First Family

During the 2007 All-Kirkland Reunion, Natalie Babbitt read from her latest book, Jack Plank Tells Tales, and took questions from the audience.  Click on the triangle below to hear a brief sample of her responses:

As a couple, Samuel F. and Natalie Babbitt may have modeled an ideal marriage in the view of Kirkland students, many of whom went on to struggle with issues of work/life balance.  Sam had been Assistant Dean at Yale Graduate School before becoming President (at age 40) at Kirkland College.  Natalie’s career as a children’s book author was just beginning, and her most celebrated works (including Kneeknock Rise, The Search for Delicious, and Tuck Everlasting) were written during their tenure at Kirkland.  Her fame (104,000 Google search results!) ultimately surpassed that of the College.

Both Babbitts also taught at the College; Sam’s specialty was American Studies, and Natalie held popular seminars in book illustration and children’s literature.

Affection for the Babbitts, if not universal, is certainly widespread among the Kirkland community.  These lyrics (author unknown) for a special event illustrate the general sentiment:

WORDS FOR OFFICIAL SONG AT KIRKLAND PRESIDENTIAL BANQUET

Samuel Fisher Babbitt President of Kirkland Early in our College life we know We’ve got it made As long as you’re our Prexy Naught can ever faze us. Hail to our Chief, to whom all laud be paid.	DID YOU KNOW? Natalie Babbitt’s papers now reside with the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center at University of Connecticut
Now that we’re all legal Let’s not get too sober, let’s keep up our jolly ways, our mud, our Saga* lines. Let ad hoc be glorified By vote of the Assembly and our dorms be fixed before our Joe resigns. Samuel Fisher Babbitt President of Kirkland Natalie and Christopher And Tom and Lucy , too. How we love all Babbitts May you wave in triumph First in our hearts, our halls, Forever – YOU	“The 49th Magician” title page ©1966 Natalie Babbitt

* Saga provided campus food services during the period.

NOTE: These lyrics were found on a single sheet in my collection, with no date or author.  Any intelligence on their origin,  melody or the occasion would be most welcome.