Boston Latin class of l906 group
portrait p 31-877 }C{ IDENTIFIED in chapter text all 45 students, 4 teachers
Also see web. page 41 REUNION DINNER photo 1908 and detail of JACK BARRETT
enlarged.
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BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL
chapter RedHeadedStepchild by Sophie + John Barrett Masters William Foster
Rice, Joseph Webber Chadwick, William Pride Henderson and Henry Pennypacker
appear in second row from back .Jack Barrett is fifth from right in third
row from front. Next to him is Truman advisor David Niles, and third from
right end is Navy ophthalmologist Dr. Irving W. Jacobs. Other
identifications: Front row second from left - Samuel Finkel- once youngest
Massachusetts State Senator- corresponded with Sophie and John from
California l970-1972,. Front Row extreme right Henry Thomas - author of
numerous biographies and books on scholarship and philosophy. His son Dana
Lee Thomas was an editor of Barron's Financial Weekly in l970s - active in
Harvard alumni - wrote Barretts in l970s. - Third from right George Carl
Adams - another active correspondent l970s. Fifth from right is attorney Dan
Lyne, who walked to school with Jack Barrett and Edward Illingworth from
South Boston - his son Dan Lyne was a classmate of Jack Barrett at Boston
College Law School 1949-1951. Second row fifth from left William Angus
Corley Annapolis graduate and career Naval officer- second from Right Dr.
Austin Cheever, who settled in Hawaii.Third row sixth from right David Niles
[originally Neyhus] who achieved diplomatic recognition for Israel 1947
fifth from right "Red Headed Stepchild" John Berchmans Barrett 1888-1969.
Back row fifth from right John Carroll Poland junior who grew up in West
Roxbury, founded West Roxbury Historical Society l931 and Braintree
Historical Society - he was l906 Boston Latin Class Secretary - left
extensive notes -his wife Lucile was a cousin of West Roxbury Branch
Librarian Pauline Walker. The Polands moved l954 from Temple St. West
Roxbury to l9 Trim Street, Camden Maine, wheere the Barretts visited them
l963 and l968. Mrs. Poland donated the original of this photo to the
Barretts after her husband died March 28, l969. She lived to age ninety four
or more, returning to her native Ossippee, New Hampshire. In Chapter below,
there is identification numbering keyed to this photo- ------ B-O-S-T-O-N
__L-A-T-I-N Jack Boston Latin story- Ancient History exam question:"Tell all
you know about the Emperor Caligula" {a highly depraved character}.Student
received passing grade for reply, "The less said about Caligula the better."
E_D_W_A_R_D _E_V_E_R_E_T_T _H_A_L_E When Jack was a student at Boston Latin,
he heard Edward Everett Hale,(1822-l909) 1835 alumnus who frequently spoke
to the students and was active in alumni.Hale is principally remembered
today for his short story "The Man Without a Country", which reflects
patriotic feelings of the era just before the Civil War, comparable to Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow's stirring "Sail on O ship of State - Sail on O nation
strong and great" or Walter Scott's "Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who never to himself has said, 'This is my own, native land?'" Edward
Everett Hale was a grandnephew of Revolution hero Nathan Hale.In later years
he was appointed Chaplain of the United States Senate in a period of
corruption and muck-racking. He comically remarked,"I looked at the
Senators, and I prayed for the country."Jack quoted this a number of times.
In 1635 Reverend John Cotton wanted to establish in the new world a school
like the Free Grammar School of Boston, England, in which Latin and Greek
were taught.The first school was in the home of the master.Boston assigned
the rents of Deer, Long, and Spectacle Islands in the Harbor to suport of
the school. Jack had the tercentennary history 1935 by Pauline Holmes
published by Harvard School of Education. Dr. Moses Merrill, who was
principal retiring 1901, reorganized the curriculum on a modern basis, after
which there were few changes. When Jack entered in 1902, Arthur Irving Fiske
became principal. He taught Latin- was courteous, scholarly, gentlemanly,
but developed health problems, retired and died in 1910 while Jack's brother
Bill was enrolled. His successor was Henry Pennypacker, who was an excellent
athlete, taught Greek, and later was Harvard Dean of Admissions.He was
succeeded by Patrick Thomas Campbell in 1920. Jack took Greek with
Pennypacker, Latin with Fiske, French with William Pride Henderson, History
- his best subject gradewise with Selah Howell,[who lived on Kirk Street,
West Roxbury]and English with Byron Groce.He took math with Pat Campbell and
later consulted principal Campbell in connection with transcripts of his
grades for Navy and job applications.Campbell was elected Superintendant of
Boston Public Schools in 1931. Of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration
of Independence five were Boston Latin School boys - John Hancock,Samuel
Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Treat Paine, William Hooper.Originally the
school was on the north side of School Street, until 1784,when a new
schoolhouse was built on Bedford Street. In 1881 the School moved to Warren
Avenue,where Jack attended for four years from 1902 to 1906.Boston English
High School and Girls Latin were nearby. In 1922 the Latin School moved to a
new building on Avenue Louis Pasteur in the Fenway.Admission requires an
examination in mathematics and English.Courses offered were English, Latin,
Greek, French, German, History, Mathematics,Physics, Chemistry, Biology,
General Music, Art, Physical Education,Health Education, Declamation.
