Friday, June 14, 1968
THE SUMMER SESSION KANSAN
Gertrude Sellards Pearson
KU benefactor is dead
Funeral services for one of KU's biggest benefactors will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the First Methodist Church.
Gertrude Sellards Pearson, who combined with her late husband in their donations to the University, died Tuesday in a Phoenix, Ariz., hospital. She had been in declining health for some time.
THE PEARSONS helped pioneer the KU residence and scholarship hall program through their donations. They quite often provided down payments funds for the structures, which inspired other gifts.
The Pearsons, who had no children, took a strong interest in the "livability" of the housing they helped finance and in their travels in the United States and abroad regularly purchased paintings and other art objects to add to the decorative plan of the halls.
In addition to their gifts for student housing, the Pearson's also bought one of the largest bells in the World War II Memorial Campanile to memorialize two nephews who were killed.
The Pearsons also pioneered the concept of air conditioning residence halls so they could be rented in the summer and thus sooner liquidate the bonded debt. They insisted on this concept in the planning of Gertrude Sellards Pearson Hall against the opinion of the Board of Regents, as the state had not yet accepted central temperature control of new buildings. They insisted the existence of the cooling would create uses for it.
"Gertrude Sellards Pearson epitomized the loyalty of KU alumni and the people of Lawrence to the University of Kansas and their continuing affection for it. Her generosity and that of her late husband has touched the lives of thousands through the scholarship halls and residence halls they built," Chancellor W. Clarke Wescool said.
MRS. PEARSON was a native of Hunewell, Ky. She was born Oct. 28, 1880. Upon graduation from KU in 1901, she went to Arkansas City to become a school teacher. It was there she
met her late husband, who was then with the Santa Fe Railroad.
Mr. Pearson never attended KU, but he eventually was made an honorary member of his wife's graduating class.
In 1958, Mrs. Pearson was honored with KU's Distinguished Service Award, the highest tribute KU can pay alumni and former students.
THE REV. RONALD Sundbye, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate at the funeral services.
Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery, alongside the body of her husband. The family has asked that any remembrances be made to the KU Endowment Association.
Gertrude Sellards Pearson, who died Tuesday at 87, pauses briefly during a recent visit to the KU campus under a portrait of her late husband in Joseph R. Pearson Residence Hall.
ALUMNUS AND BENEFACTOR
Comedy highlight summer theatre
University Theatre opens its 1968 summer program July 2 with Kaufman and Hart's "You Can't Take It With You," one of four comedies being presented in the "A Cavalcade of Comedy" series.
"La Parisienne," "Once Upon a Mattress" and "A Thousand Clowns" complete the repertoire.
Operating on a repertory plan, 19 students comprise the summer company. These include six apprentices selected in April by audition from 17 applicants of various high schools.
APPRENTICES THIS summer are Sandie Binns, Lawrence; Bill Boyd, Newton; Richard Gilliland and Tish Smiley, Overland Park; Jane Mackender, Ellis, and Hugh Kranitz, St. Joseph, Mo.
Tom Rea, assistant professor of speech and drama and assistant director of the Theatre, said, "This is the third year for this type of operation and the second year for the inclusion of incoming freshmen. It is rather unique in college theater and proves to be an excellent way to attract creative talent to the University. This talent then continues to work in our theater program."
At present the company is rehearsing three times daily. The season closes July 27 following 18 performances. Curtain time for all productions is 8:20 p.m.
THE BOX OFFICE in Murphy Hall is open from 1 to 3 p.m. After June 24 hours are 10 to 12 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. and from 10 to 12 a.m. on Saturdays only of the day of a production. Season ticket coupons are available at $4 representing a $2 saving over single admission price.
The two main stage productions will include "You Can't Take It With You" July 2, 5, 17 and 23; and "Once Upon a Mattress" July 10, 12, 19 and 24. These will be presented in arena form with the play revolving around the audience.
Experimental Theatre features are "La Parisienne," the only one of the comedies with a period setting, July 3, 6, 16, 20 and 26; and "A Thousand Clowns" July 11, 13, 18 and 25.
DIRECTORS FOR summer
productions are Robert R. Findlay, assistant professor of speech and drama, "La Parisienne," and graduate drama students Mike Pedrett, Jan Hewitt and Pam Roberts for "You Can't Take It With You," "A Thousand Clowns" and "Once Upon a Mattress" respectively.
Supervisors of the theatre program include Jed Davis, professor of speech and drama; Tom Rea, assistant professor of speech and drama; Jack Brooking, professor of speech and drama; Charles Lown, professor of speech and drama; Chez Haehl, associate professor; and James Hawes, assistant professor.
Cast members for the first production "You Can't Take It With You" are Connie Stachowiak, Wauwatosa, Wis., special student; Diane Haegelin, Lawrence special student; Irene Ballinger, Shawnee Mission sophomore; Ron Shull, Lawrence sophomore; Lance Hewitt, Lawrence sophomore.
John Young, Shawnee Mission junior; Holmes Osborne, Bates City, Mo., junior; Mike Rapport, Pasadena, Calif., junior; Michael J. Fisher, Lawrence junior; Shelia Maynard, Butte, Montana, junior; Evie Masterson, Piper senior; Bill Ramsey, Oswego senior; Bill Meikle, Lawrence graduate student; Bill Boyd, Richard Gilliland, Hugh Kranitz, Tish Smiley and Sandie Binns, apprentices.
Summer library hours announced
Watson Library stacks through the summer session are open only to faculty, graduate and honors students; undergraduates must go through the desk for their selections.
The library is closed on Sundays. Open hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. All students must present an ID to checkout books.
Terrence Williams, assistant director, stated that resident cards are issued upon request to citizens of Lawrence. Interlibrary loan is provided for anyone in the state.
BANDOLINOS NEW ARRIVALS
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