From theArchives 76 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2026 What is a portrait of Ransom Everglades School in words? From the archives point of view, the school is defined not only by its bricks and mortar, but also by its people, philosophy and culture. We can look back 130 years to Paul Ransom’s opening of Pine Knot Camp in 1896 and trace threads across generations of people with shared visions of academic excellence, personal growth, inclusivity and lifelong learning. The constant goal throughout is to develop knowledgeable, responsible and compassionate individuals who will contribute positively to society. We can find the root of the school’s philosophy in Paul Ransom’s letter to new students to “believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it.” This, combined with Marie and Edward Swenson’s Everglades School for Girls motto of “honor through excellence,” has given us today’s mission statement, plus the core values of The RE Way. Each major transition of the school has been successful due to people believing in the school’s purpose and goals. When Paul Ransom passed away in 1907, it was his wife, Alice Ruth Ransom, who ensured that the AdirondackFlorida School continued operations. She had always been a part of the school and, realizing she could not run it alone, looked to mathematics teacher Levings Somers to become the new headmaster. He remained in the position for more than 20 years. The positive transition of the AdirondackFlorida School to the Ransom School in 1949 was due to the vision and support, both personal and financial, of alumni and trustees, such as Harry Anderson ’38, Russell Grove, C.T. Ludington, Laurence Noyes, Lithgow Osborne and Henry Timken. D. Pierre G. Cameron, the first head of the Ransom School, brought improvements, new programs and increased spirit in everything from academics to athletics to service. His energy and commitment created teamwork and a school that was better and stronger. Meanwhile, the Swensons had developed the successful Everglades School for Girls. In 1974, 19 years after it opened, the school merged with the Ransom School to create Ransom Everglades School, uniting the Swensons’ innovations with Paul Ransom’s ideal of experiential learning, as well as their shared beliefs in the value of community service. Behind the scenes, administration, faculty and staff worked on the complex integration of the two schools’ operations. Ann Goesel and Dan Leslie Bowden, both influential administrators and faculty, played pivotal roles in aligning the curricula, calendars, class schedules and more. The threads mentioned above continue today. David E. Clark ’86, RE’s Chief Operating Officer, whose great-grandfather David W. Clark had worked for Paul Ransom as the “caretaker of the campus,” remarked in October 2023 that “my colleagues and I have worked hard to foster joy, happiness and a love of learning in our students. We strive to provide a collaborative and dynamic approach to education that ignites their passions and inspires them to succeed. We want them to do well, and to be well.” Clark’s words, plus his deep connection to the school, capture the school’s portrait. This essay mentions only a few people, but countless others across the decades have worked and supported the school to bring it to the remarkable institution it is today. If you would like to learn more about the school’s history or wish to donate items to the archives collection, please contact Katrina Patchett, Director of Bookstores and Archivist, at 305 460 8867 or email kpatchett@ransomeverglades.org. By Katrina Patchett, Director of Bookstores and Archivist A Portrait of RE 3 1 2
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