Graduation Invitation - 1909
Visitation Academy, St. Louis, Missouri
Visitation Academy was founded in 1833 in Kaskaskia, Illinois by the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. The school moved to St. Louis in 1844. In 1909 it was located at Cabanne and Belt Avenues and there were 183 students enrolled.
The Class of 1909
Top Row: Marion Bishop, Fort Sheridan, Ill.; Marie Sullivan, Geraldine Collum, Maizie Whyte, Georgia Sullivan of St. Louis.
Second Row: Clara Ziebold, WAterloo, Ill.; Josephine Dickson, St. Louis; Gail Maguire, St. Louis; Susie Cabanne Goode, Honolulu; Maryzita Cahill, Kansas City.
Bottom Row: Norma Weis, St. Louis; Katherine Degnan, Wilburton, Ok.
Articles from the beginning of the school year refer to thirteen students. Celeste Withers is not listed as a graduate in the articles about the commencement exercises.
Among the graduates in 1909 was Clara Ziebold, class valedictorian. Clara's scrapbook of her final year at Viz is in the collection of Rick Sennott and provided much of the material for this article.
Clara Ziebold, 1909
The school year ran from September 8, 1908 to June 11, 1909. Class colors were lavender and white and the class flower was Lavender Sweet Peas. The Class yell was "Lavender and White, Lavender and White Class '09 Out of Sight". The class motto was "Amor Vincit Omnia" which means Love Conquers Everything.
Classes attended by the Seniors included French, Philosophy, Latin, Mathematics, Composition and Music, all taught by the sisters. Occasional musicals, recitals, and dances offered a break from daily studies for the young ladies.
Social events memorialized in Clara's scrapbook include dances for Veil Prophet, Halloween, Valentine's Day, an ice cream social, a St. Louis University football game, flower show, concerts and recitals. The girls were inducted into the Alumnae Association of Visitation Academy in April, 1909 at the Annual Re-union.
Botany Class
At the Church
The Story Was Rather Sad
The Tennis Fields
A private Graduation ceremony was held on Friday, June 11, 1909, only parents, teachers, students and the graduates were present. "Miss Georgia Sullivan read the class essay. Miss Marian Bishop, who won the certificate in music, played a piano solo, and a very enjoyable musical program was given by the students." Archbishop Glennon made an address and presented the diplomas and medals.
The text of Clara's valedictorian address was preserved in her on hand in the scrapbook:
Dear
Sisters and Companions,
The
coveted and earned distinction to speak for my class has been bestowed upon me.
In a
certain sense I am proud of it, it is sweet. But I feel the throne pierce
through the gathered flower. My words must say farewell, must tell the ending
of the beautiful period in which our budding lives have been under a training
hand.
In the
retreat blind of dangers, weak little girls we have grown in the sunshine of
culture, we have tried our minds at modest sciences, Have had imparted to them
the dogmas of the highest that of
religious have been taught to see and love in every beauty and event something
divine have been urged to duty by sweetest advice and soothing consolation and
led from sorrow by the hand of love.
Looking
back upon it we catch glimpses of blue skies, sunshiny ripples, green hedged
fields, pleasant smiles we hear girls laughter and the sisters words of sweet
correction
We must
leave it! How blessings brighten as they take their flight. But is our
happiness doomed to fade in the sphere of womanhood? Are not the influences of
the world all our friends? There are dangers in society we are told beware Into
this great unknown may that his open before no we must go alone. With what
wisdom shall we choose and with what success shall we engage in the activities
that there invite our trial? With what strength
shall we resist the fancies that may steer us into unsafe whirlpools of
pleasure? We are encouraged; we are warned by loving words and inspired by
fondest hearts. They say "let not your will like faulty air ships be
whirled astray, but let it keep firm in the God -given course so love that
others grief may be your own. Let adversity work in you its glories. Let you
sorrows be wreathed with virtues. Character thus trained will mold others and
be perfected according to the words given by your alma mater
Failure
will be our own achievement. We will try to held this lesson and by being her
true daughters praise our Alma Mater.
Most
beloved and revered teachers, gratitude for the sacred treasures you have given
us we express for each in the lines of the poet
Though
time her bloom is steeling theres still beyond his act the wild flower wreath
of feeling the sun beam of the heart
Let us our
dear companions, friends remain and you dear sisters, mothers be to us who bid
you all a sad, a sad farewell.
After the ceremonies, Mr and Mrs. J. F. Sullivan, parents of Georgia Sullivan, entertained the class at a dance held at the Normandy Club.
Sources
1. The Girl Graduate, Her Own Book, scrapbook of Clara Ziebold's senior year at Visitation Academy in St Louis, Missouri. Original in collection of Richard Sennott.
2. "School Days at Visitation Academy", unidentified newspaper clipping from scrapbook of Clara Ziebold.
3. "Notes from Visitation Acadmey, Cabanne", unidentified newspaper clipping from scrapbook of Clara Ziebold.
4. Unidentified newspaper clipping in scrapbook of Clara Ziebold described the commencement exercises.
