Hazel Belle Abbott was born October 29, 1886 on a farm southwest of Tabor,. She started school at the age of 4. She graduated as salutatorian from Yankton Academy. In 1912 she graduated from Yankton College, and in 1916 she received a Bachelor of Expression degree from Columbia College of Expression in Chicago.
She studied for her master's degree at Columbia University. From 1927 to 1956, Hazel was on the faculty at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
While in South Carolina, Hazel pursued a full career. In addition to her teaching duties, she directed plays, did extensive writing and lecturing, produced radio dramas, and worked on entertainment for and with soldiers during World War II. She attained the rank of full professor and became the head of the Drama and Speech Department of Converse College. Her work in the theater gained her national reputation in theatre circles for staging, costumes and directing.
Hazel Abbott was intensely interested in the history of her native state. She wrote and produced "The Pageant of Bon Homme", "The Pageant of Tyndall", and in 1967 she wrote and directed "Life at Yankton College". Students from the college as well as townspeople participated and former students came back to assume the roles they played in college. "Life" magazine sent their photographers and devoted a full page to the production.
When she retired from Converse College in 1957, she worried for fear that she would become "stale". She became editor of the "Yanktonais", the college alumni magazine and held that position until 1961. From that time on, she kept busy doing historical research. The last few years she worked on family histories, the college history and Bon Homme County history.
She died May 26, 1970 at the age of 83 years.
She studied for her master's degree at Columbia University. From 1927 to 1956, Hazel was on the faculty at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
While in South Carolina, Hazel pursued a full career. In addition to her teaching duties, she directed plays, did extensive writing and lecturing, produced radio dramas, and worked on entertainment for and with soldiers during World War II. She attained the rank of full professor and became the head of the Drama and Speech Department of Converse College. Her work in the theater gained her national reputation in theatre circles for staging, costumes and directing.
Hazel Abbott was intensely interested in the history of her native state. She wrote and produced "The Pageant of Bon Homme", "The Pageant of Tyndall", and in 1967 she wrote and directed "Life at Yankton College". Students from the college as well as townspeople participated and former students came back to assume the roles they played in college. "Life" magazine sent their photographers and devoted a full page to the production.
When she retired from Converse College in 1957, she worried for fear that she would become "stale". She became editor of the "Yanktonais", the college alumni magazine and held that position until 1961. From that time on, she kept busy doing historical research. The last few years she worked on family histories, the college history and Bon Homme County history.
She died May 26, 1970 at the age of 83 years.
Hazel Belle Abbott was born October 29, 1886 on a farm southwest of Tabor,. She started school at the age of 4. She graduated as salutatorian from Yankton Academy. In 1912 she graduated from Yankton College, and in 1916 she received a Bachelor of Expression degree from Columbia College of Expression in Chicago.
She studied for her master's degree at Columbia University. From 1927 to 1956, Hazel was on the faculty at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
While in South Carolina, Hazel pursued a full career. In addition to her teaching duties, she directed plays, did extensive writing and lecturing, produced radio dramas, and worked on entertainment for and with soldiers during World War II. She attained the rank of full professor and became the head of the Drama and Speech Department of Converse College. Her work in the theater gained her national reputation in theatre circles for staging, costumes and directing.
Hazel Abbott was intensely interested in the history of her native state. She wrote and produced "The Pageant of Bon Homme", "The Pageant of Tyndall", and in 1967 she wrote and directed "Life at Yankton College". Students from the college as well as townspeople participated and former students came back to assume the roles they played in college. "Life" magazine sent their photographers and devoted a full page to the production.
When she retired from Converse College in 1957, she worried for fear that she would become "stale". She became editor of the "Yanktonais", the college alumni magazine and held that position until 1961. From that time on, she kept busy doing historical research. The last few years she worked on family histories, the college history and Bon Homme County history.
She died May 26, 1970 at the age of 83 years.
She studied for her master's degree at Columbia University. From 1927 to 1956, Hazel was on the faculty at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
While in South Carolina, Hazel pursued a full career. In addition to her teaching duties, she directed plays, did extensive writing and lecturing, produced radio dramas, and worked on entertainment for and with soldiers during World War II. She attained the rank of full professor and became the head of the Drama and Speech Department of Converse College. Her work in the theater gained her national reputation in theatre circles for staging, costumes and directing.
Hazel Abbott was intensely interested in the history of her native state. She wrote and produced "The Pageant of Bon Homme", "The Pageant of Tyndall", and in 1967 she wrote and directed "Life at Yankton College". Students from the college as well as townspeople participated and former students came back to assume the roles they played in college. "Life" magazine sent their photographers and devoted a full page to the production.
When she retired from Converse College in 1957, she worried for fear that she would become "stale". She became editor of the "Yanktonais", the college alumni magazine and held that position until 1961. From that time on, she kept busy doing historical research. The last few years she worked on family histories, the college history and Bon Homme County history.
She died May 26, 1970 at the age of 83 years.
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