Lynx to the Past

Rites of Spring (originally named Rite of Spring) is an annual spring semester music festival held at Rhodes. These days, the events usually happen over two or three days: the first day has games and parties and the second day has the main headlining performer and other opening acts. All kinds of artists have visited our beautiful campus for Rites of Spring, with some key examples being Three Six Mafia, The Black Keys, and Waka Flocka. It all started in the 1970s. Back in the good old days when rotary phones and Third Term were still a thing and when Rhodes was called Southwestern. Music was everywhere with genres like jazz, disco, soul, county and reggae blasting on radios across the country. Lynx to the Past host Kahlila Bandele '27 is joined by Randy Robertson '76 and Neil Mara '77 to record the origin of this beloved campus tradition.

Step back in time with us to the 1940s. Picture air force cadets marching across campus, sororities tirelessly raising funds for war orphans, and classrooms buzzing with nationalistic fervor. WE WANT YOU to tune in as Kahlila and Maggie delve into the fascinating history of Rhodes College during World War II. 

Once upon a time in the 80s, a lazy trust-fund heir paid a New Jersey street hustler to take his place at prep school.  While Palmer Woodrow III was off partying in Paris, Eddie Keaton (played by Judd Nelson) attended the prestigious Hoover Academy. You might recognize the location setting as our very own Rhodes College! Put on your Madras plaid, pop the collar of your polo shirt and some corn. On this special summer extravaganza by Sam Monroe '25, we go behind the scenes with Carey Scott (Rand), Jonna Lee (Tracey Hoover) and “henchman” Vincent Lemorrocco, stars of the 1984 film Making The Grade.  

Charles Edward Diehl served as president of Southwestern (now Rhodes College) for 32 years, leaving his legacy on the college through its architecture and liberal arts values. In his time as president, Diehl saw a fair share of issues, including being accused of heresy in 1931!   In this episode of Lynx to the Past, Kahlila and Professor Stephen Haynes discuss the details of the 1931 trial and answer the question “what's the Diehl with heresy?”

On the newest episode of Lynx to the Past,  Maggie Kreis '24 gets to fulfill every creative writing student's dreams when she chats with alumna author Charlaine Harris, Class of 1973!  A prolific writer, her series include the Aurora Teagarden mysteries, the Lily Bard mysteries, the Sookie Stackhouse urban fantasies, the Harper Connelly urban fantasies, the Midnight, Texas novels, the Cemetery Girl graphic novels (with Christopher Golden), and the Gunnie Rose books, set in an alternate history America. Charlaine has also written many short stories, and together with Toni L.P. Kelner she edited seven themed anthologies. Her books have sold over 39 million copies worldwide! Charlaine Harris details how being a Rhodes alum has impacted her, shares stories from her time here and gives young writers her insight on the field and craft.  

Kahlila Bandele continues to explore the history of international students on campus.  On this episode, Maggie and Kahlila discuss the relationship between Chinese students in the 1950s and American Cold War politics.  One of these students was David Wen-Wei Chang, class of 1955.  While researching this episode, we learned that Dr. Chang had published an autobiography titled “The Scholar and the Tiger”.  We recently added this book to our collection if you would like to read more about Chang's life. Email us your questions, comments, and campus memories at lynxtothepast@rhodes.edu.

Dilemma was a student-lead symposium at Rhodes that began in the 1960s and continued on into the late eighties.  The event brought experts across many fields to present on campus. In this episode, Maggie Kreis talks with Dilemma founder, Bo Scarborough, and attendee and alumnus, Ed Uthman, to learn more about the event and its reception on campus. As well, we will walk through some of the most interesting speakers and topics the symposium brought us. As always, explore the digital archives at dlynx.rhodes.edu and email us at lynxtothepast@rhodes.edu with your memories, questions and comments.

A follow up episode to part one of "Rhodes and the Cuban Revolution." In this episode the team interviews Roberto Heros, one of the students from Cuba. Heros went on to become a notable cerebrovascular neurosurgeon. He is now 81 years old and still practicing medicine at the University of Miami! Heros graciously took time to share some of his memories of his time as a student. 

On this episode Kahlila and Maggie are Havana good time discussing the 1959 Cuban revolution. You'll hear government officials, Rhodes professors, students, and more sharing their thoughts on Fidel Castro's ascent to power.

If you ever find yourself in need of the time, and you're okay with doing a little math to get it, look no further than the south wall of Rhodes Tower. There you will find a vertical sundial, designed and given to the college by physics professor Jack Streete.

Rhodes College and the city of Memphis have lost a dear friend in the passing of Bennett Wood, longtime friend of the college. Mr. Wood authored Rhodes 150, a Sesquicentennial Yearbook, which has become an invaluable resource in the creation of this podcast. Bill Short recounts for us his memories of the life and career of his long-time friend.  

Kenan and Maggie wrap up this season's celebration of the women of Rhodes with two of our most notable: Jessie L. Clough and Floy K. Hanson. Joined by Bill Short, Rosie Meindel, and Brooke Schedneck, this episode takes a deep dive into the lives and legacies of these two globe-trotting artists.

A portrait of Anne Marie Williford hangs in the common room of the dorm that bears her name.  But who was she? Kenan paints a picture of Dean Williford, drawing upon the palette of memories of Susan Williford Montgomery, Beth Carson Wallace, Frannie Taylor, and Donald Tucker.

Maggie sits down for another chat with an important woman of Rhodes, Dean of Students Alicia Golston.  Find out the one class she just would not take- and how that rewrote her life's course. Follow the path that led Dean Golston to Rhodes and how she hopes to help students navigate their own journey. 

Barret Library is vary dear to us hear at Lynx to the Past, and the woman at the head of it is even more so. Maggie Kreis talks with Library Director, Darlene Brooks, in this episode.

