Imagine our delight when a thickly padded package, postmarked Kenosha, Wisconsin, recently arrived at the Homestead. Among the gems contained within: a 1951 edition of the Northampton School for Girls’ yearbook; a pair of neatly-filled-out dance cards; a senior prom photo; and a class ring inscribed on the inner band to E.A.K. ’51. The initials (and return address) belong to Elizabeth Ahrend Kassel, a longtime friend and benefactor known to us as Betsy Kassel Brown. Her previous gifts include the endowment of The Willistonian, given in memory of her late husband, Howard Brown, a publisher (see the Fall 2017 Bulletin). While at NSFG, Betsy served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper Pegasus, and her sense of a good story is clear in this latest act of generosity. Among our favorite pieces is the Handbook of Information, equal parts instruction manual and compendium of practical wisdom, which offers enumeration of such school rules as “Friendliness with everyone…will make your school experience a happy one.” Poring over Betsy’s collection certainly has been a happy experience for us, and we’re delighted that it will be preserved in the WNS Archives for future generations. If you have memorabilia you would like to donate, please contact school archivist, Rick Teller ’70, via the archives blog, willistonblogs.com/archives.
For more stories about Williston Northampton School alumni, click here.