Cornell Acacia Centennial

Guide to the Acacia Fraternity Records

2008-04-10T16:42:00.002-04:00

http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMA01538.html

I am quite pleased to announce the link above to the Guide to the Acacia Fraternity Records, 1906-2007.

This guide represents the culmination of the many hours of cataloging of the chapter's archives. With the electronic coding complete, all brothers and other interested people can read through the chapter's history electronically. The organization of the collection is designed to give the reader a sense of the great depth and breadth to the chapter history. For those interested in learning more, I would suggest my book, Acacia Fraternity at Cornell: The First Century (Acacia Fraternity Foundation, 2007). It is available for purchase online by ordering through: http://www.cornellacacia.org/index.php?a=cc&s=book&PHPSESSID=a9c1495e36d360906677a5b43f7627f1

I do plan on contributing more items to the archives over time. If you have items that would fit into this collection, please contact me. I usually try to digitize the materials first, e-mail you the digital copy, and THEN donate the originals to the library.

Also, we are online at on the Library's eCommons at http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/handle/1813/3349. I still need to come up with an organization to the chapter's electronic records (i.e., everything I have scanned), but I did upload about 25 gigabytes of materials. It is all up there, just needs organizing!

Centennial Spirit, Vol. 1, No. 2 - Spring 2008

2008-03-13T11:35:00.019-04:00

(Click on an image to enlarge)

Letter from former Cornell University President Dale Corson, now 92

2008-02-12T10:54:00.000-05:00

Click image to enlarge.

Progress on Sprinkler System - 2007

2007-12-29T13:34:00.000-05:00

Below are some photographs taken of the work done installing a pipe from the water line for the sprinkler system. After laying the pipe, we will be moving ahead with installing the interior pipes into the house during the summer. We are having engineering plans drawn up soon, which we hope to make available as part of the spring Traveler newsletter. Our goal is to have all construction complete by the summer of 2009.

The Venerable Deans of Cornell Acacia at Centennial

2007-11-27T21:52:00.000-05:00

This photograph was taken on Saturday evening at the Centennial event in the Statler. Pictured are the Venerable Deans who attended the event. Front row (left to right): Bob Bergren '50, David Rickerby '91, John Ahlfeld '63, John Male '58, Richard Brewer '65, Larry McSorley '85; Second row (left to right): Scott Inglis '99, Rex Inglis '67, Kyle Small-Davis '09, Tom Harp '97; Third Row (left to right): Bill Ward '80, Bill Bethke '79; Fourth Row (left to right): Andrew Mercer '81, Michael Nasatka '03; Fifth row (left to right): David Rimshnick '05, Bradley Schmidt '01, Paul Molnar '99, Thomas Balcerski '05. Venerable Deans who were also present at the weekend but missing from the photograph: Bob Baker '53, Bill Burnett '53, Jim Freeman '55, Bob Phafl '60, Preston Shimer '61, and Brian Sivillo '96.

Centennial Spirit, Vol. 1., No. 1

2007-11-14T18:26:00.001-05:00

The Centennial Spirit, the successor to the Centennial Horizon, is an alumni newsletter dedicated to continuing the spirit of brotherhood created by the Centennial. In this issue, you will find a post-Centennial wrap-up article by David Klesh, a two-page "Case Statement" for the Capital Campaign that can be shared with any brother, a list of donors to date, and an order form for the Centennial Documentary. Here's to the spirit of the Centennial!

History Project Update

2007-08-01T14:27:00.001-04:00

I have been inactive on this blog for a few months now, but it is certainly not because I have been idle on the history of Acacia project. Since finishing writing the book, I have spent much time revising and editing the manuscript for publication. The first step for me was to revise the draft a second and third time. After doing this and incorporating helpful suggestions from alumni reviewers, I then contacted a friend of mine outside the fraternity who is a retired lawyer and a very good copy editor. He graciously volunteered to read the book (twice), and with his help, I was able to come to a final copy of the text.

