By Katie Sikorski
Late last century, the Elizabethtown College Centennial Steering Committee was commissioned to organize a Centennial Celebration that would span several years. In addition to the Centennial Ball, kickoff weekend and Centennial video, one of the things the committee wanted from the celebration most was a new written history of the College. The last history was a book written in 1971 by former President Ralph W. Schlosser in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the College. In 1998, the committee decided to commission a book that would update the College’s history.
Elizabethtown College Press released "Uniting Work and Spirit: A Centennial History of Elizabethtown College" by Chet Williamson Oct. 8th. Williamson is not an alumnus of the College, but has lived in or near Elizabethtown most of his life. An accomplished novelist and corporate writer, Williamson was not the first choice to write the book; he was working on the Centennial video when discussion about the book began, the book’s editor and member of the Centennial Steering committee Ed Novak, director of College Relations said. According to Novak another author was approached with the project, but the committee eventually decided Williamson would be the best for the job. They knew he had the "discipline as well as the imagination to do it," Novak said.
Novak was chosen as editor for the publication due to his background in publishing. Because editing the book involved reading and critiquing it so many times, Novak jokingly said that he now "know[s] more than someone should know about the College."
According to the author’s introduction in "Uniting Work and Spirit," Williamson said that the fact that he did not attend the College was not a hindrance. "This would be a strength as the primary quality that the College wanted in the work was readability, rather than a straightforward, chronological account of historical data," he said.
Novak said that "the committee wanted this book to be interesting. [Elizabethtown] is not a place; it’s a community." The book reflects that theme. It is a story about the people at the College and the way they became part of the College’s history. Novak explained that the book is about "the people and the connections they form. This book is a story about people. It has triumphs and conflict."
"Uniting Work and Spirit" is meant to be an entertaining read. Novak explained that reading is a get great value for your money. A movie ticket can cost $7 but only brings you about two hours worth of entertainment. On the other hand, a book that costs $14 can provide hours upon hours of entertainment and imagination.
There are many amusing and interesting anecdotes in "Uniting Work and Spirit," from stories about the Etownian almost being censored by the printing press to the College nearly being forced to close its doors in the 1930s because of its financial situation. The book discusses the closing and opening of new buildings and facilities, something common to the current campus community as well.
Because the book was published by Elizabethtown College Press, and not by a major distributor, "Uniting Work and Spirit" is currently only available at the College Store. According to Novak, a lot of the publicity behind this book is going to be word of mouth. Excerpts and quotes from the book have appeared in the most recent issue of "Elizabethtown Magazine," and on the College’s website for months. According to Novak, most of the buyers of this book will be graduates and people who have a personal connection with the College.