the only African-American Class of 1912 Commencement. and one of the relatively few As reported in the Worcester non-New Englanders at the Evening Standard, prominent college. His yearbook profile theologian Dr. Lyman Abbott lists him as a member of the addressed the importance of Cosmopolitan Club (formed ensuring the “purity of respecto promote understanding tive races on this earth. Such a between students of different thing as intermarriage among nationalities), YMCA, Debatthe black and white races is deing Society, the Republican structive to both.” Club, and the Wright Social •••• Science Club (named for Clark Tyree’s educational trajectory College’s former president was not unimpeded. Despite and U.S. Commissioner of his access to educational instituLabor Carroll Wright). Tyree tions willing to open their doors also attended the French Bapto blacks, financing his educatist Church on Main Street, an tion was a continual, almost interesting detail, considering spirit-breaking struggle. he was voted Class Heathen at In a poignant letter to Clark Phillips Exeter. College President Edmund Tyree’s time at Clark was Sanford in July 1913, Tyree bracketed by two events that speaks of having been “greatly received global news coverdiscouraged” and “on the point age: Frederick Cook’s conof leaving school two or three troversial claim that he had reached the North times.” He explains that his only extravagant Pole in 1908, one year before Robert Peary, expense while at Clark was taxi fare to the and the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic in April Senior Ball. “I live as cheaply as possible,” he 1912. Closer to home, world-champion cyclist writes, “and that is the way I have been able to Major Taylor of Worcester, like Tyree an African get along this far. I deprive myself of nearly American who was raised in Indianapolis, all amusements, do not use tobacco nor liquor. retired from racing in 1910. Two years later saw Most of the last year I ate two meals per day so the opening of Fenway Park and a Red Sox as to keep down expenses.” Similar difficulties World Series victory, one year before the team were revealed in a 1916 letter addressed to colwould sign a promising left-handed pitcher lege dean James Porter requesting a financial named Babe Ruth. reference. September 1909 was also a notable year for Census records, city directories and other -PROFESSOR RAVI PERRY the Clark community. In observance of the 20th documents from 1905 to about 1918 show anniversary of the University’s founding, PresiTyree working as bellman, waiter, or servant at dent G. Stanley Hall scheduled conferences in a variety of places, including the historic Wolfe July and September to highlight Clark’s major areas of graduate study. Tavern in Newburyport, the Parker House Hotel in Boston, a tea A five-day national conference on child welfare was held in July, while room in Cambridge, and a boarding house in Worcester. Scholarships the two weeks of September conferences were devoted to the scifrom Phillips Exeter Academy helped pay his way through that instituences, psychology, and China and the Far East. One wonders if Tyree tion (annual tuition $150), but they were partial and his coursework went to hear the lectures of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, not to there was interrupted. He also studied at Newburyport High School, mention Franz Boas, former Clark professor and pioneering anthroprobably while working and boarding at the Wolfe Tavern. Clark’s pologist, who unleashed a crusade against racial prejudice in his book, tuition of $50 a year was more manageable, and Tyree was able to “The Mind of Primitive Man,” published two years later. make it through the three-year baccalaureate course without having He undoubtedly did hear the remarks of a speaker featured at the to take time off.
spring 2012
“NOT EVERYONE IN THAT DAY AND AGE FELT WELCOMED BY CAUCASIANS.”
clark alumni magazine
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