Barbara "Bobbie" Dreier

Like her husband, Barbara Loines Dreier was from a family of nonconformists, "un-regular" Christians," and adventurous thinkers. Her great-grandmother had fone to China on a clipper ship with an aunt and uncle and had stayed for five years. Her grandmother was a suffragist and a Unitarian, which Bobbie Dreier recalled "was as good as being a Communist in her day," and she married a Quaker, who was "read out of meeting for marrying such a radical girl." Two of her aunts became Christian Scientists, and her mother left the Episcopal Church after becoming interested in theosophy.

Bobbie Dreier attended Bryn Mawr College, where she carried on the family tradition of independent thinking by helping change the Christian Association into the Bryn Mawr League, a more active and vital social service organization. At Black Mountain she constantly gauged the temperature of the community, soothed wounded egos, and brought warring parties together. (The Arts at Black Mountain College, 14)

An obituary was written by Barbara by Vineyard Gazette and shares other aspects of her life.

Alternative Names: Barbara Loines

Relationships

Husband: BMC faculty, Theodore Dreier

Child: BMC student, Theodore Dreier, Jr.

Child: Edward Dreier

Child: Mark Dreier

Child: Freddie Dreier

Black Mountain College Project

Mary Emma Harris interviewed Ted and Barbara in 1974 (transcript) and 2001 (transcript, transcript) which are available from Appalachian State University under The Mary Emma Harris and Black Mountain College Project, Inc. Oral History collection.

Topics 1974: Barbara Loines Dreier family background – BLD study at Bryn Mawr – Josef Albers classes – dynamic nature of community – BLD engagement to TD – BLD in Rollins College community – TD family background and Dreier aunts – Katherine Dreier – Raymond Robbins – Ethel Dreier and New York City Club – friendship with J. Malcolm and Ethel Forbes – work for General Electric Company – Buckminster Fuller – psychoanalysis and early Christian faith – TD meeting BLD at Lake George – TD teaching at Rollins College – founding of BMC – John Andrew Rice – college underwriting

Topics 6/24/2001: Dressmaking with Irene Schawinsky – theme parties – initial impressions of Lee Hall – Josef and Anni Albers – arrival of Alberses at Black Mountain on train – Josef Albers classes – Roadside Cottage shared by Dreier family and Josef and Anni Albers – visitors: Thornton Wilder, John Dewey – Cuba with Alberses on invitation of Clarita Porset – trip to Mexico with Alberses – college ambiance – mealtimes – children at BMC – Buckminster Fuller – BMC philosophy in practice – arrival of Anni Albers parents in Mexico – study at Bryn Mawr – family background – Mary Gregory – meeting Ted Dreier – Dreier family – Katherine Dreier – John Evarts playing piano for college dances – plight of refugees – Anni Albers – Fritz Hansgirg and the mica mine

Topics 6/26/2001: Josef Albers photography at BMC – discussion of photocollage of Bobbie Dreier – photocollage of Bobbie Dreier and Eddie Dreier – freedom of mothers at BMC – Gertrud Lytle child care – photocollage of Ted Dreier – Ted Dreier energy and character – Josef Albers studio at Lake Eden – Josef Albers painting study – Josef Albers photo portrait – Josef Albers as teacher – Merce Cunningham – Lee Hall – loan by Katherine Dreier of paintings from her collection – John Evarts – Aldous Huxley visit – parties – Lake Eden construction and farm