April 23, 2007

LIVINGSTON, Ala.—With planning underway for The University of West Alabama’s 175th anniversary celebration in 2010, alumni are sharing their memories, their photographs and other college treasures with the University. Recently, UWA received a graduation scrapbook from the daughter of a 1920 graduate of State Normal College, as the University was known when the school offered both secondary education and normal school programs for the training of

 teachers.

Dr. Ann Rose Denton of Birmingham graciously donated Bill Perry Rose’s graduation scrapbook, The Girl Graduate, which is full of handwritten letters, photographs, filled dance cards, newspaper clippings, drawings and other memorabilia from the West Blocton teenager’s years in Livingston. For Denton, it was an important decision to present UWA with her mother’s book, which will be housed in the University archives, with all of the contents scanned into a digital archive.

“It is a great honor to have her graduation book in a place where it will be so appreciated,” Denton said. “It is such a fascinating look at how my mother and her classmates thought, entertained themselves and enjoyed the University.”

Rose, a career educator and lover of the arts, went on to earn her bachelor’s degree at Howard (now Samford University) and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama. The superintendent of speech arts for Birmingham schools, she oversaw all of the plays, poetry, debate, speech and more at every public school in the city. Rose, whose goal was to expose Birmingham children to the fine arts, was instrumental in starting the Alabama School of Fine Arts in the late-1960s.

Described by her daughter as a bundle of energy, Rose devoted herself to Birmingham’s ballet, symphony, opera, theater and other artistic endeavors. Until her death in 1986, she received many state, regional and national awards for her efforts. Denton says her mother never contributed her time and energy for the recognition. Instead, Rose wanted every child in the city to have the opportunity to experience the arts.

“I was fortunate to have her as a mother,” Denton said. “She is still beloved, remembered and honored for her total dedication to the arts in Birmingham.”

According to Dr. Tina N. Jones, chair of the 175th anniversary committee, donations such as this 1920 graduation scrapbook are so important for helping piece together the history of the institution, and the committee is actively seeking photos and remembrances from alumni of all ages.

“We’re asking everyone who has been part of the UWA family and its evolution as a university to participate,” Jones said. “It only takes a moment to send in a photograph or to jot down a paragraph or two about a favorite memory from one’s collegiate days. Those memories make real connections with others and help tell the real story of this institution.”

Although the year-long celebration will not occur until 2010, contributions may be used in a forthcoming calendar and commemorative book. Photographs, with the people, date and activities identified, can be scanned and returned to their owners.

For more information, contact Jones at 205-652-3752 or tnj@uwa.edu.