"The Casket"
Chowanians Published Journal
In 1853; Copy Now In Library
CONTRIBUTION TO LIBRARY—
Items of historical interest to Chowan
College, recently donated by Miss
Rebecca C. Long of Jackson, are
inspected by Benjamin W. Bontemps,
librarian, and Mrs. Jessie Mosse of the
staff. Mrs. Moose displays a copy of an
1854 student literary journal, THE
CASKET, while Bontemps holds a copy
of the commencement program dated
July 26, 1854.
In 1854 the students at Chowan
College, then known as the
Chowan Female Institute,
published the second and last
volume of “The Casket,” a
literary journal. The first one
appeared in 1853.
Thanks to the interest of Mrs.
Jessie Moose of the library staff
and the generosity of a Jackson
resident, Chowan’s library now
possesses a copy of “The
Casket,” dated March, 1854.
The prized publication was
donated by Miss Rebecca C.
Long. It originally belonged to
her grandmother, Rebecca
Moore Gatling, a student who
delivered the commencement
address July 26, 1854. A copy of
the commencement program was
also donated by Miss Long as well
as a copy of the program for a
concert in 1884.
Mrs. Moose learned about the
existence of the copy when Miss
Long volunteered the information
during a discussion in a creative
writing class at Chowan taught
by Dr. Bernice Kelly Harris. Mrs.
Moose immediately approached
Miss Long and asked if she could
have it for the library. Without
hesitating. Miss Long replied in
the affirmative.
A copy of the 18S3 edition.
Volume I, is housed in the
North Carolina Room at the
University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Benjamin W.
Bontemps, Chowan's
librarian explained.
“We hope to find a copy of it,”
he said. Bontemps commented he
was very happy the 1854 journal
had been donated to the library
and thanked Miss Long for her
contribution. He also praised
Mrs. Moose for her initiative and
“sense of history.”
Bontemps noted the library is
“trying to assemble items of
historical interest to Chowan
College in bits and pieces before
they are lost.” They are
displayed in the Antiquities
Room on the second floor.
He believes a search of attics
and belongings of individuals in
the area would turn up additional
old materials relative to
Chowan’s early history.
Mrs. Moose states she is
going to make a concentrated
effort to discover an 1853
copy of “The Casket." And
when she does? "I'll ask that
the owner donate it to
Chowan's library," she
remarked.
Bontemps explained that the
1854 literary periodical is dated in
more ways than one. “The word
casket in those days, as used for
the title, referred to a jeweled
box used to store valuables. Thus
AIDE PROGRAM
ATTRACTS 24
Twenty-four Chowanians have
responded thus far to the
challenge of work as a volunteer
aide at Riverview School. The
“work” schedule is arranged by
each aide, in consultation with
the teacher to whom he is
assigned at Riverview. Most of
the students are working a couple
of hours a day, two days a week.
If you have some time and want
to “give yourself” to help others,
the BSU-sponsored Teacher’s
Aide Program might be the
answer. Check with Chaplain
Taylor, if interested in this
possibility. . • . 
the title could be translated, ‘A
little treasure chest of literary
gems,’ ” he reported.
Included among its 24
pages are articles by the
students on such subjects as
"Woman," "Fashion," "My
Southern Home,''
Jefferson Ishee, professor of
music at Chowan, will serve as
soloist with the Wesleyan Singers
of North Carolina Wesleyan
College April 6.
The program will feature
“Five Mystical Songs” of R.
Vaughan Williams. For Ishee, it
will be just the latest of a number
of guest appearances which have
become as systematic as clock
work for the young and talented
professor of music at Chowan.
As a member of the depart
ment of fine arts, Ishee teaches
voice and directs the touring
choir. He also extends the
college’s influence and prestige
by singing, judging, and directing
in communities in North Carolina
and Virginia.
The invitations reflect
credit on Ishee as well as
providing Chowan with
valuable publicity. While at
the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill,
where he received his
master's degree in music,
Ishee developed a reputation
as an outstanding baritone.
