Lawrence Today magazine, Summer 2006
Many ways of ‘doing history’
It was something of a surprise to learn how many fellow history majors have
gone on for the Ph.D. ("Doing History the Lawrence Way," Lawrence
Today, Spring
2006). Fortunately, there are career options other than teaching. Public
History: Essays from the Field (Krieger, 2004) details manypossibilities
for “doing
history” for
a living. I was honored to write the chapter on curatorial work in museums.
Anne Woodhouse ’69
St. Louis, Missouri
Hello, Downing Street…Lawrence calling
The Spring 2006 Lawrence Yesterday column brought back one of my favorite
Trivia Weekend memories. It talked about how teams wouldn’t hesitate to
make the unusual phone call to find the answer to a question and how one team
wanted to call 10 Downing Street but didn’t know the number. If they
had found the number and made the call, they would have gotten a busy signal,
as I was already on the line.
I was playing for Plantz that year, and we had on our team a student who
had just returned from London and knew how to find that number. She dialed
it,
and when the phone started ringing, got cold feet and handed it to me. A
staffer, possibly a footman or butler, answered. In absolute disbelief
that I had actually gotten through, I politely explained who I was and why
I was calling. (The question wanted to know who was standing on either
side of Ms. Thatcher in a particular class photo.) “Just a moment,
sir. I’ll ask the Ma’am.”
I heard him set the phone on the table, his footsteps faded away as he walked
down the hall, then I heard knocking on a door, followed by an “Excuse
me, Ma’am,” as he entered the distant room. Eventually the
footsteps returned, growing louder, until the phone was picked up.
“I’m sorry, sir, but she quite frankly doesn’t remember.”
Jim Kowald, ’83
Appleton, Wisconsin
Remembering the Alfieris
With the November 9, 2005, passing of Dr. Graciela Andrade Alfieri, professor
emerita of Spanish, a special Lawrence connection ended for me. She and her
late husband, John, formed half of the Spanish department faculty for almost
25 years, and I was fortunate to have been a student in classes with both of
them.
Dedication was the hallmark of their lives. Graciela Alfieri was certainly
dedicated to her own education and advancement. Born and raised in Chile,
she was highly educated in Chile and the U.S., attaining a degree in educational
psychology at the University of Concepción, a master’s degree
in educational psychology at the University of Illinois, and a master’s
and a doctorate in Spanish at the University of Iowa. Though small in stature,
Mrs. Alfieri was a commanding presence in the classroom. She was always in
charge, meant business, and expected your attention and best effort.
John and Graciela were dedicated to each other. It is impossible to talk
about Graciela without mentioning John, and vice versa. They taught in the
same department,
though not the same courses. They shared a love for the works of the Spanish
author Benito Pérez Galdós, and together they authored several
well-respected articles. Their devotion to each other had to endure long
and difficult periods of severe illness; however, they supported each other
and
made the best of the situation.
They were always dedicated to Lawrence and to the Lawrence community. John
served as chair of the Spanish department for many years. Both of the Alfieris
took part in Lawrence committees and taught Freshman
Studies and were regular
attendees at plays, concerts, art shows, recitals, convocations, and other
Lawrence activities. They were interested in those things and wanted to show
their support for the faculty and students who participated in those efforts.
Finally, the Alfieris were incredibly dedicated to their students. They always
welcomed student greetings on campus and had generous office hours for student
queries. They sponsored Spanish language tables at Downer and hosted the Spanish
study-abroad program. Most important was their work ethic. They were always
prepared and professional and expected the same effort from their students.
It was an example to follow.
Mrs. Alfieri was very formal, and her husband was quiet and could be hard to
get to know. They did not adapt to the casual attitudes and lifestyle changes
of the 1960s. Some may have assumed that they were aloof, but nothing was further
from the truth. I know of one student who did not wish to continue at Lawrence
after the first year. John Alfieri traveled to Chicago and convinced the young
man to return. It was a major outreach, since neither John or Graciela ever
drove a car. The happy ending is that after graduating LU, the young man completed
two advanced degrees and has been very successful.
Since they did not drive and did not care for airplanes, traveling meant
train trips through Chicago. After graduation, Frank Marino [’70] and
I returned to our native Chicago, where we would receive telephone calls
from John Alfieri
asking for help with their luggage. Of course, there was plenty of help available
at the train station, it was just a pretense to see us and share lunch.
A friend of mine is fond of saying that “teaching is a future activity.” I
urge all alumni to reestablish contact with favorite professors. They enjoy
hearing from former students, and this contact completes a circle for them.
It is a small kindness in return for their years of service to the students
and community of Lawrence University.
Andrew Kass, ’69
Stillwater, Minnesota
Editor’s note: Apologies go to Justine Reimnitz, ’06, who created the photographic panorama, Overlook, shown above. The artist was misidentified in the spring issue of Lawrence Today.
