THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE
ABOVE: DACC students Adrienne Ryan and Marlee Harper singing “Sleep, Grandmother, Sleep”—a song that Dr. Eric Simonson wrote based on the Mark Van Doren poem of that same title. Dr. Simonson is shown here accompanying the College singers on the piano.
DANVILLE, IL, Dec. 7, 2023 – Danville Area Community College drew a classy crowd to Jacobs Hall for the Dec. 7 opening of a permanent exhibit honoring Carl and Mark Van Doren, two historically prominent men of letters who were born in Vermilion County.
The Van Dorens grew up in Hope, IL, early in the 20th century. The only Pulitzer Prize winning brothers in the 108-year history of the award, Carl won his Pulitzer in 1939 for his Benjamin Franklin biography and Mark in 1940 for his poetry collection.
The DACC event opened with historian and attorney Timothy Smith summarizing each man’s lifetime achievements as writers and Columbia University professors. DACC’s Distinguished Professor of Music, Dr. Eric Simonson, followed with his original musical composition based on Mark Van Doren’s famous poem, “Sleep, Grandmother, Sleep.” DACC’s College Chorus—Adrienne Ryan and Marlee Harper—sang to Dr. Simonson’s piano accompaniment.
While feasting on desserts from DACC’s culinary students, attendees watched a short documentary based on Mark Van Doren’s life and were also afforded an exclusive opportunity to inspect some of the artifacts in the exhibit, including autographed first editions of the authors’ major works. The DACC library is preserving these rare books under glass in a permanent display that Library Assistant Kathy Hantz is curating in its “Archives” wing.
DACC President Stephen Nacco praised Mr. Smith and Texas-based attorney Michael Eberhardt for raising the College’s awareness about the achievements of the Van Dorens. He says, “Tim and Michael approached the College to tell us the story of these two local boys who made good. They also connected us to the Van Doren family so that we would have the means to pay tribute to these two local literary luminaries.”
To ensure the sustainability of the Van Dorens’ exhibit, the DACC Foundation is building an endowed scholarship fund for DACC students. The fund is halfway toward becoming permanently endowed, thanks to a combined $5,000 donation from Mr. Smith and Mr. Eberhardt.
