George Gillespie Dick Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG 09-9.13

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The bulk of this collection consists of records and materials relating to George Gillespie Dick’s work as a supervisor of Berea College Utilities, as a city council member, as a board member of the Cemetery Association, and as a parishioner with Union Church.

Dates

Other: Majority of material found in 1938-1961

Conditions Governing Access

Records can be accessed through the Reading Room, Berea College Special Collections and Archives, Hutchins Library, Berea College.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the collection other than federal copyright regulations. Cite all information.

Extent

4.00 ms_boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

George Gillespie Dick was born in Ross, Ohio, Buckley County on August 6, 1877. Dick first came to the city of Berea and Berea Academy as a student in 1900. In 1901, Dick served with the College Extension Office as a lecturer and song leader for and around Louisa, Kentucky. At that time extension workers traveled by mule and covered wagon. In the fall of 1902 the college sent Dick to Cincinnati, Ohio, to attend engineering classes at Cincinnati University. Dick returned to the Berea College campus in 1903 and assumed the position of superintendent of the Berea Heat and Power Plant. In 1903, the Heat and Power plant consisted of two 60-horse power boilers and a single Westinghouse crankcase. In 1906, Dick's duties expanded to include supervision of the city water system as well. Dick remained in charge of the electric and water utilities until his retirement in 1946. After retirement, Dick served on the Berea City Council (1950-1956) and as a board member on the Berea Cemetery Association (1958-1960). He was also involved in the selection of a new pastor for Union Church (1949-1950). Dick died at Berea Hospital January 11, 1969.

Arrangement Note

Arranged in series as follows:

Series 1: Personal/Biographical - This series contains scant personal and biographical information. However, included in the collection are two hand-written papers by Dick from his days as a student of Berea Academy in 1900, a desk diary dated 1925, several year's Christmas lists, a thank you card for sympathy extended at his first wife's death in 1931, and newspaper clippings of his son's (Arthur Dick) election to the Berea City Council.

Series 2: Associations and Boards - This series contains information about Dick's involvement with the Union Church Pastoral Committee (1949-1950), Berea Cemetery Association (1958-1960), and with the endowment given to Berea Cemetery Association by Anna Hanson Faye. Records of his service on the Pastoral Committee are interesting for the light they shed on the unique connection between Union Church and Berea College. Berea Cemetery data may be helpful to people trying to locate grave sites, as there are listings of grave site owners in these files. Anna Hanson Fay was apparently part of the prestigious Hanson family of Berea, who had left as part of her estate a small endowment for the upkeep of Berea Cemetery, particularly the Hanson family plot.

Series 3: Berea City Council - This series contains records Dick's work on the Berea City Council, 1950-1956. As a councilman, Mr. Dick was most concerned with the installation and operation of parking meters, fire truck purchase and use, drainage systems, definition of mayoral duties, and traffic lights. There are newspaper clippings, desk logs and examples of city election memorabilia in this series.

Series 4: Berea College Sewage Payment Controversy - This series pertains to the College's use of and payment for the City sewage and water treatment systems. Included are desk logs, minutes of meetings, and correspondence with state and College officials.

Series 5: Sewage Treatment Plant Establishment and Expansion - This series contains records of Dick's interest in the establishment of a city-wide sewer system.

Series 6: Photographs - This series contains photographs of Berea College and Academy faculty and student groups as well various campus and Berea city construction projects. Of note are several photographs of the construction of the Berea Dam at Owsley Fork and Navy V-12 photographs taken on the Campus.