Remembering "The Littlest Angel"

"The Littlest Angel" was written by Charles Tazewell and illustrated by Katherine Evans, a summer resident of Washington Island. I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with her when I was a teenager, and it remains a cherished memory. She was an accomplished illustrator and well-traveled. While I don't remember any specific words we exchanged, I do vividly recall her workspace and her presence. It left a lasting impression on me, and it was inspiring as I prepared to head off to college.

When I left Washington Island to attend the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, I rode with a friend and her mother. I had only one suitcase, and they dropped me off in front of my dorm. I had never visited the campus, nor did I know where I would be living. My dorm turned out to be Kenwood Hall, which looked like a castle—and in many ways, it was. It was a Tudor mansion right on the banks of Lake Michigan. My bedroom was on the third floor, which I shared with a roommate. It had diamond-patterned windows that looked out onto Lake Michigan, a connection to home.

My major was art, and I was told I would have to work hard to compete with my classmates, many of whom had come from city schools and had more experience than I. We were also warned that the first semester would be tough, especially English and other general studies courses, where they would "weed out" the freshman class.

So, after exams and before we left for vacation, our entire dorm, which consisted of about fifty girls, assembled in Kenwood's living room. It was a large room with oak paneling, tapestries, and a grand fireplace. Mrs. Fuller, who was our house mother, sat in her comfortable chair while we gathered around her on the floor. She read us a story: "The Littlest Angel."

The story, originally written for a radio program, is described on the inner panel as "for those who like Christmas." In the book, a little angel who doesn’t quite fit in with the heavenly realm likes to climb on the gates, and his tarnished halo falls off his head. In the end, his small gift makes a large contribution to the Christmas story.

The experience of being in Kenwood Hall was incredible, but the best part was the community of girls I shared it with. A few years ago, we had a small reunion and continue to stay in touch.

You can see more about Katherine Evans on the WI Art & Nature Center blog.

Another story about my experience at Kenwood Hall was when Elenor Roosevelt visited our dorm. That's a story for next time.