The origins of the Blackstick Review
The name Blackstick first appeared on the Mount Holyoke College campus in 1909. At that time, Blackstick was a literary society that met monthly to discuss and analyze literature, organize public readings, and occassionally, to write. The society was open only to those nominated and voted in as members, and women had to meet a strict set of criteria to be elligible, including publication in the student newspaper. However, Blackstick, as a group, never actually published anything. For unknown reasons, Blackstick--the organization--disbanded in 1961. It was only in 2004, when Professor Corinne Demas and the members of English 303 decided to publish a literary magazine, that the name was revived and the present day Blackstick Review came into being.
Blackstick member Janet Ewing and friends in the mid 1900's
 Source of title
The name Blackstick was taken from the Williamn Makepeace Thackeray story entitled "The Rose and the Ring." In Thackeray's tale, Blackstick is a wise fairy who has tired of her usual incantations. Having learned much about the world, thanks to her great age, Blackstick wishes "a little misfortune" upon her godson at his christening, as opposed to the usual gift of strength or beauty. By the end of the story, Blackstick's unappreciated gift proves most wise. Due to the hardships endured throughout the tale, the cast of characters gain many things, including self-sufficency. And in the final scene, Blackstick whisks in and saves the day, setting all right again, and making her a most worthy fairy godmother.
Original aims of Blackstick
taken from the original Blackstick constitution, 1909
"The aims of Blackstick shall be to encourage interest in things literary,
attempts of members to write, and intelligent and impartial criticism of these."
Members of the Blackstick Review, 1923-1924
 A page from the Blackstick secretary's notebook, 1911
March 18, 1911
"The regular meeting of Blackstick was held in Mary Wilder hall. Saturday evening, March 18. The meeting was called to order and the minutes read and approved. The business was in charge of Myrtle Smart and took the form of reading and criticising essays, poems, and stories supposedly written for the April issue of the "Atlantic." Elizabeth Porter, (1909) was present and offered valuable criticisms. At 9:30, the meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Myrtle Smart, sec.
More Blackstick history:
By the second year of its existence, Blackstick had a critic committee, program committee, and an entertainment and speakers committee. The group enjoyed a close relationship with the dramatic club, and often attended the theater free of charge.
Blackstick Members from the 1930's
Mrs. Hopkins of Amherst functioned as the group's fairy godmother, coming to speak with them on various literary topics, offering ideas and direction for the future of the group, and encouraging the members to continue their own writing.
It did not take long for the mebers to organize public lectures and invite guest speakers to the campus and their meetings. In 1933, T.S. Eliot came to Mount Holyoke in response to an invitation from Blackstick, and spoke with the members for an afternoon.
Two former Blackstick members, Ada Snell and Naomi Kitay, created endowments for creative writing awards later in their lives. Both awards, the Ada L.F. Snell Poetry Prize and the Naomi Kitay Fellowship, continue to be given to students by the Mount Holyoke College English Department today.
All images courtesy of the Mount Holyoke College Archives. Images are copyrighted, and not for public use.
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