Holiday Greetings, Stocking Stuffers, and a Golden Anniversary

The Lycoming College Archives currently has two displays set up on campus. Now through January a collection of holiday cards and jewelery may be viewed on the main floor of Snowden Library. Over in Honors Hall, on the second floor, there is memorabilia commemerating the fifieth anniversary of the Class of 1960. These items will be in the case until November of 2010.

Holiday Greetings and Stocking Stuffers

Snowden Library is currently featuring a display of Presidential holiday cards and jewelry artifacts from the College Archives.

Class of 1960 display in Honors Hall

The display in Honors Hall memorializes the Class of 1960 with yearbooks, photographs, sports programs, and the freshman "dink."

To view other collections and photos, please visit the online Lycoming College Photo Archives.

The College Mace

Snowden Library is currently featuring a display on the history of the college mace

on the main floor of the library.

THE LYCOMING COLLEGE MACE

The hand-carved Lycoming College Mace was presented to the college as a gift of the Lycoming College Class of 1963. The mace was created from walnut and cherry woods by a local craftsman, Joseph Winton. It bears the inscriptions 1812-1963, Williamsport Academy, Dickinson Seminary, Dickinson Junior College and Lycoming College in ascending positions from the bottom to the top of the intricately carved 42 inch commemorative piece. According to 1963 class vice-president Julie Bell Martin, President D. Frederick Wertz had requested a mace for the school. The mace is carried in all official academic functions of the College at the head of the procession as the symbol of academic authority.

Originally the faculty member with the longest period of service on the faculty was designated to be the mace bearer. That person retained this prestigious honor until he/she retired. As years progressed and the mace bearer aged, it became difficult in some cases for that person to fulfill the duty.

The Academic Bulletin #9 of August 27, 1999 reports a proposal to the faculty offered by Professor Owen Herring that the mace be borne by the Chair of the Faculty. The reasoning stated was that the faculty elects the chair as their leader, thus giving added significance to the role of mace bearer and to the faculty chair. Another advantage would be that the job would involve more members of the faculty. The proposal was accepted, and became effective in the fall of 2000.

From our photo collection:

Dr. Milton Skeath (1963-1967)

Phillip G. Gillette (1968-1971)

John P. Graham (1972-1982)

John (Jack) G. Hollenback (1979-1988)

Dr. Eduardo Guerra (1989-1999)

Dr. Melvin C. Zimmerman (2001-2002)

Sue K. Beidler (2003)

Dr. Mehrdad Madresehee (2008)

Remembering Mary Landon Russell 1913-2008

Click here for the official obituary published in the November 23, 2008 Sun-Gazette.

Snowden Library is currently honoring Mary Landon Russell with a display on the main floor. The display contains several photos from the Lycoming College Archival Photo Collection as well as artifacts, newspaper articles, yearbooks and other documents.

Some of the photos on display include:

Miss Mary Landon poses with the Double Male Quartet in 1937.

Miss Mary Landon poses with the Double Male Quartet in 1938. View this photo in our Archival Photo Gallery.

Mary Landon Russell is presented with a rocking chair on the occassion of her retirement in 1978. View this photo in our Archival Photo Gallery.

Mary Russell Landon (far right) at Homecoming 1985.

Mary Russell (left) is recognized during Homecoming 1999 for receiving the Dale V. Bower Service Award for oustanding service to Lycoming College.

Mary Russell (seated) poses with other honored alumni at Homecoming 1999. View this photo in our Archival Photo Gallery.

Some of the artifacts included in the display case:

A sterling silver plate given to Mrs. Russell upon her retirement. It reads: Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania - Presented to Mary Landon Russell on the Occasion of her Retirement - 1978.

A plaque given to Mrs. Russell upon her retirement.

The Dale V. Bower Service Award

A song written for Mrs. Russell.