demonstrations, activities, food and
entertainment for the entire fami
ly.
The public is invited to “go to
college free for a day” and ex
perience the variety of exciting
educational opportunities available
at the Elon College of today.
The Open House will climax a
final 10 days of celebration in honor
of Elon’s 100th birthday. On April
21-23 a special musical revue bas
ed on events in Elon’s history will
be performed.
The revue was written by N.C.
Jazz pianist Loonis McGlohon and
will feature his jazz trio in perfor
mance. On Tuesday, April 25, at 8
p.m., the former President Jimmy
Carter will deliver the keynote ad
dress for a three-day symposium
entitled “Reaffirming a Tradition of
Service.”
Greetings from the U.K.! Lon
don is fabulous! After orientation
activities, settling in and becoming
accustomed to our surroundings,
all 42 of us are making a place in
London and loving life!
Our flats are located in the north
western part of the city near Kens
ington Gardens and Hyde Park.
The television here is hysterical!
Most of us can only get four chan
nels. The news runs constantly and
is interesting. Our ears perk up at
the slightest mention of the U.S.
The night life is out of this world!
Pubs and clubs are on every cor
ner. Beer, or Lager, as they call it
is sold for under $2.20 per pint.
The nicer the pub you go to, the
better the beer and the more expen
sive it gets.
Movies and popular groups and
bands that have everyone’s attention
in London are Die Hard, Cocktail
and Dead Ringers. Gloria Estefan
and The Miami Sound Machine,
Tracy Chapman and Debbie Gib
son are the hottest things around. ■
As you can tell, London is runn
ing a bit behind the U.S. in this
category.
Some exciting news to report is
that a majority of the group
escaped to Edinburgh, Scotland for
a weekend excursion. Some them
found Bed and Breakfasts to stay in
while the others discovered and ex
plored Youth Hostels.
The Millfield Guest House Bed
and Breakfast was just like, “Go
ing to Gramma’s for the weekend,”
said Jill Hall.
Others like Eric Pbllin and Tim
Thomas braved the Youth Hostels
and remarked that, “It was the best
nights sleep we’ve had since we’ve
been here!”
Barri Greenberg could not ac
tually believe that she was in
Scotland. “It was breath-takingly
beautiful”
Tim O’ Brien and Brian Walters
hit the jackpot when they went to
Parliament. They met the Sargeant
of Arms who gave them two
passes, usually impossible to get a
hold of, to sit in on Parliament and
actually hear Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher speak.
Tim said that, “Even though I
was only there a short while, it was
interesting to actually see how the
British Government works.”
With each new day, we’re not
quite sure what will happen next.
We’re only going to be here a short
while and we want to make each
moment count. London is an in
credible and fascinating place, full
of adventure and excitement. We
miss everyone at Elon and hope all
is well, but for now we’ll just say,
“Cheers”!