Class of 1923 Senior Composite Photograph Enlarged - Mary Hollis
Class of 1923 Senior Composite Photograph Enlarged - Mary Hollis
The following newspaper article from the Journal and Courier, LaFayette, In, August 21, 1957, was provided by Mike Disotelle, Ilion Public Libray History Room. Jennie Heilland Corbin (Mrs. Thaddeus B. Corbin) was a member of the IHS Class of 1897.
Mrs. Patterson, Civic Leader, Dies of Polio Mrs. Mary Patterson, prominently known in the community for her social and church work and the wife of Prof. D. H. Patterson of the Perdue university staff, died of a rare form of polio late Tuesday afternoon in Boston. The family home is at 209 East Lutz, West Lafayette. She was 51. Mrs. Patterson had been especially active in the First Methodist church, West Lafayette, and with Girl Scouts, winning high recognition in these and in other fields. Prof. Patterson is associate professor of modern languages at Purdue and assistant to the dean of the School of Science, education, and the Humanities. He joined the university staff in 1930, since which time the family has resided here. "FRIEND IN DEED" Last fall, Mrs. Patterson was honored by the Lafayette Noon Optimist club as Greater Lafayette's first "Friend In Deed." She was selected from among a number of community nominees as the person who had contributed most to the welfare and best interests of youth in the city and area. In 1951, the Patterson family was chosen as the "Methodist Family" of the year in the Lafayette district. Also, she had been awarded the Girl Scout "Thanks" badge, the highest honor for adults in this organization. NATIONAL RECOGNITION Mrs. Patterson was nationally recognized for her work in religious education for children. For several summers, she was a teacher in the interdenominational school for kindergarten workers, at Farbo, Minn., sponsored by the National Council of Churches. This school was for workers on the professional level and her selection as teacher was about as high a recognition as can come to a person in this field. Also, for some years she conducted leadership training for vacation church school workers under the auspices of the state Council of churches. Another field of special interest and activity for Mrs. Patterson was the South End Community center, where she had led Brownies and several Girl Scout troops for a number of years and was engage prominently in other ways. She was a charter member of the Story Arts club and was in great demand as a story-teller for children's groups. In Girl Scouting, she had been a consultant and engaged in leadership training. In the first Methodist Church, she was superintendent for a number of years of the nursery department, where it is said she taught many children their first prayers. More recently, she conducted a kindergarten section, which served as a model for other teachers and church leaders. Mrs. Patterson provided programs for blind children, worked seasonally with migrant children and was active in music appreciation work with children. Also, she served as "Gold Lady," making regular visits to Longcliff state hospital at Logansport to work with mental patients. During an illness several years ago, she carried on some of her activities by telephone. In addition to her outside interests, Mrs. Patterson was talented as an amateur artist and musician. Upon her nomination for "Friend In Deed" and selection by judges from a field of 11 nominees, Mrs. Patterson was described as "one who has been an inspiration to every leader in this area," as a "shining example" and as a person whose good works have been done quietly and unobtrusively, although they reached large numbers in a most effective manner. Mrs. Patterson was born at Ilion, N.Y., Nov. 23, 1905, as Mary Hollis. Surviving are the husband; the daughter, Pamela, a graduated of Hanover college who was home for the summer after teaching last year in the high school at Sullivan; and a son, D. H. (Mike) Jr., graduate of Wabash college and serving in the Navy stationed in Hawaii. Prof. Patterson and daughter were flying back to Indianapolis and home Wednesday, while the body of Mrs. Patterson is being shipped home.
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