Keeper Of The Mountains by Bernadette McDonald
Authors: Bernadette McDonald
Tags: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Adventurers & Explorers, SPORTS & RECREATION / Mountaineering, TRAVEL / Asia / Central
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law and order were necessary, but achieving real peace required something more creative and dynamic than simply obeying rules.
It was during this time that she began to formulate her thoughts about the role of an historian, an interesting foreshadowing of her future work. It started with an article in the New York Times on whether American history should be required study at universities. Elizabeth felt that its required inclusion was irrelevant if it wasnât taught correctly, citing her high-school American history courses, where she had learned facts but not their relative importance or proper perspective. She had learned about the trees, but not the forest. She was beginning to understand that facts were important, but something was needed on which to hang them. She equated the learning of facts to the work of an antiquarian, while the understanding of context was the sign of a true historian. Little did she know that 50 years later many in the mountaineering community would debate these same issues around her lifeâs work documenting the history of Himalayan climbing.
A new man entered her life in the form of Harold Sokwitne, secretary of the Post-War Council. They had many opportunities to work together and they now began seeing each other socially. A tall redhead from Hillsdale, Michigan, he came from a religious background and had intended to follow that line of work himself but had rebelled. The liveliness and conversational abilities of the 20-year-old freshman attracted Elizabeth. She also continued to see Fred, recognizing good points in each of the two strikingly different personalities. Fred was pleasant to be with, but was too complimentary: âHe likes myeyes, he thinks Iâm brilliant, he thinks I have great ability.â It was all too much for Elizabeth. Harold (nicknamed Sok), on the other hand, didnât have Fredâs polished manners, and he didnât compliment her at all â he was perfectly aware of her faults. But in August 1943 Sok was called for induction into the Naval Air Corps. They had one last wonderful evening together in Detroit and he was off.
By November Elizabeth was paying her own way with an assistant position in the history department. Taking attendance and correcting papers brought her a grand total of $250 per semester. She was proud of herself, partly because of the money, but mostly because of the recognition. In addition to her work for the history department, she was beginning to get speaking opportunities, often arranged by Slosson (whom she now called by his first name, Preston). The local Business and Professional Womenâs Club, Rotary Clubs and high schools all had the benefit of her keen interest in, and growing knowledge of, international affairs.
Her personal relationship with the Slossons deepened as their working relationship matured. She now spent most Sunday afternoons and evenings with them, frequently staying overnight. In the summer of 1944, against her motherâs advice, she moved in with them.
By September of that year, she had wrapped up her classwork. She was excited about her familyâs arrival for graduation, although her brother John couldnât attend because of a serious illness. After majoring in philosophy at Princeton, John had gone on to medical school at the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Columbia University, where he proved to be a brilliant student. He then joined the Navy, during which time he contracted tuberculosis and was sent to Trudeau Sanatorium near Lake Placid in upper New York State. Because of his illness, he was subsequently discharged from the Navy.
Shortly before graduating, Elizabeth decided to carry on with her studies and immediately begin work on an advanced degree. As a graduate student, she had classes that were much smaller than before or were in an individual-study format. She thrived in this environment.
The tides of war seemed to have changed and she felt a sense of relief.
It was during this time that she began to formulate her thoughts about the role of an historian, an interesting foreshadowing of her future work. It started with an article in the New York Times on whether American history should be required study at universities. Elizabeth felt that its required inclusion was irrelevant if it wasnât taught correctly, citing her high-school American history courses, where she had learned facts but not their relative importance or proper perspective. She had learned about the trees, but not the forest. She was beginning to understand that facts were important, but something was needed on which to hang them. She equated the learning of facts to the work of an antiquarian, while the understanding of context was the sign of a true historian. Little did she know that 50 years later many in the mountaineering community would debate these same issues around her lifeâs work documenting the history of Himalayan climbing.
A new man entered her life in the form of Harold Sokwitne, secretary of the Post-War Council. They had many opportunities to work together and they now began seeing each other socially. A tall redhead from Hillsdale, Michigan, he came from a religious background and had intended to follow that line of work himself but had rebelled. The liveliness and conversational abilities of the 20-year-old freshman attracted Elizabeth. She also continued to see Fred, recognizing good points in each of the two strikingly different personalities. Fred was pleasant to be with, but was too complimentary: âHe likes myeyes, he thinks Iâm brilliant, he thinks I have great ability.â It was all too much for Elizabeth. Harold (nicknamed Sok), on the other hand, didnât have Fredâs polished manners, and he didnât compliment her at all â he was perfectly aware of her faults. But in August 1943 Sok was called for induction into the Naval Air Corps. They had one last wonderful evening together in Detroit and he was off.
By November Elizabeth was paying her own way with an assistant position in the history department. Taking attendance and correcting papers brought her a grand total of $250 per semester. She was proud of herself, partly because of the money, but mostly because of the recognition. In addition to her work for the history department, she was beginning to get speaking opportunities, often arranged by Slosson (whom she now called by his first name, Preston). The local Business and Professional Womenâs Club, Rotary Clubs and high schools all had the benefit of her keen interest in, and growing knowledge of, international affairs.
Her personal relationship with the Slossons deepened as their working relationship matured. She now spent most Sunday afternoons and evenings with them, frequently staying overnight. In the summer of 1944, against her motherâs advice, she moved in with them.
By September of that year, she had wrapped up her classwork. She was excited about her familyâs arrival for graduation, although her brother John couldnât attend because of a serious illness. After majoring in philosophy at Princeton, John had gone on to medical school at the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Columbia University, where he proved to be a brilliant student. He then joined the Navy, during which time he contracted tuberculosis and was sent to Trudeau Sanatorium near Lake Placid in upper New York State. Because of his illness, he was subsequently discharged from the Navy.
Shortly before graduating, Elizabeth decided to carry on with her studies and immediately begin work on an advanced degree. As a graduate student, she had classes that were much smaller than before or were in an individual-study format. She thrived in this environment.
The tides of war seemed to have changed and she felt a sense of relief.