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STAFF STORIES: ESTHER CULP LITCHFIELD HATCH

ESTHER CULP LITCHFIELD HATCH

aka Esther Litchfield
aka Esther Litchfield Hatch (after 1943)

Esther Culp was born on a farm near Eureka, Illinois, and grew up in a rural environment, attending the public schools of the small country town of Eureka and graduating from Eureka College. After college, she taught high school for several years and married Orville Litchfield, who, soon after their marriage, was killed in his duty as a law-enforcement officer by an escaped convict. Following the death of her first husband, Esther Litchfield began graduate study at the University of Wisconsin. Then, in 1927, she traveled west to California to teach at the Fullerton Union High School.

Two years later, Litchfield left the high school for Fullerton Junior College. From 1928-1957, Litchfield served as Instructor of Drama, English, and Theatre Arts, Drama Director, and Dean of Women. In 1943, she married Vernon Hatch. Esther Litchfield Hatch’s service to Fullerton Junior College did not end in her retirement; immediately following, she became a member of the Board of Directors for the Fullerton Junior College Foundation until her death in 1964.

Hatch had a deep passion for service to young people both at the college and outside. She was respected and loved by her students, who affectionately called her “Litchie.” After Hatch’s death, former students, professional associates, and friends sent contributions on her behalf to the Fullerton Junior College Foundation. Thus the Esther Hatch Memorial Fund for Drama awards was established that continues to assist students today.

“I regard as a high privilege my opportunity to serve the students of Fullerton Junior College as counselor and Dean of Women. The relationship has enriched my life, and I am grateful for the experience. It is my hope that I have been able to contribute at least in some small measure to the basic knowledge, constructive attitudes, and ethical values which constitute your education.”
Esther Litchfield Hatch, Annual Torch 1950

“I would not by this mentioning of years wish to measure her service to the College in the number of classes she taught, in the years that she served, nor in the more than 70 major dramatic productions that she directed. Rather, I would measure it in the number of students whom she inspired; the students who discovered the direction for their lives under her counseling and leadership; the students who caught an enthusiasm for learning in her classes; the students who gained self-confidence in their presence; the students who shaped for themselves a sound set of values from association with her.”
H. Lynn Sheller, President, Fullerton Junior College. 1964.

Eulogy

By Dr. Lynn Sheller

Esther Culp was born on a farm near Eureka, Illinois, and she grew up in rural Illinois, attended the public schools of the small country town of Eureka, and graduated from Eureka College. After graduating from college, she taught school for several years in Illinois and was married to Orville Litchfield, who, soon after their marriage, was killed in the performance of his duty as a law-enforcement officer by an escaped convict. The next year she immersed herself in graduate study at the University of Wisconsin. Then in 1927 she came to Fullerton to accept a teaching position at the Fullerton Union High School.

Here her years were crowded with useful activity, first for a year in the High School, then from 1928 to 1957 in the Junior College. In 1943 she was married to Vernon Hatch, and their years together were satisfying and happy ones.

Esther's years in Fullerton were years of service—service first to her maker and the worldwide brotherhood of man through her church. Here was her first loyalty; here was her basic commitment; here she received the direction and sustaining faith of her life. Her service was also to the young people of this community, through her church; through the Y.W.C.A., in which organization she was active during all her years in Fullerton; and through the Panhellenic Association, especially in its scholarship activities. Her service was to various young people whom she took into her home and reared or helped through college as though they had been her own children. Her service was to the Fullerton Junior College and its students as teacher, dean, and drama director, and, after her retirement, to the Fullerton Junior College Foundation as a member of its Board of Directors until the time of her death.

During Esther's 29 years with the College she served continuously as a teacher of Speech, English, and Theatre Arts. Besides this, for 21 of these years she was director of all dramatic productions at the College and for 19 years was Dean of Women, a position which she filled with the highest distinction. I would not by this mentioning of years wish to measure her service to the College in the number of classes she taught, in the years that she served, nor in the more than 70 major dramatic productions that she directed. Rather, I would measure it in the number of students whom she inspired; the students who discovered the direction for their lives under her counseling and leadership; the students who caught an enthusiasm for learning in her classes; the students who gained self-confidence in their presence; the students who shaped for themselves a sound set of values from association with her.

She was respected and loved by her students, who affectionately called her "Litchie," because she respected and cared for them as persons. She was concerned about their personal problems. She enjoyed their successes and sympathized in their disappointments. She encouraged more than she criticized. He was characterized in one of the student yearbooks as "a pat on the back... the silver lining to many a girl's cloud." She followed the careers of her students gathered at her home in happy reunion. She had much to give, and she gave it happily, lovingly, enthusiastically, and unstintingly. Her own brief statement addressed to students in the 1950 Annual Torch summarizes well her attitude toward them and toward her profession. "I regard as a high privilege my opportunity to serve the students of Fullerton Junior College as counselor and Dean of Women. The relationship has enriched my life, and I am grateful for the experience. It is my hope that I have been able to contribute at least in some small measure to the basic knowledge, constructive attitudes, and ethical values, which constitute your education."

After Mrs. Hatch's death a spontaneous flow of contributions came in to the Foundation from her former students, professional associates, and friends. Thus was established the Esther Hatch Memorial Fund for Drama awards.

"I regard as a high privilege my opportunity to serve the students of Fullerton Junior College as counselor and Dean of Women."

Date of birth:

November 16, 1896

Date of death:

October 17, 1964

Name clarification:

  • Maiden name: Culp
  • First Husband: Orville Litchfield (deceased soon after their marriage)
  • Second Husband: Vernon Hatch (married 1943)

Dates at Fullerton College:

1928-1957; 1957-64, Fullerton Junior College Foundation

Department or Specialty:

Drama

Title/Award(s):

  • 1957-1964, Board of Directors, Fullerton Junior College Foundation
  • 1928-1957, Instructor, Theatre Arts, English, and Speech, Fullerton Junior College
  • 1928-1949, Head of Drama Department, Fullerton Junior College
  • 1928-1947, Dean of Women, Fullerton Junior College
  • 1927-1928, Instructor, Fullerton Union High School
  • M.A., University of Wisconsin
  • Teacher of English, Lacon High School, Illinois
  • Teacher of English, Minonk High School, Illinois
  • 1919, B.A., Eureka College, Illinois
  1. Holmes Fletcher, Russell. “Who’s Who in California.” Litchfield, (Mrs.) Esther Culp. Vol. 1942-43. Page 132 of 235. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/russell-holmes-fletcher/whos-who-in-california-volume-1942-43-tel/page-132-whos-who-in-california-volume-1942-43-tel.shtml.
  2. Porter, Tom, ed. “Esther Hatch, Former Dean at FJC, Dies.” The Hornet [Fullerton College] 23 Oct. 1964, Vol. XLIII ed., No. 6 sec.: 3. Fullerton College Library Newspaper Online Archives. Web. 18 June 2012. http://http://fclonlinearchives.fullcoll.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/FCHornet/id/3552/rec/25.
  3. Sheller, H. Lynn. “Scholarships History: Esther and Vernon Hatch Drama Scholarship.” Fine Arts Division. Fullerton College, n.d. Web. 19 June 2012 http://theatre.fullcoll.edu/scm.asp?scmpageid=6.
  4. Photo Citation: Litchfield, Esther. “Dean of Women Greets Senior Classes.” The Torch Weekly [Fullerton College] 8 May 1929, Vol. VII ed., No. 27 sec.: 3. Fullerton College Library Newspaper Online Archives. Web. 18 June 2012. http://http://fclonlinearchives.fullcoll.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/FCHornet/id/174/rec/8.