Declamation has been offered since the foundation of the Latin School. Jack
kept many copies of the student-written Boston Latin School magazine
"Register." Jack was especially fond of Caesar's "Gallic Wars" and Duruy's
World History - originally 1848 French translated and updated 1898 by
Professor Grosvenor of Amherst College.Jack was admitted to Harvard College
1906 based on the special Harvard exam used at that date. He attended a few
classes but found he could not afford the two hundred dollars tuition.He
would have been a classmate of T.S. Eliot, John Reed,Dan Lyne, Edward
Illingworth. Latin prose composition was stressed- Jack remembered and
quoted an example "Quos dii ruant, infurant" - based on the Greek of
Sophocles' play "Antigone"- "Those whom the gods would destroy, they first
drive mad." T_H_O_M_A_S__ C_R_A_V_E_N_ On March 30, l97l Mr. Thomas D.
Craven, Secretary of the Boston Latin School Association supplied us with
the names and addresses of the surviving members of Jack's class of l906.He
listed George C.Adams,Dr. Augustus Cheever,Samuel B. Finkel, Dr. Emilio
Goggio, Dr.Irving W. Jacobs, and Gardner Murphy, junior, among the ten
surviving members of the class.Although he gave ten names and addresses of
l906 members, we found only the named six alive. We wrote letters to the ten
Mr. Craven named and had replies indicating that only six survived.
F_R_E_D_E_R_I_C_K__ B. _W_I_L_L_I_A_M_S Mr. Frederick B. Williams of
Roslindale and Needham had suggested we contact Mr. Craven.G_E_O_R_G_E __A_D_A_M_S
George Carl Adams replied on March 10, l97l, "Dear Mrs. Barrett,So pleased
to hear from you this morning.I am not sure if I can be of much help.Of
course I knew John but not very well and I don't recall even having Bill
Corley called "Stubby". I know Gardner Murphy very well indeed but the other
boys not so well.You were very kind to send me so much information.It was
very interesting. I hope you can get in touch with some of the boys who knew
Jack very well and can give you the information you want.Write again and
tell me how you get on.-George Carl Adams.(Milford, Connecticut)" Our letter
to Joseph Merrill was answered from New York City on March 7, l97l by his
son Arthur Merrill telling us his father had died on May 7, l970 at age
eighty-one.He promised to get in touch with us if he came across anything of
interest about the Boston Latin School experiences of his father, but we
heard no more from him.We wrote several times to Dr.Austin Cheever of
Honolulu and did not get a reply although friends told us he was alive but
not in good health.He was a skin specialist. Dr. Emilio Goggio of California
wrote twice but contributed no detailed information about his school years.
He was a linguist graduated from Harvard in l909.A second letter from George
Adams March 17, l97l "Henry Pennypacker was my favorite teacher.He taught
Greek. He was later made headmaster. A wonderful man.We all got honors in
Greek on entrance Exams at Dartmouth and Harvard." State Senator S_A_M_U_E_L
__F_I_N_K_E_L On March 20, l97l the Honorable Samuel B. Finkel wrote from
North Hollywood, California,"I feel badly that I am unable to furnish you
with the information you would like concerning certain members of the Class
of l906.About the only ones I remember strictly from my Latin School days
are Fred Wilmot and John Poland- my closest friend following our Latin
School days.The following I remember from later contacts in one way or
another- Dan Lyne, Austin Cheever,Dave Niles, Henry Schnittkind and a few
others whom I would meet casually.To my regret none of the others "rang a
bell"- Goode, Goggio,.Jacobs, McCarthy.There is a deeply rooted Latin School
tradition in my family.My two brothers went to Latin School-both of them
distinguished themselves scholastically and in other ways.My only son was a
member of the class of l934 or perhaps l933. There was a specially close
relationship between him and William Pride Henderson. If without too much
trouble a Xerox copy of the 1906 class dinner picture could be sent to me, I
would appreciate it very much and would be glad to pay for whatever expense
is involved. Do you have any idea of how many of the class are still
living?Are Gardner Murphy and I the only ones? Don't hesitate to write
again." (Note-William Pride Henderson lived in West Roxbury in later years,
and Jack saw him when we moved there in l947.) D_A_N & G_E_N_E __L_Y_N_E On
March 26,l97l Gene Lyne, son of Jack's close friend Dan Lyne sent a note
enclosing the photostat copy of a few pages his father had written about the
Latin School. Jack and Dan Lyne and Ed Illingworth of South Boston walked to
the Latin School on Warren Avenue across the Fourth Street bridge, passing a
Lithuanian church on West Fifth near B Street on the way. E_D_W_A_R_D__
I_L_L_I_N_G_W_O_R_T_H Illingworth studied in Europe with composer Ferruchio
Busoni, moved to West Roxbury n Woirld War I era, and taught music in Boston
Public Schools and played a church organ near the West Roxbury Parkway on
Sundays.Dan Lyne's paper is entitled, "Preparatory School." "Boston Latin
School was my preparatory school. I was a student there from l902 to l906.It
is the oldest public school in the United States.The Boston Transcript
described it as 'the school that dandled Harvard College on its knee.'I
believe Harvard College was founded so that graduates of Boston Latin might
have an institution near at hand in which to continue their studies.Ten per