On the photographs and illustrations, I decided to include as many as possible. With over 250 photographs and illustrations, the book is almost as much visual as it is written. Having already scanned many of the images, I went about the task of doing additional clean up and preparation for printing. In some cases, photographs needed to be replaced with higher resolution versions.

Once I had decided on which images to use and what text to use, I then proceeded to the layout. Using Adobe InDesign CS 2.0, I was able to complete the entire layout myself. I designed a template I was comfortable with and placed all the images and text into the file. I added captions, appendices, and other introductory materials. The final step for the interior pages was to write an index. After first preparing a topical index, I then used InDesign to track all the occurences of various words and phrases. This was the last step on the text.

For the covers, I used Adobe Photoshop CS 2.0 to design a cover design for the casebound and softcover version. Using the specifications provided by the printer based on the number of pages, I determined the margins and other specs to make the covers work. Then I obtained quotes for the back, wrote up a short summary of the book, and obtained an ISBN number. With the covers out of the way, I was almost ready to print.

Printer Thomson-Shore, Inc., sent me a proof, and several corrections were necessary to both photos and text. After making these changes, I submitted a revised version. This version was then reset and sent to me as an electronic proof. I approved this electronic proof last week. Printing commenced today, and the scheduled ship date is August 7. The total number of books ordered is casebound 300 and softcover 350. I plan to sell the books to interested parties, including members of the historical community in Ithaca and Tompkins County, Cornell alumni, and other followers of my writing (read: friends and family). The price for the softcover is going to be very reasonable at $14.95. The hardcover version will be used primarily for brothers and archival purposes, though I would sell a hardcover copy to interested parties for $29.95. Plans are underway to make the softcover book available at the Cornell Store, the History Center of Tompkins County, and Borders of Ithaca. There will also be a dedicated webpage where a person can print an order form or order the book over the web.

In the future, I plan to post all historical materials I have researched on the Cornell University's Library DSpace for future preservation. I have already donated all of the chapter's historical materials to the Rare and Manuscript Collections at the Cornell University Library so that the chapter's history will be preserved for another one hundred years and beyond.

With the history project nearing an end, I would like to thank everyone who helped me in these final stages. I would also like to express my mixed feeling of relief and joy at finishing. It has been a long journey covering one hundred years of Acacia's history, but I am glad to have done it. I hope you will join me on Friday evening at Duffield Hall during the Centennial weekend for the book's official debut. I will sign copies for anyone who would like that. I will make a historical presentation using the photographs I have scanned and employing the research I have made. This presentation will be taped and made available online for those who are interested but cannot attend.

I will continue to update this blog with items relating to the Centennial weekend, so keep checking back during the month of August. But, as to the history project, I consider this my last entry. I thank you all for joining me along the way.

Best regards,

Hoover #1063

Finished writing!

2007-05-13T22:45:00.001-04:00

I wanted to report for all those who are following along at home that I finished writing and revising the book tonight! I will read through the copy one more time, and I am also having a few more eyes look for last minute mistakes, but I am done!

Now I am going to lay out the book for the printer, insert figures, and make an appendix. So maybe I'm not really finished, but I have reached a milestone on the project. Just in time too since we have to get these books off to the printer next month in order to make the Centennial.

Hoover #1063

Oromel Harry Bigelow - Acacian Extraordinaire

2007-04-27T09:42:00.000-04:00

Oromel Harry Bigelow (#12) was one of the founding brothers of Acacia Fraternity. This picture taken from Cornell Alumni News from June 5, 1907 was part of a group shot of the varsity baseball team. Bigelow won his "C" for playing left field on the varsity baseball team for three straight years. He was also a member of Quill and Dagger senior honorary society and class baseball.

1954 Composite

2007-04-05T09:20:00.000-04:00

(click on image for larger view)

Thanks to Scott DePalma for providing this image.

Centennial Horizon, Spring 2007, pages 1 - 4

2007-03-20T11:20:00.000-04:00

Brethren,

I am pleased to publish the Centennial Horizon, Spring 2007 edition, to this blog. Inside you will find all the important information about the Centennial Celebration, including how to register for the event and order commemorative items. Be sure to fill out the forms on pages 6 and 7 and send them to the chapter house (318 Highland Road, Ithaca, NY 14850). The Centennial Horizon will be the cover pages for the Spring 2007 Traveler so be on the look out for both newsletters. The Traveler and Centennial Horizon will be mailed out the week of April 2.

