Thank you so much for the lovely picture of the grand staircase of Sayles Hall (Albany magazine, Spring 2000, p. 10). I lived there as a freshman (1950-51), and fondly remember Mrs. Mac’s (MacLaughlin’s) constant admonition — “No shorts below the balcony!” (We had to exit by the side doors if we were wearing shorts.) I’m sure that rule is not in effect today. Thanks for the memory.

Mary Ann Hopko Macko, B.A.’54, M.A.’57
Endwell, N.Y.

Library School Memories

The message from Florence Ellis in the Fall 2000 issue of Albany magazine (p. 48) hit home with me. I, too, was trained in the library school by Miss Pritchard and Miss Gilmour. Miss Lowery, who was in charge of the placement service, steered me to the high schools in Avoca, Port Byron and Potsdam, N.Y., where I taught English and was school librarian. Then I became a reference librarian, Army librarian and medical librarian. In retirement, as a volunteer, I participated in organizing the Holocaust Museum in Houston. At the time that I was a student at Albany, there was no tuition, and I am grateful for all that Albany State gave me.

Evelyn Lowenberg Pronin, B.S.L.S.’33
Houston, Texas

I was so pleased to read the feature on Dr. Margaret Stewart, one of Albany’s Distinguished Teaching Professors. (Albany, Fall 2000, p. 17). I took field biology with Dr. Stewart in 1975. It was, by far, the most memorable and enjoyable course that I took as a biology major. Dr. Stewart was an amazing teacher — interesting, motivating, fair, kind and brilliant.

It was in her class that I learned, among other things, how to tell a white oak tree from a red oak tree, the names of countless plants and flowers and the importance of understanding the “new” science of ecology. She made sure that we studied another “new” concept, acid rain, back when its disastrous consequences were not fully understood. And only she knew the secret location of an empty field of tumbleweed (!) not far from the campus. All of our field visits were truly exciting experiences. What I thought was a lot of biological trivia has been immensely useful in my life. From gardening with my children to understanding natural disasters, it was Dr. Stewart who laid the foundation all those years ago. In fact, my family continues to tease me whenever I pull out my Palmer and Fowler field book.

Beth Brautman Berman, B.S.’77
Setauket, N.Y.

Mail or E-mail correspondence to:

Christine Hanson McKnight
Editor UAlbany Magazine
University at Albany, SUNY
Division of University Advancement
University Administration Building, Room 209
Albany, NY 12222.
Phone (518) 437-4987,
Fax (518) 437-4990
E-mail: cmcknight@uamail.albany.edu