cent of the signers of the Declaration of Independence had been students at
Boston Latin School.It was a long distance from my house to the school, but
I rode it on the street car only twice- all other days I walked it over
Dover Street bridge regardless of the weather, for the fare of five cents
was worth saving, and I was never absent or late during the four years.I
received more real education at the Boston Latin School than in any other
place including Harvard and Harvard Law School.I was president of the Boston
Latin School Association from 1941 to 1944.This year I have been asked to
serve as judge at the school's annual prize declamation,for I am a member of
the class which is fifty years out this year. I had graduated from grammar
school before entering so I did not take the regular six year course.Boys so
entering were known as 'out of course' students and were expected to get
back into course at the end of their first or second year.I have never
forgotten my first home lesson at Boston Latin School, memorizing
declination of 'mensa'.I walked around and around a table at home and very
seriously considered transferring to some other school.Each class had a
'home room teacher'.In the third class my home room teacher was Mr. Norton,
in the second Mr. Rulandon, and in the First Mr. Chadwick ('Chad').I regret
to have to record that in each of my four years I received more 'misdemeanor'marks
than did any other boy in my class.Under the rules of the school this
disqualified me from receiving any prizes or holding any commission in the
school regiment.In my last year Mr. Fiske('Pa") the headmaster called me out
from my room to the corridor and said to me,'Lyne, at the teachers' meeting
last night it appeared you had enough misdemeanor marks to warrant a
censure.You are color sergeant of the regiment, and I want you to carry the
flag at the exercises next week,so I vetoed the censure. I did this because
I feel you have an unusually well-rounded mind- most good students are
excellent in language but only mediocre in mathematics,but you have been
outstanding in both languages and mathematics,although your past censures
have prevented your getting any prizes.'he next day Mr.Henderson our French
teacher,called at me,'Lyne,one misdemeanor mark! -and I'm tempted to take
you down to the gym and give you a lesson!' I replied, 'I'm ready and
willing to go to the gym with you at any time.' Henderson:'Two misdemeanor
marks!' Lyne 'Go to hell! 'Henderson,'You're censored.'So I did not carry
the flag at the exercises the next week, but I have always loved 'Pa" Fiske
for his kindness in trying to make it possible for me to do so. 'Pat
Campbell succeeded Mr. Pennypacker- who had succeeded 'Pa' Fiske as head
master at Boston Latin School-told me this story, 'Dan, I'm having a hard
time keeping the boys up to the school's old standards of education. I was
upbraiding one of them recently, and he said to me, "Mr. Campbell, I don't
see why I should study any harder. It took Joe Kennedy seven years to get
through Latin School,and look how well he has done."'"Dan Lyne's father was
blind and peddled brooms in South Boston, where they lived at D and Third
Streets across from Jack's cousins the Hartigans and Donovans.Dan became a
district attorney in the early l920's, then went into law practice, and
handled Jack's inheritance in l926 of three thousand dollars from his aunt
Kate in San Francisco. Dan married Sue O'Brien of Dorchester and had five
children and many granchildren. Their sons Eugene and Kerry Lyne became
lawyers.Dan recommended John for Roxbury Latin School l947 and Jack for
Boston College Law School l949. G_A_R_D_N_E_R __M_U_R_P_H_Y_On April 11,l971
Mr. Gardner Murphy junior of Cambridge Massachusetts wrote"THANK YOU FOR THE
NEWS OF SOME OF THE 1906 MEN WHO HAVE MOVED AWAY AND IN SOME CASES PICKED
OUT CALIFORNIA to settle. I have learned more about the class in the last
few months than in all the years since graduation."He identified forty-six
classmates in the official l906 photo for us. He was in investments and
resided many years in Buffalo, New York, then retiring in Cambridge,
Massachusetts where we located him and John visited his apartment. Captain
USN I_R_V_I_N_G__ J_A_C_O_B_S On April 13, l97l we received a letter from
Dr. Irving W. Jacobs of Tustin California "This will acknowledge your
letters of March 8 and April 7, l97l. As my eyes have not been good for the
past several months,this letter will be a short one.It was nice to hear of
events and friends of your husband.He was a good friend in the Boston Latin
Class of l906. He visited me aboard the Hospital ship RELIEF while in
Guantanamo Bay. As we both did not speak Spanish,we had a difficult time
communicating with the Cuban people. We had studied too much Latin and Greek
while in Boston Latin School.Lieutenant Commander Corley a Naval Academy
graduate was treated [CHECK MANUSCRIPT] by me about that time. We spoke of
Boston Latin graduates- your husband was mentioned at that time. I do
remember other Boston Latin l906 classmates such as Dan Lyne - later a
lawyer in Boston - Sheehan - Captain of the baseball team and the Poland
boys, Buckley, Ney, Neyhus (Niles) Finkel, Schnittkind (Henry Thomas), who
wrote the words of the class song"The boys of 'six' do all kinds of tricks"-
it was my pleasure to have written the music.Some professors at Boston Latin
at that time were Dr. Irving Fiske, principal, Pennypacker professor of
