Livingston College Archives From 1969-1973

Livingston Alumnus Louis Economopolous was kind enough to share digital images of early yearbook pages, student handbooks and other archives from Livingston College's beginning years. Check it out!

Livingston College Memories - 1973 Graduate

We thought you'd enjoy these memories and accompanying Livingston Medium article shared by Deborah Stokes, LC '73

Dear Alumni Association,

It's been 36 years since I graduated from Livingston College - ('73) - I was so fortunate to have professors who were working (and successful!) artists, including Leon Golub (painting teacher) and Mel Edwards (sculpture) among others. I organized "Women as Artists, Artists as Women" in the Livingston University art gallery - a time when the Feminist Art Movement was happening. Names and photos attached....I've kept the newspaper clipping all these years - hope you can find a way to incorporate it into our legacy notes!

I veered from studio art to art history and currently hold the position of Curator for Education at the National Museum of African Art Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. My early college years at Livingston provided me with a network of artists, scholars, art historians, and others who launched me into the NY art world and beyond. After graduating, I spent 10 years working in the NY art world at: Pace Gallery, Marlborough Gallery, and Phillips Auctioneers before moving to Chicago where I taught African Art History at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). I later ran into Leon Golub at several museum openings, including his one-man exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. I remember him as an inspiration and also very kind - especially since my talents as a painter were limited! My classes in studio art were a great foundation for materials and techniques, and I put the knowlege to good use today as I program the art workshops at the museum. My first art history course was titled, Primitive Art, taught by George Preston and Adele Starensier. It sparked my interest in African art and later when I found unique opportunities for field research in Nigeria and Kenya. I hope to see POTUS Barack and Michelle Obama with the girls in one of my workshops at the museum soon!

Please keep me posted.

Best regards,
Deborah Stokes

Our condolences to the family and friends of Riki Jacobs, who received the Livingston Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000 and did amazing work as the executive director of the Hyacinth Aids Foundation. Read more

Livingston Legacy Series

Plans for the Livingston Legacy Series are taking shape, with a program set for March 4, 10 or 11 featuring speakers such as Gerald Pomper, Gordon Schochet and Robert Jenkins, all of who were faculty members during very key years in Livingston's development. Tentative start time is 7 pm in Yorba Lounge, details to come.

A second program will be held Reunion Weekend 2009, where alumni will be able to report on "What I learned from Livingston." We're looking at a breakfast format for this program; also more details to come.

Congratulations to Jason Goldstein LC '02, who was recently selected to serve on the first Rutgers University Alumni Association board. The RUAA is the new governing body for the university's alumni activities and Jason's selection is a true salute to the abilities and energies that Livingston Alumni have brought to the planning and implementation of programs for all Rutgers alumni.

1987 Livingston College Yearbook

Debra Holston O'Neal, LC'87 attended Reunion Weekend and participated in a short discussion with LAA annual meeting participants about her undergraduate experiences at Livingston.

She sent a follow-up email:

I have a LC yearbook from 1987 and Martin Dickerson indicated he has a yearbook from his class. I pulled mine out and there is a photo of the Livingston Medium folks and one person is holding up what appears to be a yearbook for the class of 1978 (I scanned a copy of my cover and the picture of an student holding the '78 book).

There may have been a gap in time, but it appears that LC has a history of caputuing student life and the graduating class via the year book. I suggestion for next years reunion...ask alumni to bring their year book or some photos to the luncheon event. Pictures speak volumes to the memories we all have.

Early Livingston College Newsletters

Courtesy of Louis Economopoulos, LC '73, here are some early version of Livingston College newsletters, which were named the Mudslide (all of you early Livingston grads know the reason for that name!) and Fango, before becoming the Livingston Medium. View the newsletters. Louis is a journalist in Greece - thanks, Louis, for sharing these great reminders of Livingston's past!

History and Preservation of Livngston College

The Livingston Campus Council's University Affairs Committee recently held a program on the History and Preservation of Livingston College that celebrated the advances that Livingston brought to Rutgers University. More information in a Daily Targum article. No matter how you feel about the creation, history and transformation of Livingston College, the article and findings are important reading.

Paula Braxton, LC '73, Named Principal of Rahway HS

Congratulations to Paula Braxton, LC '73, on being named principal of Rahway, NJ High School. It's great to read about the graduates of Livingston in its early years who have gone on to such great achievements!
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/NEWS010301/803070494/1001

Livingston Legacy Series

Later this year, the Livingston Alumni Association will kick off a series of Livingston Legacy programs, where we will bring together alumni, faculty and staff to talk about what made Livingston College so special, its impact on the Rutgers University community, and how its alumni have instilled the values taught at Livingston College into their own personal and professional lives. Help us plan these programs by leaving a reply to this post or emailing laaemail@alumni.rutgers.edu