"Eleanor Roosevelt" to return to Southeastern as part of Centennial celebration

by SOUTHEASTERN PUBLIC INFORMATION
February 26, 2009

DURANT, Okla. -- March 18, 1937, was a day of firsts for Southeastern Teachers College.

On that day, The First Lady of the Nation, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, was a guest of the First Lady of Education, Kate Galt Zaneis, president of STC. Mrs. Roosevelt was on campus to deliver a lecture on High School Senior Day. Her afternoon lecture on "A Day in the White House" was attended by more than 2,000 area high school seniors in the packed gymnasium. The evening started with a dinner in the senior alumnus hall, followed by a lecture for the general public.

Now, 70 years later, Erma Stewart will help Southeastern celebrate its centennial in 2009 when she brings her portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt to campus. Stewart will present "A Visit with Eleanor Roosevelt" on March 25 (10 a.m.) in the historic Montgomery Auditorium on the Southeastern campus. Students, alumni, and the general public are invited to attend -- there is no admission charge. This event is sponsored by the Southeastern Cultural and Scholastic Lectureship Committee and The American Association of University Women.

Eleanor Roosevelt, as portrayed by Erma Stewart, speaks about her political activities, her childhood, her marriage, her role as First Lady, her role as author/lecturer and her radio/television broadcasts. The audience is invited to ask questions they might like to ask Eleanor. Stewart, a resident of Edmond, has been invited to present Eleanor in cities from North Carolina to California.

An outstanding student of speech at Southwest Missouri State University, Stewart was a West Point National Debater as well as an award- winning speaker and actress. She competed in the Speech and Debate Tournaments at Southeastern in the 1950s – and she walked away with Sweepstakes honors. She earned her MA in studies of rhetoric at the University of Oklahoma. She has performed Readers Theatre, other historical reenactments, book reviews, and has often facilitated educational workshops.

Stewart is retired from Edmond Memorial High School where she was Media Director. She received the OLA Special Meritorious Service Award in 1996. In 1994, her school library was chosen by ALA as one of the 10 outstanding school libraries in the nation for their services to young adults.

Southeastern's centennial celebration will be in full swing throughout the month of March. A full-week of campus and community activities, scheduled for March 23-27, will be announced in the near future.

The University began its celebration last fall with the unveiling of historical markers in front of Morrison Hall and the President's Home.

For more information about the Centennial, go to www.SE.edu/centennial.