Greek, Henderson professor of French and Greek. -Stuffy Groce - professsor
of English - a true sadist.He said to Ney,"Your mark in English this month
is 15 - last month it was 20."Sorry but I cannot remember much more and must
close" -Dr. Irving W. Jacobs, career opthalmologist, U.S. Navy. F_I_N_K_E_L
(2) On April 23, l97l the Honorable Samuel Finkel wrote again from North
Hollywood,California "You will be glad to know that I called Dr. Jacobs on
the phone and had a pleasant talk with him during which we reminisced about
our Boston Latin School teachers and classmates. Both of us agree you
deserve a gold medal for trying to bring the surviving members of the class
to the attention of each other.I explained to Jacobs that I have allowed my
driver's license to lapse and so could not make the trip to Tustin,which is
about fifty miles from here.Fortunately, Jacobs's wife can drive.I invited
both of them to visit us in Los Angeles.I look forward to their visit.
Schnittkind -He was an author-his pen name was HENRY THOMAS- he had a son
who collaborated with him and later succeeded him either under the same name
or a different one. Their publisher was Doubleday New York city. A letter to
them will get you the information you want.If and when you get it,I would
appreciate your letting me know what you have learned about him. D_A_V_I_D__
N_I_L_E_S- Niles You can get full information about him through Ford Hall
Forum attention Judge Reuben Lurie Superior Court and -or Louis P.Smith.In
my opinion Niles became the outstanding member of our class.His office was
in the White House during the administrations of Truman and Franklin
Roosevelt. He wielded tremendous power both in the White House and Congress.
(Note Niles was an advisor expecially on labor matters and played a crucial
role in President Truman's prompt diplomatic recognition of Israel and
integration of black African Americans in United States Armed Services.
Presidential speech-writer Clark Clifford supported the efforts of Niles,
and President Truman overruled Secretary of State George Marshall, who
threatened to resign but withdrew the threat after Truman's decision).
Wilmot-He does not appear in the class picture [actually he does] but he
certainly was a member of our class.He won the first prize in Declamation
while still in the Second Class.He later became a professional actor then an
advanced Universalist Minister and later religious editor of a well known
newspaper in Providence Rhode Island.Groce the English teacher:[gap?] In a
later letter which I hope my failing eyesight will not prevent me from
writing, I shall use some of your comments and those of John as cues for
some observations of my own."-Samuel Finkel.On May 24, l97l the Honorable
Sam Finkel wrote again from North Hollywood,"In accordance with an exchange
of letters and telephone calls between Dr. Irving Jacobs and myself Saturday
May 22nd was fixed as the date for our reunion in his home.In every way the
visit came off very well.It was not only a memorable occasion- but a
pleasant one as well. The highlight of the visit was the class
picture.Jacobs had never seen it before nor did he remember the occasion (a
class dinner in l908). Mrs. Jacobs was not able to identify her husband nor
me.I am writing Jacobs that his class song collaboarator [Henry
Thomas]passed away.Incidentally he played the song, and we both sang it
together.I know David Niles was never married. Sam Finkel."= J_O_H_N &
L_U_C_I_L_E__ P_O_L_A_N_D For a number of years Jack had received attractive
photo Christmas cards from his classmate John Poland, who had moved from
West Roxbury to Camden, Maine in 1954. These cards motivated us to resume
our habit of annual Christmas photos, as in Jack's active Navy years.On
August l6, l963 Jack John and I visited Mr. and Mrs. John Carroll Poland
junior at their home at 10 Trim Street in Camden Maine. We were reurning
from a week's holiday touring Montpelier, Vermont,Lake Champlain, Roux's
Point New York, Montreal Three Rivers, Quebec City, the Beauce Valley,
Jackman. Maine.John Poland had attended Harvard college class of 1911 and
divinity school and was very active as l906 Boston Latin class secretary,
organizing reunions, round robin letters,and an extensive newsletter and
questionnaire for the l935 school tercentennary.He also was founder of the
West Roxbury Historical Society in l93l, having grown up on Temple
Street.His father and uncle had developed a brand of washing machines.He
moved to Maine in l954. His wife Lucile was a first cousin of West Roxbury
Branch Public Librarian Pauline Walker, who helped Jack a great deal in
1950s and 1960s. Jack and John visited the Polands in Camden again in May
l968 and shortly thereafter joined the West Roxbury Historical Society, in
which we were active many years. John Poland died the same day as President
Dwight Eisenhower, March 28, l969. Lucile lived to age 94, corresponded with
the Barretts and West Roxbury Historical Society to 1988 or later, and went
to a retirement home in Ossippee, New Hampshire, where she grew up.] Sophie
Barrett notes: In June,l97l John Barrett went to Camden by bus to visit Mrs
Poland, who gave him the l906 Boston Latin class photo and a big box of
Boston Latin materials and items for the West Roxbury Historical Society,
including John Poland's notes on early settlers in the Baker Street area
near Brook Farm, beginning around l690, originally in Newton but annexed to
Roxbury and Boston.On this trip John Barrett also saw Captain and Mrs.
