Alumna’s Family Gets Firsthand Look at Her Converse Legacy

Converse Music Librarian and Voice Teacher, Wendi Arms had a visit from Molly Gray, the granddaughter of Converse alumna Berta Hamilton Hookker (Class of 1906).

Ms. Gray generously donated sheet music from the 1800’s and recordings that used to belong to members of her family to Mickel Library. Gray and her husband, son, and three grandchildren stopped by Mickel Library while traveling home to Beaufort, SC, to personally drop off the items. Wendi Arms welcomed the family and talked about their Converse connection.

Gray told Wendi that her grandmother loved the years that she spent at Converse. Berta Hamilton Hookker was voted Class President three years in a row and she was also the Valedictorian of her class.

Wendi asked the family if they’d like to look up their grandmother in the yearbooks archived in the library. Wendi said, “Everyone agreed, and we walked upstairs to see the yearbooks. The picture and write-up in the yearbook delighted the whole family! I took photos of the family, the yearbook cover, and the page about Berta.”

Gray went on to say that she had other members of her family attend Converse in later years. Wendi said, “Who knows, the impression made on the young Gray children today may inspire them to study here as well someday! I hope so!”