Westover is fortunate to have an extensive collection of materials that preserve our rich and unique history. In 1985, the Alumnae Board of Governors funded the rennovations necessary to give the archives a permanant home on the third floor of Hillard House, known to many alumnae as the old library. They are accessible to students, faculty and alumnae visitors at all times, and are supported through an endowed fund given by the class of 1940 in honor of their 50th Reunion.

Lifetime Alumnae Governor Maria Randall Allen '42 and Trustee Muffie Clement Green '65 are the driving forces behind the archives. Believing that among other items, photographs, correspondence, uniforms, class rings, yearbooks, Lantern magazines, glee club recordings and Wick issues provide an important glimpse into a time past at Westover, they keep organized the collection of materials and continue to add donated items and to properly preserve items unearthed from various locations on campus.


News

Wanted: Napkin Rings and Other Memorabilia
An article by Cunthia Oakes in the November 1964 issue of The Wick mentions that when School opened in September of that year each student and faculty member received a personal napkin ring with a linen napkin. Does anyone still have such a ring? We would be delighted if the Archives could be given one to add to its collection!

In fact, the School’s Archives will gladly accept memorabilia from your years spent at Westover. Items are well-preserved in our growing collection, which is located on the third floor of Hillard House. Photographs, event programs, and other items that reflect your days at Westover are always appreciated. If possible, please indicate the school year from which the memorabilia dates; if you are donating photographs, please also try to identify all individuals who appear in each photograph. Materials being donated to the Archives should be sent to:


Biography About Westover's Architect Theodate Pope Riddle Published

Dearest of Geniuses, by Sandra L. Katz
Art and architecture lovers will want to explore this first definitive biography of one of America's first successful female architects. In addition to designing schools and private homes in Connecticut and New York, Theodate designed and supervised the reconstruction of President Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthplace in New York City. According to writer and critic Brendan Gill, Theodate Pope Riddle was one of the ten most distinguished American women of the 20th century. Her friend, famed psychologist Carl Jung, saw her as an "intuitive" woman who trusted her instincts, ignored raised eyebrows, and courageously forged ahead despite the restrictions of her day.

To order a copy, visit http://www.tide-mark.com/dearest-of-geniuses.html or call toll free 1-888-461-4619.

Theodate's Architectual Accomplishments
Scholar Sharon Smith of Hill-Stead Museum has posted a readable discussion of Theodate's most significant architectural accomplishments online at http://www.valinet.com/~smithash.  Smith conducted her extensive research relying on Hill-Stead's archives and other primary source material. She is a specialist in illuminated manuscripts, Medieval art and 19th and 20th century architecture.

While Westover School was being constructed on the Middlebury Green a century ago, the School’s Founder and First Headmistress, Mary Hillard, visited the building site one moonlit night with her good friend Theodate Pope Riddle, who was the architect for the new School. As they gazed at the sheer size of the project, Mary grew momentarily alarmed at the daunting endeavor she had undertaken. At seeing Mary’s unease, Theodate told her good friend, “Be still and let your spirit fill the buildings.”

Theodate’s own spirit still fills the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, CT, more than 100 years after she designed it as a country estate for her parents – her first of a number of major architectural achievements.

Hill-Stead has been a hub of activity ever since the Pope family first occupied their newly built country estate. Here, from 1901 to 1946, in succession, Alfred and Ada Pope and their daughter Theodate, with her career-diplomat husband John Wallace Riddle, entertained many illustrious individuals – authors, artists, poets, academics and presidents. The Popes and Riddles also extended their hospitality to town folk and employed dozens of workers, among them Earnest Bohlen, butler to the family for nearly 60 years.

Today, Hill-Stead is a 152-acre, 10-building museum and a National Historic Landmark. For more information about this museum and its historical and cultural offerings, please visit the Hill-Stead Museum’s website at the link below.