Haskell Todd in Belfast, Maine, where they discussed discussed the 1938-1939
voyages of the tanker TRINITY. Mrs. Poland drove John to Mount Megunticook
where Edna St. Vincent Millay had the idea for her best-known poem. On May
23, 1971 Lucile Poland, wife of Jack's Boston Latin School classmate wrote
to John from Camden, Maine: "Dear John, Thank you very much for the
photograph of the Boston Latin School class including my John when he was a
youth. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in having the picture copied for me,
and I hope you will overlook my negligence in not thanking you sooner. I do
not know any of John's Latin School classmates. I met Dan Lyne once and your
father when you three called on us here in our home. [When John was a guest
at Mrs. Poland's home in Camden one month after receiving this letter -
June, 1971- Mrs. Poland told him that she had gone to Hawaii to visit Doctor
and Mrs. Austin Cheever. He was a 1906 classmate of John Poland at Boston
Latin School. Maybe she didn't realize he was a BLS classmate - thought of
him only as an old Boston friend.] I have heard John speak of several of the
others, so their names are familiar to me. You may be interested in having
this late class reunion picture. I wonder if your father is in this picture.
John is seated directly back of #10. I do not wish to have the picture
returned.What a pity that John and I have no sons and daughters to cherish
some of our intimate belongings. We found each other too late. When we were
maried in 1944, I was forty-nine, and John was fifty-eight. At that time I
suggested we adopt a litte boy or a girl or both, but John said, "No, we are
too old, - it wouldn't be fair to the children", and we have done many
things to help other people's children. In so doing, we have derived much
pleasure and satisfaction. = I do have many friends here in Camden. My roots
are firmly planted here, and I should hesitate to leave the house where John
and I spent the happiest years of our life. The house is big, but I love it.
I was glad to hear of the activities of the West Roxbury Historical Society.
[Jack Barrett was a member of this Society]. [Sophie later joined]. = One
reason for my delay in thanking you was that I wished to go to the attic to
look among John's things for Latin School memorabilia. I found a box marked
"Boston Latin School" containing papers and photographs.One large class
picture mounted on cardboard. Your father's class picture is in the group,
and I think there are three or four of the teachers. [John brought this
picture home and had reproductions made for the six surviving classmates as
John Poland had named everyboy in the photograph]. = "Now then you offered
your help, and I am going to accept your offer. My thought is this: Maybe
you could ask some friend to take a drive with you some pleasant day this
early summer, = drive to Camden, and pick up these things. I have a guest
room with a big double bed if you wiah to stay overnight." = [John went to
visit Mrs. Poland and returned with a big box of Boston Latin memorabilia.]
= From the Boston Globe Librarian I learned on June 9, 1971 that David K.