Please note: To print, you must either download the images and print using Windows or go to http://www.cornellacacia.org and download the Adobe PDF version under the Publications section. These images are best viewed for printing using Mozilla Firefox or Netscape Navigator.

(click on each image for a larger view)

Centennial Horizon, Spring 2007, pages 4 - 8

2007-03-20T10:45:00.000-04:00

(click on each image for a larger view).

The Cornell Chapter of Acacia Fraternity Collection

2007-03-11T23:43:00.000-04:00

Since beginning the history project, I have felt a need to find a way to secure the Cornell Chapter's history. Many of the records of the corporation and the chapter have been scattered and lost over time, and we are indeed fortunate to possess what we have. In some cases, luck has played a greater role in the continuance of the chapter's records than prior proper planning.

In the spirit of the History Project, I propose creating the Cornell Chapter of Acacia Fraternity Collection to be housed at the Carl A. Kroch Library Rare and Manuscripts Collection in the John M. Olin Library. The boxes pictured alongside me would supplement the existing Acacia Corporation Records now a part of the library's collection. Before donating these records, I would create physical and digital reproductions to be housed at the chapter house and on secure file servers or hard disks. While the archives, once donated, cannot be retrieved from the library, they may be accessed during library operations throughout the school year. Restrictions can be placed on who may access the collection, but in the spirit of open inquiry, I believe most of the collection should be made available to the general public. In my examination of the fraternity's history, there is very little we should seek to hide.

I plan on bringing this question to a formal vote at the annual meeting of the corporation. I would hate to see the chapter's past be subjected to the uncertainties of the future that are inherent in a fraternal living arrangement. Here's to creating the next 100 years of the fraternity's history!

Fraternally,

Hoover #1063

Cornellians' Photographs

2007-03-06T10:49:00.000-05:00

I was in Ithaca this past weekend, and thanks to help from Clara Tow, I now have a fairly complete collection of composites. We scanned photographs from the Cornellian for those years missing, and compiled with the scans done of the 11" x 14" photographs, the collection is almost finished. I am quite happy to have these scans completed since I will use them for a slideshow on the Friday night of the Centennial weekend. Include below is the photograph taken for the 1938 Cornellian.

(click on the image for a larger view)

Cornell Acacia Composites

2007-02-24T15:02:00.000-05:00

I am trying to compile a complete collection of composites. The Digital Status line below means either a) SCAN: I have an original photo and was able to scan it or b) PHOTO: I did not have the original but have a digital photograph of the large composite hanging on the wall at the chapter house.

If you have a missing composite or a composite with PHOTO in the Digital Status, please let me know. I would like to scan them for the Centennial for the Friday evening presentation.

