Feeling Frost-y in Georgia

Here’s an interesting tidbit...the McCain Library at Agnes Scott College has a substantial Robert Frost collection that includes original Frost transcripts and memorabilia along with books, articles and photographs about his life.  While Robert Frost’s name brings to mind stone walls in Vermont and snowy paths through the woods, it does not make me think of the warm breezes of Atlanta (or Decatur) or southern hospitality.  I have not completely solved the enigma of Frost’s relationship with the college but I do know that he visited Agnes Scott College over twenty times (more than any other college outside New England) beginning in 1935.  

Margaret Pepperdene’s (an English Professor at Agnes Scott) speech from 2001 filled me in on some details.  Pepperdene was a new professor at the college during Frost’s visits in the 1950’s and was assigned to be his escort around campus.  It seems that Frost originally had a friendship with Emma May Laney, the head of the English Department at the College,  and began his visit as short layovers on his way to Florida.  But beginning in 1945,  Frost extended his overnights and spent several days at Agnes Scott every January, until his death. Professor Laney was his sponsor and his “self appointed caretaker” during his visit and did everything from meeting him at the airport to making sure he wore his overshoes.  

Pepperdene shares great memories of Frost holding court for adoring coeds and faculty during long winter evenings and extended lunches.  He greatly enjoyed sharing experiences such as the Kennedy Inauguration, his acceptance of honorary degrees from Oxford and Cambridge and Ezra Pound’s run in with a mental hospital while his female fans hung on his every word.   And then there was his public reading and lecture night when the entire community formed a line that snaked through campus just to get the chance to hear him speak (I’d go, wouldn’t you?)  He loved to talk and relished his admiring audience.

Over the years Frost sent the library original work, Christmas cards and photographs which led to the creation of the current special collection.  George Lundeen was commissioned to sculpt Frost ‘writing’ in the alumnae garden to recall his love of strolling through campus at night.
But still I wonder, why Agnes Scott and why so many visits?  My guess is that Professor Laney was a persistent fan that made Frost feel personally important and the Agnes Scott community admired and revered his talent.  Who knows if his relationship with Laney was more than professional (at the time of his visits Frost was a widower) but it is certain that he got something out of his relationship with the college - one thing I learned about Frost was that he didn’t do anything he didn’t want to do.