Niles [Neyhus] died on September 28,1952. The Globe carred the obituary on
September 29, 1952 in the A.M. edition. It was on the front page. John made
a copy at the Boston Public Library, where the paper, going back to 1872 is
on microfilm. = John Barrett had a very enjoyable June, 1971 visit in Camden
and also in Belfast, Maine saw Captain and Mrs. Haskell C. Todd , who
reminisced about the voyages of the tanker TRINITY to the Philippines, Dutch
Indies, Dutch Harbor, and Japan. Mrs. Poland showed him the mountain where
Edna St. Vincent Millay wrote one of her best known poems, and gave much
material both on Boston Latin School and West Roxbury. The founding of the
West Roxbury Historical Society was his idea in 1931, though Harold Arnold,
minister of Theodore Parker Church became the first president. John Poland
had a great interest in a 1767 School House on Centre St., the old post road
traveled by George Washington and his troops in 1775. He also made extensive
notes on early families of 1690-1800 near John Eliot Pulpit Rock the later
site of Brook Farm. A tradition came down through these families and their
descendants to the farmer who sold the Brook Farm site to George Ripley and
took back a mortgage autumn 1841. .. Samuel Finkel wrote that he got into
Massachusetts politics at an early age and was the youngest elected member
of the State Senate in history. 1906 PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS: l906 photo [left
to right in each row, beginning at back] BACK ROW 1.Arthur Timothy Good 2
Winthrop Snow Ney 3. Pierpont MCloskey Cowan 4 George Francis McCarthy 5
John Carroll Poland junior 6 Francis J. Fallon 7 Emilio Goggio 8 Earnest
Rudolph Wonemuth,junior? 9 Michael Sisonsky TEACHERS SECOND FROM BACK 10
William Foster Rice, teacher Joseph Webber Chadwick teacher, William Pride
Henderson French teacher Henry Pennypacker,Greek teacher. THIRD ROW FROM
BACK 14 John Patrick Buckley l5 John Edward Mahoney l6 Samuel Krensky
(dentist) 17 Charles Jacales Gale l8 Royal Norton Hallowell l9 Joseph Daniel
Donovan 20 David Kahn Neyhus [name changed later to DAVID NILES, who advised
President Truman on integration of African Amercians in United States Armed
Forces and diplomatic recognition of Israel] 21 John Berchmans Barrett 22
Albert Hussey 23 Irving W. Jacobs 24 James Humphrey 25 Joseph R. Sheehan
FOURTH ROW FROM BACK [second front Front]26 Louis Walter Hickey 27 James
Joseph Goode 28 Averille Daily Carlisle 29 Joseph John Mahoney 30 William
Angus Corley 31 Cornelius Francis Regan 32 Percy Anthony Broderick 33 John
Timothy Reardon 34 Edward Victor Hickey (son a banker?) 35 Richard Dobbyn 36
Austin Walter Cheever 37 Bernard Wolf FRONT ROW 38 Stanley W. Moulton 39
Samuel Benjamin Finkel 40 Francis Stephen Killilea 41 John Michael Spillane
42 Charles Edward Vincent Mansfield 43 Joseph Leo Merrill 44 Joseph Warren
Doherty 45 Daniel Joseph Lyne 46 Gardner Murphy second 47 George Carl Adams
48 Henry Joseph Conroy 49 Henry Thomas Schnittkind. Not in picture Edward P.
Illingworth,Chrles Nathan Woyzenski. In a letter from Samuel Finkel dated
July 4, l97l he says, "In the picture you sent I was glad to be reminded of
Sisonsky (#9) He was the essence of gentility humility and dignity of
demeanor.He graduated from the Harvard medical School and became a
successful doctor in Boston.Unhappily he died much too young.He worked his
way through school as an usher at the Colonial Theater.Reverently I bow my
head in his memory.Thanks a million for sending me the class pucture.It both
gladdened me and saddened me. May your trip to Ireland be both pleasurable
and fruitful. Regards to your mother-Sam Finkel" Mr. Finkel refers to a l908
photo at a l906 class reunion dinner which about eigheen attended including
Jack Barrett.[This photo was stolen l993, but a photocopy survives.] Boston
Latin later turned to one big reunion of all classes, but in the early
l900's classes had individual dinners. We still have a copy of the official
l906 senior class picture, from the Poland collection. A_N_N J_A_C_O_B_S -On
September 14, l971 Mrs. Ann Jacobs wife of Irving W. Jacobs wrote from
Tustin, California,"Dr. Jacobs and I would like to thank you for bringing
two old Boston Latin School classmates together after sixty-five years. Mr.
Finkel and his wife paid us a visit along with his son in June. We found
them to be a lovely couple.(go to p. 445A)and enjoyed their vist very much.
Dr. Jacobs and Mr. Finkel had a wonderful time talking over old times, and
it was amazing how well they could remember events after such a long time.
Mr. Finkel's wife Dora is a delightful person and we all love her. Last
Saturday we paid a return visit at their son Larry's home. They too are
lovely people and we had a very enjoyable visit. We are looking forward to a
pleasant and lasting friendship, thanks to you. We also wish to thank you
for the pictures you sent.Dr Jacobs could remember quite a few of them and
little incidents connected with them. He regrets not being able to give you
more help in your search for more acquaintances of your late husband. Mr.
