The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review, June 1922
Catherine C. Braddock, M.A
Catherine C. Braddock, M.A.
It is with deep regret that we' record the death of Miss Catherine C. Braddock, M.A.
Miss Braddock was at College from 1912—1917, and members of the Free Discussion Club will recall the keenness and enterprise with which she threw herself into the investigation of subjects that were under discussion. This exemplifies her spirit in all things. In her case, university education involved the discovery of a new philosophy of life, and she had no hesitation in risking her prospects of academic success by changing her course from Botany to Philosophy, when she found the centre of her interests had shifted. Notwithstanding this change, and the great disadvantages under which she worked, she left a very good college and university record: Graduated B.A. in 191(5, M.A. with First Class Honours in Philosophy in 1917, in which year she was also awarded a Jacob Joseph Scholarehip, which enabled her to carry on the work of her greatest interest—experimental investigations in Psychology. Fortunately at the end of her course, the PostGraduate Scholarship in Arts was founded and she was elected First Scholar by the University Senate.
Electing to go to England, she spent a year doing research work in the Psychological Laboratory of Cambridge University, and was there offered and accepted the Sage Fellowship in Psychology at Cornell University, U.S.A., where her work came under the personal direction and influence of Professor E. Bradford Titchener in the Research School of Psychology. Her training had just been completed and she was on the eve of presenting her thesis for the Ph. D. degree, when she was attacked by pneumonic influenza, and died on March 6th in the University Infirmary, after a brief illness of three days.
During her years at' V.U.C., circumstances prevented Miss Braddock from taking part in many student activities, but she displayed a lively interest in the College life, and was the soul of the Free Discussions Club, of which she was the secretary. Under the wider influences and greater opportunities of the residential Universities of Cambridge and Cornell, she began to reap the harvest of her earlier efforts. Her life was broadened by association with diverse types of students and membership of their organisations, while in her university work the period of her 'training was coming to an end, and that of productivity was before her.
Two papers: "The Utility of Pain" and "On Imagery," had already been published in philosophical magazines, and we are glad to know that Cornell University will publish her thesis later. Those who directed her training expected great things of her. Instead came the end.
To those of us who knew how bravely Miss Braddock had fought all the disabilities of her early life, which included the interruption of her school career by a year of serious illness, this sudden death on the eve of achievement must seem tragic. But the value of life consists in the living, not merely in the achievement. She craved more than anything else the joy which a thorough training in psychology would give her, and we have conclusive evidence that she obtained it.
She was really happy during her residence at Cornell. Not only was she doing the work she loved, but she was at last trained and able to carry out research with competence and method. She knew that the years of struggle were over, and that she had won a place for herself and was appreciated by those with whom she worked.
And it was not only careful training that Cornell gave Miss Braddock but the kindest hospitality, and when illness came, all the care that the most affectionate friendship could devise. The knowledge that, thanks to the University authorities' solicitude, everything that skill and affection could do was done for her is in itself comforting, and we are glad to have this opportunity of expressing our gratitude to them for their thoughtful kindness to a student of this University.
We would also extend our sympathy to Miss Braddock's relatives in their great loss, and trust that it may be some alleviation of their sorrow to know of the value set upon her talents by her Cornell Professor, Dr. Titchener, who writes:—"She is a loss to psychology and to New Zealand, and ought to have gone far. Let us be glad that her last months were so happy."