Alumni Updates: 1940s
Archive
Below are archived updates for Art & Art History alumni graduating between 1940 and 1949. Visit the main Alumni Updates page for updates received this year.
Susanne Earls Carr '48 (Studio Art, concentration in Architecture) Susanne writes: "Possible points of interest: Howard Deerstyne (studied & worked with Mies van der Rohe) taught modern architecture beside the Head of Architecture. A. Lawrence Kocher, former Dean of Arch at UVA, versed in traditional as well. They both were my favorite professors and on the staff of the Williamsburg Foundation. Mr. Deerstyne's photographs were shown at MOMA, NYC. Some of us joined his extra curricular photography group. Both were highly respected and inspirational. They encouraged me to continue in architecture, but I was called into the field of interior design that continues. I also enjoy photography greatly." (October 2014)
Susanne Earls Carr '48 (B.A Fine Arts/Architecture) writes:" Growing up within a family exposing me to the arts, living in old houses while moving about a bit, and with the ability to draw, fine arts, architecture and Colonial Williamsburg were a great inspiration. In those days professors like A. Lawrence Kocher (former Hd. of U. Va. School of Arch. and editor of Arch. Record) and Howard Dearstyne (student of and associate of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, as well as writer/scholar of Germany's Bauhaus School, and a recognized photograper [exhib. At MOMA, NY, etc.] who engaged students in its processes), along with James Cogar (Curator of Colonial Willaimsburg, who taught the Social History of the 18th c.), were all on the distinguished staff of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
"Through a letter of introduction from Mr. Cogar, I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Marion Beardsley, an interior designer here in NY who had done the Williamsburg Inn and projects for the then President of Colonial Williamsburg, Mr. Kenneth Chorley, In the architecture course, surprisingly two of us won prizes for contemporary houses we designed for a southern association competition: Bob Sanderson, 1st prize, and I, 2nd. Encouraged, and certainly tempted, to continue studies in architecture following graduation, another surprise came my way, prior to graduating. I was selected by Head of Personnel of B. Altman & Co. who had come to visit the college's Placement office, to join their Training Squad of about 22 college graduates from such as Colgate, Princeton, Smith, Stanford, that I did under condition I might become qualified to join their nationally recognized Decorating Department (the White House, etc.) To qualify, I also earned a certificate from The New York School of Interior Design, finally becoming a full interior designer there.
"Marrying, with one daughter, and becoming involved with various pursuits related to my family life, a career path continued to beckon. As time went on, I was called by the industrial design firm of Raymond Loewy-Willaim Snaith (Mr. Loewy's first noted achievement, designing the locomotive for Pennsylvania R.R.) (stores, hospitals, ships, planes including Air Force One and The Bull & Bear at the Waldorf, etc.), Audre Fiber, Inc. (she was a Board member of A.I.D., A.S.I.D., N.Y.S.I.D. invitational lecturer), David Barrett, Inc., Dorothy Draper, Inc. (where I had fun of working on projects locally and in Louisiana, Bermuda, Palm Springs, Ca. as well as being assisted by a college design student for credit one summer), and then meeting Albert Hadley, I was invited to became one of the interior designers at Parish-Hadley here in NY, working closely with Mrs. Henry "Sister" Parish on projects locally as well as in Maine and Barbados.
"In between these callings, I worked on my own, as I am now with my own client/projects.I have found this a rewarding field of endeavor as it requires utilizing my drawing skills, meeting new people, some travel, fascinating research, utilizing the best in architecture, new and antique furniture, materials, talents of the creative trades...to create appropriate surroundings for each client and project.
"I credit William & Mary in Colonial Williamsburg with so very much in a never-dull career that offers endless possibilities without limitions of time or place." (2009)
Elizabeth Hayes Pratt '49 (Art & Architecture) Elizabeth writes: "I have been a professional watercolorist since college,have sold over 2300 paintings in various galleries around the US and taught watercolor to hundreds of adults. I am still active.2 one woman shows this summer." Showing work at the Addison Art Gallery, Orleans, MA (October 2014)
