Page 8 - TRINITY 1959

rrW () HUNDRED FIFTY years of a school’s existence, a quarter of a mil-
| lenium, presents a unique opportunity to the staff of a Yearbook. Publishing the
annual for such a year offers an occasion to put down in one volume a record of
the progress over the whole sweep of the preceding years. In 1959 Trinity School
celebrated its bisesquicentennial. Attempting to present a lasting record of the anni­
versary year, the staff of this Yearbook has not bound itself within the restricting
framework of these nine short months. Instead we have attempted to look at the tear
in reference to the two hundred forty-nine years which preceded it.

Phis necessarily has entailed a great deal of research. At first, it appeared that we
would meet with little success because a large amount of material has been disposed
of in the School’s many moves. However, with the aid and advice of Mr. Edward
Moffat, who is writing a history of the School, we were more fortunate than we
had hoped. In addition, the discovery by Don Sobel of an immensely interesting and
invaluable cache of historical material in the catacombs of the School greatly advanced
the project. We also wish to thank the New York Historical Society for permission
to use the items on pages eight and fifty. Finally, without the encouragement, contribu­
tions, and information supplied by a large number of other people, this task would
never have reached fulfillment.

It should be pointed out, however, that this Yearbook does not propose indiscrimi­
nately to praise the virtues of Trinity’s glorious past. Although it might appear on
a first, perfunctory perusal that this volume and this year have served little else, this
is not their importance.

For an institution to have devoted itself for so long a period to education is some­
thing uniquely exciting. In addition, the tremendous strides which Trinity has made
in the past few years towards the realization of its opportunities are commendable.
Furthermore, the academic record of the two hundred fiftieth class is certainly some­
thing to be proud of. But the life of Trinity lies with the two hundred fifty-first
class and the two hundred fifty-second, not with the first or two hundredth or the
two hundred fiftieth.

This volume is intended as a record of 1959, as a survey of Trinity’s past, but
most of all as a means to point up the lesson of this anniversary year. Trinity, be­
cause of its unparalleled history, holds a unique position in the field of education. It
is because of this position of responsibility, leadership, and respect that the new cur­
riculum, the new gym, the new lunchroom, and the new Trinity are important. We
offer this Yearbook with one aim: to illustrate the importance of Trinity’s responsi­
bilities to the future of this city, this nation, and this world.

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