Finkel told us there are six living of the classmates.We have been married
for eleven years. Thank you again for bringing the Finkels and the Jacobs'
together " - Mrs. Irving Jacobs D_A_N_A Lee T_H_O_M_A_S & H_E_N_R_Y
T_H_O_M_A_S Niles,Dana Thomas-Boston Latin-1906- Dana Thomas,David Niles- On
June 9, l97l Dana L. Thomas, son of Henry Thomas originally named
Schnittkind, wrote from New York City: My father was indeed a member of the
Class of l906 at Boston Latin School, knew Senator Finkel,and possibly some
of the others you have mentioned in your letter.He always spoke to me with
great affection about those years in school and to the end re-lived the
happy memories of those days. I was born and brought up in Boston and while
I have not been living there for thirty years, I have warm, fond feelings
for it.Recently my son Peter was graduated from Harvard, the third of his
family to go there.He graduated magna cum laude and Phil Beta Kappa and in
visiting him during his student years I had occasion to return to Boston and
Cambridge and retrace some of my own years while visiting him. My father's
family name was originally Levon.The Levons came from Russia.My father's
oldest brother was the first to emigate to the United States at the turn of
the century, and he adopted the name Schnittkind- I don't know why.My father
began writing in the early l920's using his first two names given at birth-
Henry Thomas- and after having written over twenty books he made Thomas the
legal family name.Born in poverty my father made a brilliant record at Latin
School,graduating with one of the highest academic records awarded a
student.He became the protege as a student of one of his Boston Latin
teachers, Mr. Charles Capen,[longtime Dedham resident] a gentleman in his
eighties who wanted to adopt my father as a son so that he could give him
the opportunities that my father's parents were unable to provide.But his
parents were unwilling to give my father up.My father went to Harvard on
scholarships, walking from Boston to Cambridge to save the fare- he
graduated in three years after winning numerous honors.He graduated in the
famous class of l9l0 which included Walter Lippman, T.S Eliot, Heyward Broun
and many others.My father received his Ph.d in the Classics in, I believe,
l9l4.This is merely a thumbnail sketch, I realize, but I will be happy to
fill you in with anything else you might want to know that I can recall
personally or have been told about.In the methew best of luck in your
biography and I hope it will come to a happy fruition. Best regards, Dana L.
Thomas." Information about Henry Schnittkind, who wrote as Henry Thomas AB,
MA and Ph.D was educated at Boston Latin School l906 and Harvard l9l0.
Although he has been editor of the Stratford magazine, President of the
Stratford Book Company,a teacher at Boston University and Headmaster at
Fairfax Preparatory School most of his life has been devoted to writing.Dr.
Thomas hasbeen author or co-author of more than forty books including "The
Living World of Philosophy" "The Complete Book of English" and "Living
Biographies of Great Philosophers." Doubleday sent us his
book,"Understanding the Great Philosophers."- He also wrote "Mathematics
Made Easy" "Science Subjects made Easy" "Stories of the Great Dramas and
Their Authors"- "The Story of the United States" "The Story of Knowledge"
"The Story of the Human Race" "The Wonder Book" "The Poets of the Future"
and co-authored with Dana Lee Thomas (his son) "Living Biographies of
Religious Leaders" "Great Scientists" "Famous Rulers" "American Statesmen"
"Famous Men" "Great Composers" "Great Poets" "Great Painters" "Famous
Americans" "Famous Novelists" "Famous Women". David Niles of Class of l906
(originally surname was Neyhus). See copy of New York times obituary which
John reproduced at the Library. In l936 James Roosevelt and Harry Hopkins
invited David Niles to Washington from Boston.In l94l or l942 he became a
resident assistant to the President at the White House.He retired in 1951
after serving Presidents Roosevelt and Truman. He was bitterly attacked by
anti-Israel factions as reported in New York Times story May 5, l948. Active
member of Ford Hall Forum in Boston, Never attended college. President
Sachar of Brandeis was an authority on Niles, and Brandeis University has an
archive on him." Sam Krensky of the 1906 class became a dentist, and Jack
Barrett often talked with him and his wife in South Brookline. Boston Latin
graduates 1909 Coleman Silbert attorney 1910 James Bowe MOLONEY of South
Boston Lincoln School HARVARD 1914 HARVARD MEDICAL 1917 career Naval officer
1917-1950 Captain USN was at Battle of Midway on NORTHAMPTON, where he
frequently saw the great Admiral Raymond Spruance. Dr. Moloney recollected
that Joseph P. Kennedy of 1908 class was his unit's outstanding drill
commander during the Boston Latin military training program.BOSTON LATIN
1912 William Joseph Barrett, Secretary of Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company after 39 year career in Policyholders Service Bureau and developing
group health plans MIT 1916, U.S. Army officer World War I. John Vaccaro
Harvard college 1916 & law school 1919 attorney & conveyancer. Archibald
Dresser appraiser. F_R_E_D_E_R_I_C_K__GILLIS & family: Frederick Gillis
teacher, especially business and economics, Boston College and Boston
Superintendant of Schools. Fred Gillis and his grandson participated in
March,1985 West Roxbury Historical Society program saluting 350 anniversary