Composite Year	Status	Digital Status

1907	Y	SCAN
1908	Y	SCAN
1909	N
1910	N
1911	Y	SCAN
1912	Y	SCAN
1913	Y	SCAN
1914	Y	SCAN
1915	Y	PHOTO
1916	Y	SCAN
1917	Y	SCAN
1918	Y	PHOTO
1919	N	does not exist
1920	Y	SCAN
1921	Y	SCAN
1922	Y	SCAN
1923	Y	SCAN
1924	Y	SCAN
1925	Y	SCAN
1926	Y	SCAN
1927	Y	SCAN
1928	Y	SCAN
1929	Y	SCAN
1930	Y	SCAN
1931	Y	SCAN
1932	N
1933	Y	SCAN
1934	Y	SCAN
1935	N
1936	N
1937	N
1938	N
1939	N
1940	N
1941	N
1942	N	does not exist
1943	N	does not exist
1944	N	does not exist
1945	N	does not exist
1946	Y	SCAN - OTHER
1947	Y	SCAN
1948	Y	SCAN - OTHER
1949	Y	SCAN - OTHER
1950	Y	SCAN - OTHER
1951	N
1952	N
1953	Y	PHOTO
1954	N
1955	Y	SCAN
1956	N
1957	Y	PHOTO
1958	Y	PHOTO
1959	N
1960	Y	PHOTO
1961	Y	PHOTO
1962	Y	SCAN
1963	Y	SCAN
1964	Y	SCAN
1965	N
1966	Y	PHOTO
1967	N
1968	Y	SCAN
1969	Y	PHOTO
1970	Y	SCAN
1971	Y	SCAN
1972	Y	PHOTO
1973	N
1974	Y	SCAN
1975	Y	SCAN
1976	N
1977	Y	SCAN
1978	Y	SCAN
1979	Y	SCAN
1980	Y	SCAN
1981	Y	SCAN
1982	Y	SCAN
1983	Y	SCAN
1984	Y	SCAN
1985	N	does not exist
1986	Y	SCAN
1987	N	does not exist
1988	N	does not exist
1989	N	does not exist
1990	N	hand-made composite in office
1991	Y	SCAN
1992	Y	SCAN
1993	Y	SCAN
1994	Y	SCAN
1995	Y	SCAN
1996	Y	SCAN
1997	Y	SCAN
1998	Y	SCAN
1999	Y	SCAN
2000	Y	SCAN
2001	Y	SCAN
2002	Y	SCAN
2003	Y	SCAN
2004	Y	SCAN
2005	Y	SCAN
2006	Y	SCAN

Traveler, May 1965

2007-01-29T13:45:00.000-05:00

(click on each image to enlarge)

This issue of the Traveler was found among assorted Corporation papers held by Jim Showacre. If ANYONE has ANY additional Travelers from the 1950s - 1970s, PLEASE contact me!

The Acacia Traveler, November 1966

2007-01-15T09:53:00.000-05:00

(click on image to enlarge)(click on image to enlarge)

I recently found this copy of the Traveler among a box of records belonging to the corporation board. If any other alumnus has any copies of the Traveler from 1951 to 1971, and also during the late 1970s and early 1980s, your help in obtaining copies for historical research would be greatly appreciated.

Northcote by Arthur Gibb '90

2007-01-10T16:16:00.000-05:00

(click on image for larger view)

This portrait drawn by architect Arthur Gibb of the Williams Family house at 318 Highland Road hangs above the fireplace mantle of the library. The Williams saved this portrait and left it with Northcote when sold to Acacia in 1934. Although it might have been a pleasant reminder to Edith Clifford Williams of her family's home, she could always look outside her window and up the hill from her house at 322 Highland Road. The portrait stayed with the house, where it belongs, and where it shall remain.

A Fitting quote for the Traveler

2006-12-12T16:50:00.000-05:00

Brother Alumnus Cammuso (#965) brought to light a fitting quote about the Traveler that would be an excellent way to start the publications section of the actives' webpage.

"The Traveler defies time and distance. Within its magic hospitality old friendships are kept alive, new ones added, future ones insured."
- Roy B. Miller (#222), Class of 1924, Traveler, Vol. X, No. 6, p. 11.

Per Brother Cammuso's earlier e-mail to me: "If it were up to me, I would publish Brother Miller's quote in every issue of the Traveler. That's a mission statement I wish we had known about earlier."

Donations can now be made through Acacia.org

2006-12-05T11:36:00.000-05:00

Donations to the history project can now be made directly to the Acacia Fraternity Foundation through the following website:

http://www.acacia.org/cornell100.htm

You will need to activate a Paypal account, which is a secure way to send funds online using your bank account or a credit card.

Thanks to Tal Gribbins from Acacia national staff for arranging this for the chapter.

Triad Winter 2006 - Cornell Acacia Centennial Article

2006-11-21T10:45:00.000-05:00

Thanks to an opportunity given to me by Keith Bushey, we are going to have the following news item listed in the Winter 2006 Triad. Look forward to this arriving in time for the holidays!

