The Watrous Prizes
Kirkland students submitted original works for the annual George A. Watrous Prizes in Creative Writing, one each for poetry, fiction, and criticism. The Watrous Prize, established in 1970 by Esther Watrous Couper in her father’s name, was carried over to Hamilton College after the merger in 1978.
From the Hamilton Spectator, May 16, 1970, contributed by Alice Hildebrand K'73 (click on image for full size)
Some Kirkland Watrous Winners
1970
• Diane Walden, poetry, “Walking Poem”
1971
• Alice Hildebrand, poetry, “Evening”
• Mary C. Anderson, poetry, “Saint Swithens Eve”
• Liz Horwitt, fiction, “Ginny”
1972
• Susan Hartman, poetry, “After His Death” and others
• Ellen O’Brien, criticism, “Death and the Child: A Death in the Family and Call It Sleep”
1973
• Susan Hartman, poetry, “Making Harvest”
• Jane Katz, poetry, “The Truth About Love”
• Nancy Avery, fiction & best entry, “The Triesmar Woman”
• Candace Harris, criticism, “Precision/Distortion in Jealousy”
1974
• Billie Jean Stratton, poetry & best entry, “Epitaph for Every Zipped Fly Who Once Stood at Jute’s Bar”
• Andrea Kantor, poetry, “The Eclipsing Parapet”
• Nancy Avery, fiction, “Behind the Main House”
1975
• Patti Knoblauch, poetry, “Paintings”
• Kathryn Livingston, fiction & best entry, “Calliope”
• Susan Thomas, criticism, “Untitled, The Image of Women in Joseph Conrad’s Fiction”
1976
• Donna French, poetry & best entry, “Answer” and “Packing to Move”
• Isabel Weinger, fiction, “She Might Break”
• Eva Heisler, criticism, “A Jungian Interpretation of Norman Dubie’s ‘In the Dead of Night'”
1977
• Jo Pitkin, poetry, “The Lakehouse”
• Lynn Randall, fiction & best entry, “Alley Cats and Easter Rabbits”
• Andrea Kantor, criticism, “The Veil of Wildness: Shakespeare’s Henry V”
1979
• Barbara Berson, poetry
* Some information on Kirkland’s Watrous winners was graciously provided by Katherine Collett, Hamilton archivist.
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Did You Know? Prior to the merger, Hamilton students had the option of taking creative writing courses at both Hamilton and Kirkland. After the 1978 merger, Hamilton continued to offer creative writing classes yet also elected to offer students the opportunity for a creative writing major for the first time. Bill Rosenfeld shepherded the inclusion of this major into Hamilton’s English Department. |
The Kirkland College Seal
The history of the Seal design was described in an early issue of the Kirkland College Newsletter. You can download a copy by hitting this link:
Isabel Weinger '76
A Note From Sam Babbitt
January 2010
Dear Kirkland People –
These web pages – and all the things that can be reached through it – are a wonderful result of Kirkland women reaching out to each other to recollect (literally) their experiences of a time and place that was significant in their lives and which still informs the way they live today.
No erstwhile President could be prouder of this spontaneous activity than I. And I urge all who come here – whether to reminisce, to learn, or simply to browse – to explore what Kirkland College was, and what an impact it has on its alumni.
Furthermore, if you are one of those fortunate ones who came to Kirkland and who were enriched by that experience (not everyone had a good experience there) please join with your fellow alumni in contributing tangibles and intangibles to this living archive. Because it’s still true: KIRKLAND MATTERS.
With all best wishes,
Sam
[Editor’s note: Samuel Fisher Babbitt was President of Kirkland College 1965-1978. He now resides in Rhode Island with his wife, Natalie.
The Hamilton College Alumni Office maintains a contemporary online edition of Kirkland Matters. Those who wish to participate on this blog can simply leave comments, or click on the menubar above to learn more.]
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