GOVERNANCE 1933 REPORT TO BOT by Bolles and Wells

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 05: GOVERNANCE – BOARD OF TRUSTEES
1933 Reports to BOT by Bolles and Wells
Dorothy Bolles, PMSS Staff, 1925-1935
Evelyn K. Wells, PMSS Staff, 1916-1931
Glyn Morris, PMSS Director, 1931-1942
SIA: BOX 17 A-B

COMMUNITY 1934 Fair Day ; GOVERNANCE 1933 DIRECTORS REPORTS by Bolles and Wells ; Dorothy Bolles Staff

“Set running.” Ben Turner (in white, right), Glyn Morris, (standing, far right), Miss [Dorothy] Bolles, Miss [Evelyn] Wells. Kentucky Running Set, 1934. [boarding_school_767a.jpg]

GOVERNANCE 1933 REPORT TO BOT by Bolles and Wells
October 1933

TAGS: Governance, 1933 Report to BOT, PMSS Board of Trustees, Glyn Morris, Dorothy Bolles, Evelyn K. Wells, crafts, Country Cottage, Infirmary, Little School, Arthur Dodd, August Angel, Chapel, Medical Settlement Big Laurel, the Road, reservoir, concerns, fundraising, budget cuts

CONTENTS: GOVERNANCE – 1933 REPORT TO BOT by Bolles and Wells

001 (Page 1) October 1933. Four-page report “To the Advisory Board and Trustees of Pine Mountain, [written by] Dorothy Bolles and Evelyn Wells, who wish to tell you of their week at the school in October” They visited neighbors and two extension centers, and with Mr. [Glyn] Morris, and the workers. The school is in a “happy state…in general” and “runs smoothly…Mr. Morris has his hand on every department, and knows the different aspects of his job now, inside and out. It seemed to us that children and workers have great confidence in him.” The writers describe the work of the new industrial groupings (farmers, wood-workers, mechanics, storekeepers, printers) and their associated classes (e.g., chemistry, mechanical drawing, physics, bookkeeping, “social studies”). They tell about the weaving room products and brooms.

002 (Page 2) Bolles and Wells remark on the good quality of the crafts, as influenced by the Handicraft Guild. The two women enjoyed the “homelike atmosphere of the Country Cottage” and remarks by Mrs. Palmer, who was in charge. They stayed at the Infirmary, where they learned of the medical work there for the School and the community (mentioning Ruby Nolan Day, Willie Baker, gunshot cases). They heard the story of little Mellie Day who attends the “little school.” They were pleased with the numbers of “real country” students and “town children.” “The practical courses, and the friendly relations…will be a help in building up the country element in the school.”

003 (Page 3) Bolles and Wells were “impressed with the way Mr. Morris, Mr. [Arthur W.] Dodd, and Mr. [August] Angel play with the Big Laurel Boys twice a week” in playground ball games, and neighborhood suppers, and community house parties. “You should see Mr. Morris’ car when he drives up the creek after the party, with boys all over the running board and fenders.” The women write of the beauty of Sunday services (by Morris) in the Chapel. In the end, they spent 24 hours at Berea College, which former PMSS students are attending and Miss [Florence] Daniels and Miss [Marian] Kingman (former PMSS staff) teach.

The writers list the “graver problems that confront Mr. Morris”: what to do about the aging coal bank, light plant, and reservoir, and the proposed road over the mountain; the need to finance a sawmill, enlarge housing for the “Boys’ industries,” build a new sanitary system, staff the Medical Settlement [Big Laurel], and maintain the houses and grounds on a lower budget.

004 (Page 4) Morris is increasing his focus on fundraising. The budget has been cut, but “the workers who accepted drastic cuts in their salaries must soon be put back onto a definite self-respecting basis…. [W]e hope that this letter will bring you a sense of Pine Mountain’s present vitality, constructive program, and capable direction….What can we do to help Mr. Morris?”