----------------------------------------------------
Cornell Chapter Prepares for Centennial Celebration

The Cornell Chapter celebrates its centennial in 2007, and to commemorate the occasion, the chapter is hosting a reunion weekend on August 24 – 26, 2007. The exciting schedule of events starts with a lecture on Friday evening about the formative events and important people of the first one hundred years of the chapter’s history. The event will be held at the new Beck Center of Statler Hall, and will be followed by a reception and book-signing with the author of Cornell Acacia: the First Century. The history book, which will be printed in hardcover, will tell the story of Cornell Chapter’s founding, the tough periods of two world wars, and bring the history to the present day. A volume you will not want to miss, the book will include many rare and never before published photographs. Copies are available to all Acacians, and can be pre-ordered by individuals or chapters by making a tax-deductible donation to the AFF (see http://cornellacacia.blogspot.com/ for more details or contact the Centennial Historian).

The history project is the culmination of two years’ effort of active and alumni brothers, and is just one part of the exciting centennial celebration. On Saturday, returning alumni and their families are invited to join Cornell Alumni Affairs on a very special guided tour of the campus. Explore new and recently renovated buildings, including Duffield, Bailey, and White Halls, while learning how the campus has changed over the years. Following the tour, the actives and alumni will enjoy the beautiful Ithaca weather (we hope!) at a picnic at one of the many scenic spots on campus.

After the picnic, the brothers will convene for a special meeting of the entire chapter. Here we will discuss the future of the Cornell Chapter, and learn how each brother can make a difference in the future. Immediately following the brothers’ meeting, there will be a cocktail hour, where the lively music of Cornell’s a cappella groups will fill the air. If there is one event you should not miss during the weekend, it is Saturday evening banquet held at the Statler ballroom. At the banquet, enjoy a meal with your brothers and listen to special guest speakers such as Cornell’s Vice-President for Student and Academic Affairs Susan Murphy. At the conclusion of the dinner, a documentary video produced by Cornell Chapter will debut on the big screen. And, it wouldn’t be a celebration without a party! Join us for live entertainment at the Statler Ballroom as we dance the night away!

For those who are early risers, plans are in the work for a morning bird watch at the Sapsucker Woods. The world-renowned Johnson Museum of Art will also be open that morning for a special tour. Join the brothers at the chapter house for brunch on Sunday morning before heading home. Come tour the chapter house, and see how much things have changed and stayed the same since the last time you were there.

Excitement for the Cornell Chapter Centennial has been building for several years. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, we have raised almost $14,000 for the chapter’s AFF account. To date, over 40 brothers have already reserved their spot; why join them and all of us for this once in a lifetime affair? For more information about the Cornell Chapter Centennial, contact the following centennial chairmen:

David Klesh, Celebration Chairman Tom Balcerski, Historian Brad Ayres, Capital Campaign
davidklesh@hotmail.com tbalcerski@gmail.com bja27@cornell.edu
(646) 643-6744 (201) 327-0668 (607) 731-9338

We look forward to seeing you there at Ithaca in 2007!

Centennial Horizon - Vol. 2, No. 1 - Fall 2006

2006-10-16T20:55:00.000-04:00

Here are pages 3 and 4. The Traveler will include this mailing, scheduled to be shipped next week via USPS.

Centennial Horizon - Vol. 2, No. 1 - Fall 2006

2006-10-16T20:38:00.000-04:00

Brethren,

Here's a sneak preview of the new Centennial Horizon for all those who follow the weblog! For a complete list of all those brothers who have signed up so far, just e-mail me. There are over 25 brothers already signed up, ranging from class of 1942 to class of 2006, with several more in between!

HOOVER
#1063

Proposed Acacia House, 1958

2006-09-02T16:36:00.000-04:00

Doc Bradley Portrait

2006-07-28T11:22:00.000-04:00

Portrait of Robert Claude "Doc" Bradley that hangs in the Thompson Library (chapter room). Doc was one of the first Award of Merit winners in the inaugural class of 1954. He was also instrumental in the purchase and financing of Northcote, the construction of the Wing, and the expansion of the national fraternity. Note the Cornell Class ring on the left ring finger and the Award of Merit medal across the tie.