Dr. Valerie Pope Burns Highlighted Traditions at J-Day

AAJ Archivist and Board Member Dr. Valerie Pope Burnes ’99 gave the J-Day keynote presentation “Tell Me Why”, highlighting the title of one of the most beloved songs of Judson’s senior classes and paralleling the question to Judson’s closing and the importance and beauty of the unique archives held by AAJ. She pointed out that Anne Kirtley was a ‘keeper’ of history and Judson’s Legacy beginning in 1892 to the early 1930’s, keeping concert programs, class presentation and graduation programs, letters with students and alumnae, and other unique items such as flowers from Judson’s 75 th Anniversary in 1913. These items were saved from the 2 nd Jewett fire because they were stored in the Carnegie Library building. “Why did someone donate their wedding shoes from 1847, Confederate swords and money, a surgeon’s case of A. P. Reid?” asked Burnes. “Because they were important to them, the history of Marion, and Judson had survived the Civil War, two world wars, the Great Depression and social upheaval – a rock that seemed like would be there forever.” Burnes mentioned that her favorite item is a simple spoon with ‘JUDSON’ engraved in the handle. The note accompanying the spoon returned to the college in 1990’s indicated that the student stole the spoon to remember that great year at Judson in the 1920’s, and after 70 years and in her last days of life, she wanted to return it to clear her conscience. ‘What began as an act of theft’, ultimately saved the item from being lost in the fire and returned a part of history back to the Judson story. “I don’t know why Judson closed, but we all know why we love ‘Dear Judson’, said Burnes. “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to AAJ to purchase these items, continued support of the Legacy Project with monthly donations to preserve our story, and entrusting AAJ with these artifacts, so we can continue to tell others just why we love Dear Judson.”