Jeanne Belcher

Jeanne Belcher was a student for the 1946-1947 school year, though it is unknown if she stayed the full term. She was recruited from Fisk University where she majored in English and minored in Psychology, and ultimately returned to Fisk to graduate; in a personal letter to the College she shares that her parents insisted on the return and she was a minor and had to abide.

She is noted as participating in the student-run Modern Dance Group as a regular attendee. She was also a participant in "Three Plays: Stein, Millay, Saroyan" circa 1946, working on costumes with Mary Phelan. In Jeanne's student file, she shared that she met Vesta "casually." She noted that she was interested in fiction, creative writing, and modern dance.

She shared in her application, "I expect to gain more independence in regard to the formulation of ideas, more initiative in pursuing these ideas, as well as, competent guidance in the pursuit. As an only child I feel [that] I need more experience in community living and I think that Black Mountain College is singularly able to provide this experience. I also feel that as a Negro, I would gain immeasurably from close association with students of other racial heritages."

In a recommendation letter from a former teacher "Roberts," on August 10, 1946 they shared "her physical appearance is attractive, her clothes are selected with taste and worn with care as to suitability and neatness. On the whole, her personality is pleasing and she is genuinely charming. While she is sometimes subject to moods, she is probably no more so than the average person. Her manner is generally frank and outspoken but it is balanced by a genial naïveté."

Asheville Art Museum Collection

Writings about Jeanne can be seen in digitized college bulletins on Asheville Art Museum's collection website: collection.ashevilleart.org. They can be found by searching these accession numbers: 2017.40.270, 2017.40.218

Courses Taken

FallTerm 1946: Shakespeare (Richards), Psychology of Social Issues (Wallen), Chorus (Schlesinger)

Spring Term 1946-47: Human Relations (Wallen), Thomas Mann (Richards), American Labor Problems (Neibyl), Printing. Attended but did not register for “Dynamics of Learning” with Wallen