Taking a Lead in Preserving the Past

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO , Frank G. Moran sold his fledgling primary school, Moran-Lakeside School, to a group of parents led by Reginald Parsons. Parsons et al. incorporated their new institution — “Lakeside Day School” — on May 8, 1923. Exactly 80 years later, Lakeside hired its first archivist to care for the historical records and memorabilia that had filled basement shelves, attic closets, and stacked boxes all over campus, one of which included the school’s signed papers of incorporation.

The entire endeavor was made possible by a head of school, Bernie Noe, who understood the value of archives, and an alum, Bruce McCaw ’64, whose generosity of a four-year pledge highlighted his commitment to Lakeside and the preservation of its past.

Lakeside’s first archivist, Lisa Sanders, had her work cut out for her: What to save? Where to put the materials? How to use and share them? How could we best preserve minutes from trustee meetings dating back to the earliest years? Did the school really need 10 copies of each Numidian yearbook? Is it possible (or even desirable) to digitize the entire collection? What is the archives’ mission? Is it similar to a university or college archives’, catering to external researchers and serving as a center for historical inquiry? Or is it an organizational asset, focusing on Lakeside and the school community and striving to connect or rekindle relationships with current or former students, parents, and employees?

Sanders set to work creating a climate-controlled space under the eaves of the top floor of Bliss Hall, assembling shelves, rehousing one-of-a-kind materials, describing them in ways that would make them easy to find and share, creating an oral history program, and defining the archives’ mission: to care for the school’s history and integrate it into the lives of Lakeside community members past and present.

Over the course of that initial four-year gift, the foundations of a successful program were set, and when I was hired in 2008, the archives program, situated within the development department, had the support of the school community. The program has evolved to serve current students and employees, teaching them that, as Shakespeare said, “What’s past is prologue.” It serves former employees and alumni, as well, building a bridge between their formative years and where they are today. For an institution, the historical records remind us of how far we’ve come — and how close we still are to some of our founding tenets.

Over the past 15 years, when I’ve struggled with a question or problem, I’ve sought the advice of fellow archivists. Most of them have been from institutions on the East Coast. Independent school archivists in the Eastern states are more plentiful than in the West; at least for now. My mentors were from Phillips Exeter, Bryn Mawr, and Sidwell Friends School. I modeled my classification scheme on work they had done, and I connected with them at annual conferences. It often felt a bit lonely returning to Lakeside.

Then, about 10 years ago, our alumni relations director had me speak to her colleagues from area independent schools about our program. Gradually, I began hearing from schools in our region and consulting with them about setting up archives programs of their own. This was usually in response to a major historical milestone and the sudden need to be able to access historical treasures and touchpoints.

Educational institutions — in the business of helping students learn and grow — generally focus on progress and the future. But to truly thrive, independent schools also rely on deep connections with their communities: students, parents, alumni, and current and former employees. More schools in our area were realizing that an active archives can help foster those connections.

This past December, I organized the first Washington Area School Archivists (WASA) meeting, with archivists from Annie Wright Academy in Tacoma, Bush School, and Holy Names Academy. Four of us met at Oddfellows Café on Capitol Hill, and then visited Holy Names’ new Heritage Center. The Northwest School and Seattle Prep also have fledgling programs. I’m excited that Northwest independent schools are recognizing that archives are institutional assets.

Alumni understand the importance of the Lakeside they remember, even if they recognize the inevitability and benefits of progress. Archival shelves contain not only the dusty volumes written by those who came before, but also the valuable insights that helped shape today’s institution. Lakeside’s program has become a model for area schools, and WASA, I hope, is the beginning of a beautiful partnership.

LETTERS (FOR THE RECORD)

IQUITE ENJOYED Leslie Schuyler’s article on the history of drama at Lakeside (Fall/Winter 2022), especially the reminiscences of Al Snapp. Al arrived my senior year, and I was one of his first students in his newly revived theater program, helping lay the foundation for what would become, for me, a lifelong love affair. I never went into the theater professionally (I opted for medical school — greater job security), but I have been active for decades on the semipro circuit, first in Seattle, then in Sacramento, and in more recent decades Birmingham, Alabama, where I perform, write for the stage, and direct as my schedule allows.

There are a couple of factual errors in the article I would like to point out for posterity’s sake.

The first play performed in early 1979 in St. Nicholas Hall was not “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (which went up in April), but “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (which went up in February). Both starred Graham Winton ’79, who went on to a New York career with major stage credits and a long stint as Caleb Snyder on “As the World Turns.” After “Cuckoo” came “Black Comedy” and “The Real Inspector Hound.”

The first full year of shows in St. Nicholas Hall did not include “The Boy Friend.” That was a year or two later. It did include “The Geranium on the Windowsill Just Died,” which happened in May 1980. Linda Hartzell directed it, as well as Edward Bond’s “The Sea.” The other major production that year was “You Can’t Take It with You.”

I have various anecdotes of those days, such as the entire cast of “You Can’t Take It with You” being suspended or how Graham Winton dislocated his shoulder during the dedicatory performance of St. Nicholas Hall.

— Andrew Duxbury ’80

IWANT TO THANK Terry Agnew ’54 for the information he sent regarding the Shirleys (former drama faculty), along with sharing the news of the recent passing of classmate Buddy Branchflower ’54.

To add to the record: I did a little research and found that Robert Shirley arrived at Lakeside in the fall of 1951 and taught freshman and sophomore English here until 1953. He supervised drama with the help of his wife, who directed at least one production. The 1952 Numidian gives a few details about his help with “Eleven Against the Sea” and the production of “Command Decision,” in which Mr. Agnew and Buddy Branchflower each played a part.

— Leslie Schuyler