He played the lead in six
productions at the Opera
Theatre and was soloist in
residence at the Duke Chapel
for one year. Ishee also
served as soloist for the
Carolina Choir.
"Evidences of Christianity,"
"Home Scenes," "Con
tentment," "The Importance
of a Well Regulated
Imagination," and "Love —
Human and Divine."
One was entitled, intriguingly,
“Woman and Mathematics.” And
JEFFERSON ISHEE
His appearance at N. C.
Wesleyan will be his second visit
to the Rocky Mount campus
during the present academic
year. Accompanied by Carole
Nicholson at the piano, he
presented a solo recital in
November.
Each month since then he has
been engaged in a special ac
tivity. In December, Ishee was
bass sok)ist in a Christmas
oratorio presented by the
Methodist College Chorale and
another, which could summarize
today’s scene, was called, sim
ply, “Change.”
The theme for the collection, as
printed on the front of the
yellowed, but well-preserved
journal, was: “Wisdom is better
than rubies.”
Fayetteville Symphony in
Fayetteville, N. C.
January found Ishee judging
the district Metropolitan Opera
auditions in Greenville. In
February, he and Carole
Nicholson paid a visit to the
Wilson campus of Atlantic
Christian College where they
lectured in a master’s class in the
afternoon and presented a solo
recital in the evening.
The traveling professor
served as a judge March 4 in
Farmville for the Virginia
State Auditions for the
National Association of
Teachers of Singing.
A new avenue of professional
service was afforded Ishee with
his selection to direct the Gallery
Theatre production of the
musical “Oklahoma,” presented
March 18-20 in Ahoskie.
Ishee reports that he has been
“warmly received” in the
various communities. “I enjoy
singing, directing and other
activities,” he explained. “I was
trained professionally to perform
and this is what I enjoy doing.”
He has been at Chowan since
the faU of 1969. April 13-17 he will
take the Chowan Touring Choir
on their annual tour.
Sadie Hawkins Day is observed
the first Saturday after Nov. 11.
Prof. Ishee to Perform
With Wesleyan Singers
DR, G. L. LESLIE
Dr. G. L. Leslie
Speaks Here As
Visiting Scholar
Dr. Gerald L. Leslie, professor
and chairman of the department
of sociology at the University of
Florida, spoke at Chowan Feb.
25. The visiting scholar has
earned national stature in the
field of family sociology. He is a
graduate of Ohio State University
holding three degrees, B. A., M.
A., and Ph. D.
Dr. Leslie has served as
president of three organizations,
American Association of
Marriage Counselors, National
Council on Family Relations and
Indiana Council on Family
Relations.
Wesley Corbett, professor in
Chowan’s department of social
science, studied under Dr. Leslie
while a student in graduate
school at the University of
Florida.
Sisters Share
In Pageant
Festivities
Two sisters—both of them
wearing (but not sharing) the
crown. Miss Belk Hall, offered a
different twist to the annual
Chowan College Queen of Srping
Pageant which was held recently
in the McDowell Columns
Auditorium.
The coeds were Eve and Ann
Pell of Chesterfield, Va., who
were among the contestants. The
fact that each had been selected
to represent her dorm did not
present a conflict of interest
within the Pell family. Each
dorm had selected a freshman to
compete for the title of princess
and a sophomore to seek the
crown of queen as represen
tatives. Eve was the sophomore
contestant. Ann served as the
freshman nominee.
Phil Anderson
Attending School
For AF Officers
Montgomery, Ala.-U.S. Air
Force First Lieutenant Philip C.
Anderson of 2736 Montgomery
St., Durham, N.C., is attending
the Air University’s Squadron
Officer School at Maxwell AFB,
Ala.
Lieutenant Anderson will
receive 14 weeks of instruction in
communicative skills, leader
ship, international relations, and
responsibilities that prepares
junior officers for command-staff
duties.
His wife, Judy, is the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Warren.
Pleasant Lake, Ind.
For March. 1971
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