Susie Anderson
Staff Writer
On Sunday night, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle Class of 2025, named “The Connection Seekers,” processed from the Literary Arts Center at Alumni Hall to the Hall of Philosophy to the tune of Coldplay’s “Yellow,” shrouded in darkness except for the light of candles. After forging camaraderie among themselves as a class on Sunday, by the end of the Recognition Day ceremonies today, they will transform into CLSC alumni, establishing connections stretching back to
a 147-year history of literary tradition.
After a morning filled with faith and song in the Baccalaureate during morning worship and the Sacred Song Service, the Vigil Ceremony brought the 100-member class to a quieter contemplation of the week ahead. CLSC Class of 2025 Co-Presidents Nieve Kelly and Susan Turnquist highlighted the connections that tie class members to one another: a shared love of books, an affection for Chautauqua and a desire to graduate into a storied literary community.
The ceremony included a reading of Meghri Sarkassian’s “Ode to Aspen Tree” and Joe Cole’s “The Tranquil Place,” a musical interlude of “Rainbow Connection” and an address from the class honoree, local artist Kirsten Engstrom. From the Baptist House to the Hall of Missions, Engstrom’s statues are themselves fixtures of Chautauqua as they grace the lawns of a number of denominational houses. From the Hall of Philosophy podium, Engstrom addressed the class by discussing her artistic career and the class symbol, her sculptures of humans gathered together with arms outstretched, looking to the sky with a smile.
The CLSC’s Class of 2025’s Kate Kimball gift — named in honor of the first executive secretary of the CLSC and a woman known as its “Mother Superior” — was a donation in honor of the preservation of Engstrom’s sculptures standing throughout the Chautauqua grounds.
Vigil Committee member Jim Steadman offered closing remarks on the quaking aspen, chosen as the class plant due to its unique root system that allows the trees to communicate, share resources and support each other. Just like the quaking aspen, members of the CLSC Class of 2025 are stronger as a collective than they are alone. The class recessed to Alumni Hall to John Cross’ performance of “Quaking Aspen,” as CLSC alumni lined up and applauded from the Brick Walk.
The CLSC Class of 2025 will gather at 8:15 a.m. today at the Hall of Christ for the reveal of their class banner, its final appearance a mystery to everyone besides the banner committee.
“It’s a really special moment for the class,” said Stephine Hunt, managing director of literary arts, “It’s not something that anyone has seen except for the people who designed it.”
At 8:30 a.m. today on Bestor Plaza, CLSC alumni will gather behind their respective class banners and parade toward the Hall of Philosophy while the CLSC Class of 2025 processes to the Golden Gates with their banner held by the clubbers of Boys’ and Girls’ Club, following the lead of Grand Marshal and Interim Chief Executive of Chautauqua Kyle Keogh.
While the gatekeeper and messenger who open the Golden Gates typically represent Chautauqua founders John Heyl Vincent and Lewis Miller, this year marks a shift in tradition as two women will lead the class for the first time in CLSC history.
Community members Bijou Clinger and Deb Blodgett will serve as gatekeeper and messenger in the roles of Kate Kimball and Ida Tarbell, reciting a poem together before opening the Golden Gates to the Class of 2025. In 1883, Tarbell began writing for The Chautauquan, a magazine published by Theodore Flood that covered temperance, education and labor issues and helped Chautauquans communicate with and grow CLSC membership.
“People who couldn’t have books could subscribe to The Chautauquan journal, and it would have lots of things for them to read that could count toward their graduation from the CLSC,” said Pat McDonald, president of the Alumni Association.
Tarbell also contributed to The Chautauquan Assembly Herald, an eight-page paper covering the many happenings in Chautauqua Institution, now known as The Chautauquan Daily.
“This unique little paper will be enriched by the pen of Miss Ida M. Tarbell, a young lady of fine literary mind, endowed with the peculiar gift of clear and forcible expression,” reads the description of Tarbell’s work for the Youth’s CLSC in an edition of the Assembly Herald from Aug. 6, 1884.
With skills honed at the Assembly Herald, Tarbell channeled her “peculiar gift” into writing about women’s rights and temperance, cementing her reputation as one of the most renowned “muckraker” journalists of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Following the recitation and opening of the gates by representatives of Tarbell and Kimball, the CLSC Class of 2025 will ascend through the lakeside entrance of the Hall of Philosophy to their graduation ceremony, accompanied by the songs of the Motet Choir and a shower of flowers from Group One children from Children’s School and Boys’ and Girls’ Club.
“We try to get them to pelt the flowers at their feet, but some pelt more gently than others,” Hunt said.
Once seated in the Hall of Philosophy, the ceremony will commence with addresses from Emily and Richard Smucker Chair of Education Jordan Steves and Michael I. Rudell Artistic Director of Literary Arts and Inaugural Writer-in-Residence Kwame Alexander, as well as a responsive reading led by Hunt. While celebrating the literary accomplishments of the CLSC Class of 2025, for McDonald, the Recognition Day ceremony reflects a broader celebration of learning.
“It makes you feel the love for Chautauqua and the love for our country. It’s like, ‘Look at us — we’re celebrating learning,’ ” McDonald said. “I was a teacher and librarian, so that’s what I can’t ever get over.”
Leaving the Hall of Philosophy as alumni, the CLSC Class of 2025 will proceed to the Amphitheater for Alexander and Carla Hall’s 10:45 a.m. lecture.
“We purposely pick people who are literary-minded and fun for that lecture, and I think Kwame and Carla Hall will be great for our CLSC folks,” said Hunt.
While celebrating the CLSC Class of 2025, McDonald emphasized the importance of Chautauqua community members joining in the festivities, one that makes Chautauqua unique in a particular way.
“Nowhere else in the world are we parading for people who read books,” said McDonald.
