Page:Shimer College History 1853-1950.pdf/17

 Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Junior College Scholastic Honorary, was installed at Frances Shimer. And during his term of office Dr. Wilcox brought about the evaluation of the music and art courses to give them standing in the educational world. He also introduced a modern system of grading, making use of educational tests and measurements.

In 1935 Dr. Wilcox returned to return to Stanford to complete his doctor's thesis and receive the degree of Ph.D.

Miss A. Beth Hostetter, an alum, who was then a member of the faculty and filled the post of registrar, was asked to serve as Acting President during the interim while the Board was seeking a successor to Dr. Wilcox. Miss Hostetter was a graduate of the University of Chicago, had later done graduate work there, at the Sorbonne in Paris and at Columbia, and had travelled extensively in Europe. She had served her apprenticeship as a teacher at Central College, Pella, Iowa, Annie Wright Seminary, Tacoma, Washington, and Christian College, Columbia, Missouri, before joining the faculty at Frances Shimer.

Miss Hostetter's life has been linked with the life of the school ever since the day old Dr. Shimer ushered her into the word. Her parents had both attended Mount Carroll Seminary, where, following her graduation from St. Lawrence University, Canton, N.Y., Elizabeth Barber, later Mrs. W. Ross Hostetter, had taught piano. Mrs. Hostetter was also a graduate in 1878 from the Mount Carroll Conservatory of Music. As a wedding present, her husband presented her with a Chickering piano, one of those instruments Mrs. Shimer sold on commission.

As a child Beth Hostetter knew Mrs. Shimer and the Hazzens, who were frequent guests in the Hostetter home at Grouseland Farm. On reaching high school age she entered Frances Shimer as a day pupil, graduating later with highest honors and so winning a scholarship at the University of Chicago. During her many years of faithful service at Shimer as an instructor in the Humanities, Acting Dean, Dean of Students, Registrar, Acting President and sponsor of alumni activities, she has gone quietly and calmly on her way, carrying her responsibilities with modesty and efficiency, and with a scrupulous attention to detail, realizing the truth of Michael Angelo's maxim, "Trifles make up perfection, but perfection is no trifle." She has been the custodian of the school's traditions, the one who does her utmost to locate and keep in touch with the school's alumni, inspiring them to unite their efforts in behalf of their Alma Mater, and she has been the punctilious keeper of records, both scholastic and historical.

Toward the close of her year as Acting President the Board felt they had located the right man to succeed President Wilcox, and elected Dr. Raymond B. Culver, Ph.D., to the position. He had for some years been connected with the Student Christian Movement and later taught at Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon, where he had received two of his degrees. He also had received four degrees from Yale.