Love of reading leads to Archives donation

Published or Revised January 23, 2008

A generous gift has come to the A.M. & Welma Aikin Regional Archives at Paris Junior College from retired PJC instructor Betty Clement of Paris in the form of books, many signed by the authors. Clement was with PJC from 1967 to 1999 as an instructor of English and for many years also the Communications Division Chair. Clement has a Master of Divinity and has pursued graduate studies at Columbia University in New York City, Oxford, England, and the University of Mississippi at Oxford, and is interested for PJC students to have the same opportunities to learn that she has had. "I believe the Archives is a great place for students to come study, read and learn," Clement said, "and I want these books to be used." "We're very glad to have this significant gift from Mrs. Clement," said Archivist Daisy Harvill. "As a PJC instructor she worked to instill her passion for reading in her students; this legacy continues to promote reading at PJC." The donation also brought an opportunity to reminisce for Clement, Harvill, and PJC Dean of Academic Studies Dwight Chaney about some of the book authors they knew. Among those discussed was William A. Owens, a noted teacher, lecturer and writer, Lamar County native and PJC graduate who wrote the school song. Clement had an opportunity to study at Columbia University and while there became a friend, as did Chaney, of Owens. "I want to keep these authors alive in people's memory and thoughts," Clement said. "This is the best place for these books to be." In addition to Owens, signed editions include authors such as James Dickey, Edward Albee, Bel Kaufman, Leon Claire Metz, William Broyles, Jr., and John William Carrington. Other authors include Fred Tarpley, Robert Flynn, Dr. Pam Allen-Thompson, Paul Wells Barrus, James A. Grimshaw, Jr., Rick Stewart, Lou Halsell Rodenberger, Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, Shelby Hearon, Molly Ivins, Gordon Baxter, Dee Brown, James Byrd, Tony Clark, J. Frank Dobie, Edward C. Fritz, Ernestine Savell Link, and Phillip W. Steele. To donate or find out more about the A.M & Welma Aikin Regional Archives at Paris Junior College, go to www.aikinarchives.org, call 903-782-0411 or contact Harvill at dharvill@parisjc.edu.