Letters

1

The number of people related to prominent writer and women’s activist Charlotte Perkins Gilman among Rochester’s alumni. David Chamberlin ’84E of American Fork, Utah, wrote that a family portrait of the influential Beecher family that appeared in the May-June issue (“The Ubiquitous Beechers”) caught his eye.

One member of that family was Mary Beecher Perkins, who was the grandmother of Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Chamberlin is one of only three great-grandchildren of Gilman, who is best known for her short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” but who was active in feminist, suffrage, and social reform movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The photo was part of a story (“Signed, Susan B. Anthony”) about another member of that family, Isabella Beecher Hooker, who was an important confidant of Susan B. Anthony and others in the suffrage movement. A collection of correspondence and other materials that once belonged to Hooker are now part of the highly regarded collections involving the history of women’s suffrage that are held by University Libraries.

8

The number of alumni publications received in the household of Michael Plaut ’69 (PhD) of Gainesville, Florida. And, of course, he reports that he gets more out of Review than the seven others, noting that he often sends Review’s stories to friends and colleagues. In particular, he wrote that he sent “The Future of the Past” from the May-June issue to librarians at both the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and at the University of Florida. Featured on the cover of that issue, the story recounted English professor Gregory Heyworth’s work to use imaging technology to recover historic and damaged manuscripts.

15

The number of victories in the Yellowjacket football program’s winning streak from 1957 to 1959. Gene Nicandri ’60 of Massena, New York, writes to say that we incorrectly reported the number in a Class Notes item about a regular reunion for members of the football program that appeared in the May-June issue. Beginning with the last game of 1957, Nicandri reports, and continuing through the eight wins in 1958, and the first six wins in 1959, the total was 15.

1,500

The number of colleges and universities in the United States that have barred smoking on their campuses. In response to a story in the May-June issue about Rochester’s decision to be smoke-free as of August, Thomas Miller ’53E, ’54E (MM) sent a gentle chide about the number of institutions that made the decision ahead of Rochester.

1953

David Skonieczki ’71 of Hampton, New Hampshire, writes that he has a mug inscribed with “U of R ’53,” the name “Loose,” and the Greek letters for the Psi Upsilon fraternity. A friend who found the mug in a Salisbury, Maine, home gave it to Skonieczki. He’s hoping to return it to “Loose,” if he can. And he says he’ll even deliver it. Write to us at rochrev@rochester.edu and we’ll help make the connection with Skonieczki.

---

Review welcomes letters and will print them as space permits. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity. Unsigned letters cannot be used. Send letters to Rochester Review, 22 Wallis Hall, Box 270044, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627-0044; rochrev@rochester.edu.