Voorhees has been home to thousands of Rhodes students over the years—we wanted to get to know a little more about the namesake of the building, and what it was like in its beginnings.

Continuing our celebration of the women of Rhodes, Maggie got the chance to sit down with President Jennifer Collins and her Chief of Staff, Anne Beard. Listen to hear about their journey to Rhodes, what they're dreaming up while they are here, and more!

Happy Women's History Month! To celebrate, we are starting a series all about the women of Rhodes College's past and present. In this episode, we are diving into the lives of our first woman professor and Dean of Women, Margaret Townsend, as well as our first women students on campus.

To celebrate Black History Month this year, we are starting at our beginning: how black students first came to Rhodes. Who they were, what they were doing, and what campus was like at the time are all things we were curious to learn more about in our pursuit of telling the stories of our campus' history.  This episode was researched and written by Maggie Kreis. Hosted by Maggie Kreis and Kenan Padgett. 

In 1916, Clarence Saunders boasted to the Commercial Appeal, “Piggly Wiggly will be born not with a silver spoon in his mouth, but with a workshirt on his back.”  This scrappy attitude probably appealed to President Charles Diehl who worked just as tirelessly to birth a college in Memphis. In honor of Rhodes History Day, celebrating the anniversary of the first day of classes in Memphis on September 24, 1925, this episode explores the role the founder of the world's first self-service grocery store played in the college's move to Memphis. This episode is hosted by Maggie Kreis and Kenan Padgett.  Editing by Sarah Monroe.  Music for this episode is performed by Professor Tom Bryant.

If you have listened to our episode titled Rocky Rhodes, then you know that we here at Lynx to the Past love gothic revival. The gothic revival movement brought about a resurgence in medieval-style castles and cathedrals, and it served as one of the catalysts for the very first renaissance faire, held in California in 1962. Our first faire on campus seems to have been in 1974; if we look in dlynx, our online archive, we find photos of bare-foot flower-crowned students enjoying the sun in their renaissance garb. Moving through the photos of the faire in the 70s, we see images of wind quartets, jesters perched on slate-tiled roofs, and performers in tights, ready for the stage. It seems that the faire was quite a production, one we believe campus is happy to have returned.

Over the years, Rhodes has sometimes been nicknamed“Zoo U”, most likely because of our proximity to the Memphis Zoo. On this episode of Lynx to the Past, Kenan Padgett and Maggie Kreis recount stories of all the creatures that have called the campus home over the years—from the cute and fluffy to the extinct and herbivorous.      

On a Very Special Episode of Lynx to the Past: Rhodes Madness! In the spirit of March Madness, Maggie has created a bracket of fun facts about the past presidents of Rhodes.  Caitlin and Kenan will team up to choose who they believe deserves the title of “The Most Interesting President”.   Featuring: Maggie Kreis and Kenan Padgett with special guest, Caitlin Gewin Research by Maggie Kreis Audio editing: Caitlin GewinArchival guidance by Bill ShortWith special thanks to Andrew Sullivan Theme music for this episode is the Rhodes College fight song, available at dlynx.rhodes.edu Contact us at lynxtothepast@rhodes.edu. The cats were Siamese and are reported to have had hair. The Castle was never in Memphis. Don't @ us.

Content Warning: this episode contains mild language and brief mention of eating disorders and sexual assault. On this episode of Lynx to the Past, Kenan Padgett and Maggie Kreis talk to the minds behind the Rat's Ass, a campus zine published in the 90's, and dig into the origins and purpose of zines. To view copies of the Rat's Ass while you listen, go to https://tinyurl.com/theRatsAss Audio editing by Caitlin Gewin and archival assistance from Bill Short. Theme music is “The Lynx March” performed by Barrett Bailey. Special thanks to our guests- Mike Augspurger ‘94, Clay Combs ‘93, Brian Dixon ‘93, Pat Garrett ‘94, and Charles Schafer ‘94.

On this episode of Lynx to the Past, Kenan Padgett and Maggie Kreis will dive into the history of a prolific sculptor who left her mark on Rhodes and the world.

On this episode of Lynx to the Past, Kenan Padgett and Maggie Kreis uncover stories of the people behind the many greenspace dedications at Rhodes, learning who they were and the legacy that they left. 

On this episode of Lynx to the Past, Kenan Padgett and Maggie Kreis will unearth all there is to know about the sandstone structures of Rhodes College.

Kenan and Lillian discuss the legendary three term academic calendar that was in place at Rhodes College for about 20 years. Email us with any questions or tell us your own story at lynxtothepast@rhodes.edu.

In this episode,Lillian and Kenanwill reveal how a19-year-oldcollege student from Memphis fell in love and became a symbol of hope for the United States during the second world war.Email us with any questions or tell us your own story at lynxtothepast@rhodes.edu.

One thing most of the buildings at Rhodes have in common, besides the Arkansas rubble stone, is that they are named for individuals and families that have supported our institution in some way. In this episode of Lynx to the Past, Lillian and Kenan look into who the Buckman family and why their name appears on one of our buildings on campus. Email us with any questions or tell us your own story at lynxtothepast@rhodes.edu.

The architecture of Rhodes College has long been appreciated not only for its Collegiate Gothic beauty but also for the opportunity its stone and slate give to creative pastimes. Listen to Kenan Padgett and Lillian Brimberry ’21 tell the story of Whiteball history. Email us with any questions or tell us your own story at lynxtothepast@rhodes.edu.

Have you ever wondered what the Rhodes College seal represents? Listen to librarian Kenan Padgett and Lillian Brimberry ’21 explain the symbols of our college seal and mascot. Email us with any questions or tell us your own story at lynxtothepast@rhodes.edu.