GERTRUDE BUCK
1871 - 1922
The recent death of Gertrude Buck is felt by the
Faculty as a vital loss. A distinguishing trait
in her character, influencing and co-ordinating all
her activities, was an unusual union of the instinct
for intellectual experimentation with spiritual
steadfastness and courageousness - a union which
rendered whatever her critical spirit deemed worthy
of keeping not an ephemeral but a permanent posses-
sion. All fields of modern thought and life - scien-
tific, philosophical, religious, social, aesthetic -
interested her and from them she gleaned harvests
of suggestion which, in due time, perpetuated them-
selves in modification of her teaching material and
method. This sensitiveness to stimulus resulted, how-
ever, in far more than eager assimilation of ideas.
It was joined with a constructive power of which
conspicuous results may be seen in the growth under
her initiative and fosterage of a flourishing Com-
munity theatre in Poughkeepsie, in the present trend
of the writing courses in Vassar College, and in the
series of books in which she has embodied her educa-
tional method and theory.
In the more purely aesthetic fields of literature
Miss Buck did much experimentation, publishing from
time to time a poem or a play, but, because of her
crowded life, leaving unfinished others whose merit
is known only to those to whom she turned, from time
to time, for suggestion and criticism. In connection
with The Comunit Theatre it may be said that its
whole atmosphere bears witness to a distinguishing
social attribute of its founder - a certain quiet,
disinterested, impersonal friendliness of spirit
springing from the same root of genuine humanity out
of which grew her more intimate personal relation-
ships - lasting memories to her closer friends.
It is moved that this recognition of her services to
the community and to the College be engrossed in the
Minutes of the Faculty and that copies thereof be
presented by the Secretary to Miss Buck's family and
to Miss Wylie.
Christabel F. Fiske
VII - 179-180