of school, along with head master Contompasis, Sophie and John Barrett, who
organized the program, Frank Molloy, Miss Gretch, and many Boston Latin
alumni and their families. Representatives of Boston Latin and Latin Academy
now both coeducational participated. Dorchester attorney Karen McNutt
reviewed history and traditions of former Girls' Public Latin School and
present coeducational Latin Academy. She is active in alumnae- i. Fred
Gillis wrote books for his granddaughter while her father was in Vietnam in
miitary service. Many West Roxbury residents have had Boston Latin ties, and
information on them will be appreciated. Alumni include former
Vice-Principal Albert van Steenbergen, James F. Sullivan, senior, tax expert
George McLaughlin, Frank Crosson, Richard Whiting Bonney photographer of
West Roxbury Historical Society, Edward Mulvanity, James Gibbons, Thomas
Hegarty, attorneys William White and William Looney, and Girls Latin alumnae
Beatrice Dunham, Dorothy Collins Sullivan and her daughter Dorothy Sullivan
Ryan.. Boston Latin principal Wilfred O'Leary and his wife, though Jamaica
Plain residents, were members of the West Roxbury Historical Society many
years, and he was president in 1982. He was also principal of Roslindale
High School. Jack Barrett while at Boston Latin 1905 dated Helen Cochrane of
East Fourth Street, South Boston. She was a friend and neighbor of Mollie
Manning Curtaz and Anna Manning, who became longtime residents on Linnet
Street West Roxbury.. [from Notebook 4 p 61] "To Lieutenant Commander John
B. Barrett c/o Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -[from]
378 Columbia Road, Dorchester Massachusetts April 8, 1937 Dear Jack, I am
sure you will be very much surprised to hear from me, and I hope not angry
at me for writing. My mother has just passed away, and so I have been trying
to straighten things out here. = While going through some boxes today, I
found all the many pleasant letters you had written as far back as 1910 (my
- I'm old). Mother had them all neatly tied and marked, and after reading
some of them, I thought I would just drop you a line. = Trust you have been
well and happy all these years. Sometime would like so much to say "Hello"
if you ever happen to be in this locality. = With kindest regards and
pleasant memories of a past friendship, I am - Sincerely, Helen P.
Cochrane." . Harvard -Arnold Arboretum botanist Bernice Schubert long editor
of Arnold Arboretum Journal specialist on legumes and Dioscoraceae and
distinguished photographer who worked with botanist Fernald at Harvard
herbaria attended Girls Public Latin and recalls that one of her classmates
Sylvia Rehder Wetherell of Jamaica Plain was the daughter of dendrologist
Alfred Rehder. There were only forty-seven students in the class of 1906
with Jack Barrett, but demand for quality education led to rapid growth
before the time when Bill Barrett was in class of 1912, and in the early
1950s, average Harvard College freshman classes had more than eighty Boston
Latin graduates. Readers of Pauline Holmes's 1935 history published by the
Harvard School of Education should note the remarkable satiric poem "The
Grammarian's Funeral" by Benjamin Thompson the Boston Latin schoolmaster
about 1703. Jack Barrett his junior year had a better grade in French than
in Greek but nevertheless was encouraged to continue Greek with the famous
Henry Pennypacker, and resumed his French at Revenue Cutter School and
practiced the language on ITASCA cruises in France 1909-11 and again on
MARBLEHEAD 1924 and touring Europe with Sophie 1932. Many Boston Latin
alumni recollected a curious cheer "Red nose, Stuffy nose, Sis-Boom-Bah!"
concerning the English teacher Bryon "Stuffy Groce". I do not know
circumstances of its composition, but it remained popular with a generation
of alumni. Dr. James B. Moloney class of 1910 was active in Alcohol
treatment and bloodbank after his 1950 Navy retirement and lived at Harvard
Club of Boston many decades, then at Soldiers Home Chelsea until September
1980 after surgery for aortic aneurysm. He loved the Lawrence Welk musical
television broadcasts. He liked to quote the inscription on Emerson Hall in
Harvard yard - originally from Bible apparently a favorite of Ralph Waldo
Emerson: "What is Man the Thou are Mindful of him?" He recollected that when
his Harvard 1914 classmates had their 1939 twenty-fifth reunion in the
outdoor Tercentennary Theatre in front of Widener Library, his classmate
James Bryan Conant was University president and classmate Leverett
Saltonstall was Massachusetts governor - later senator. Doctor Moloney had a
favorite limerick: "There once were two cats in Kilkenny. Each thought 'twas
one cat too many. They fought and they fit. They scratched, and they bit.
Until instead of two cats there weren't any." His niece Mrs. Ellen Peebles
of Reston, Virginia, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Albert Moloney of West Roxbury
and Falmouth added by E mail August 18, 2000, "When my Uncle Jim died my dad
found an envelope from Boston Latin with 5 [five] five dollar gold pieces in
it..Jim had won 25 dollars for an essay he wrote, and they gave it to him in
$5.00 gold pieces. My 2 [two] sisters and I each received one which I had
made into a piece of jewelry which I wear around my neck quite
frequently...I think the date on them is 1908..Needless to say each one is
worth considerably more than five dollars now! It's a great reminder of
Uncle Jim!" - Ellen Peebles |