College of Arts and Sciences
Department of History
DeLand, FL 32729-3756
(904) 822-7535
May 28, 1993
Dear Former Student, Friend of Malcolm Wynn or Evans Johnson, or Supporter of Stetson University-or
perhaps all of those:
In the fall of 1952, a twenty-seven year old graduate student at Ohio State University, from the seminar of
the Reformation specialist Harold Grimm, headed southward for Stetson. He was a part of rejuvenation
of the aging Stetson faculty. Driving a Chevrolet coupe that he had purchased for $100, Malcolm Wynn
must have been uncomfortable and lonely. His wife, Barbara, two-year old daughter Cynthia, and baby
Sharon, several weeks old, followed by air in October. 1 joined the faculty the following fall, having
received my Ph. D. under the Chapel Hill southern historian, Fletcher M. Green. Malcolm and I liked one
another instinctively and formed a friendship that was to span (to this point) the next four decades. Our
careers have run parallel, and although I have published more than Malcolm, I envy his production of
scholars—June Burton '65, M.A. '67, Hon. '92, and Jack Sweetman '61, come to mind. Malcolm and
Barbara had three more children, Gregory '84, a radiologist, Jennifer, a graduate student at MIT, and
Michelle, wife of an internist now specializing in endocrinology at Ann Arbor. The brilliance of those fine
children is legendary in DeLand schools. Meanwhile, I married Betty Drees '59, while she was still one of
my students.
Malcolm will retire to Senior Active status this month. I reached Senior Active status three years ago.
While it is true that we are not completely retiring, we do not want to miss out on a good thing and are a
bit envious of the honors given to other retiring colleagues. Therefore, we decided to regard our retirement
as taking place simultaneously and to make a special request of our friends and other supporters of Stetson
University.
Rather than a dinner, where neither of us would be comfortable, we are requesting that friends contribute
to a book fund for the duPont-Ball Library. Recent presidents of Stetson have been generous in library
appropriations, yet there are always items, some not purchased when published years ago, that don't fit into
current annual appropriations. Librarians call the need retrospective buying. What we ask is that our
friends contribute to a "Buy-a-Book Campaign" for the History Department. The fund will be spent over the
next several years.
The average history book now costs about $30. Therefore, we ask you to buy at least one book with a
contribution of that amount. You may buy more at multiples of $30. Contributors of $30 to $190 will be
listed as a "Friend of the Department of History" on a plaque in Elizabeth Hall (o.k., it will only be a
framed sheet of paper). If you contribute $210 for seven books (or more) you will be listed (in larger type,
of course) as a "Patron of the Department of History." All donors will have the right to inscribe the book
plate as they wish.
Why you should contribute:
1. You like Malcolm or me or both.
2. You are devoted to Stetson.
3. You are nice people.
4. In appreciation for the History Department Newsletter.
5. You will be listed in the History Department Newsletter.
6. Recognition on the plaque and bookplates.
7. You want to go to Betty Johnson's party for donors.
Reasons not to contribute: can't think of any, but if you want to opt out there is an opportunity for you to
do so at the end of this letter.
If this sounds "cheeky" to you that I am participating in a project to honor myself, it is, but I am hopeful
that with other retirements coming along, other departments might adopt the same idea. You may be
