John T. Barret Photograph Collection, 1922-1924 (bulk 1924) (VAC340)
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Biography of John T. Barret
John Thomas Barret (09 October 1903-20 December 1979), of Fort Smith, Arkansas, entered Georgia Tech in the fall of 1922. Originally slated to be a member of the class of 1926, Barret dropped out of school for a while. After returning to Tech, he graduated in 1929 with a degree in civil engineering.
While a student at Tech, Barret was on the honor roll and won the freshman oratorical medal. Barret also was a member of the track and cross country teams. In 1924, as a sophomore, Barret ran in and won the Cross Country Run, better known as the Cake Race.
The 1924 Cake Race had approximately 600 men competing for 132 cakes baked and decorated by faculty wives and sponsors. Barret won this race, setting a new time record of 18 minutes, 44 seconds. He was well ahead of the other runners--approximately 50 yards in front of his nearest competitor. As the winner Barret got his pick of cakes, although it was suggested to him to choose the cake made by the race sponsor Miss Mary Lamar Knight. Barret also received a gold medal and a varsity "T."
In 1939, Barret married Salome Meister. Barret served in the Army during World War II and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. He is buried, alongside his wife, in the Fort Smith (Arkansas) National Cemetery.
Description
The John T. Barret Photograph Collection contains three images of Barret's freshman dorm room and eight images of the 1924 Cake Race. All but three of the photographs are copy photos, and all are black and white. On the back of each of the eight copy photographs there are detailed notes written by Barret. The notes include information not only about the images, but also about Barret's state of mind, his roommates, and friends, including Walt Mitchell, Randolph Allen, Mary Lamar Knight, and Martha Morrow.
Finding Aid
A detailed inventory of the John T. Barret Collection can be found at http://www.library.gatech.edu/archives/finding-aids/display/xsl/VAC340.
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Archival MaterialDisplay of cakes made by faculty wives and sponsors(Georgia Institute of Technology, 1924-03-08)
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Archival MaterialJohn T. Barret in cake race, near the finish, on Grant Field(Georgia Institute of Technology, 1924-03-08)
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Archival MaterialStart of cake race, on Grant Field(Georgia Institute of Technology, 1924-03-08)
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Archival MaterialJohn T. Barret after cake race, in street clothes and with his cake(Georgia Institute of Technology, 1924-03-08)Georgia Tech Freshman Cross Country Run, March 8, 1924. Picture of John T, Barret, sophomore, Class of 1926, winner of the race at 18 minutes, 44 I seconds. Shown here with his cake and after shower and resumption of his usual student attire. He stands at the Southeast corner of Shack No, 1, his regular domicile during last half of his sophomore year. He is wearing W.W.I G.I. shoes and parts of his R.O.T.C. uniform. Cake by Miss Mary Lamar Knight which she personally presented him as sponsor of the race. It is sad that in those early times the winner did not receive a kiss from the sponsor, as well as her cake, which became customary twenty years or so later. Note the neglected appearance of his GI shoes. At Tech Barret considered shining his everyday shoes a waste of time and an "interference" with his studies. Later while in the Army during WWII he was issued 2 pair of GI shoes. Because of early difficulties with Saturday morning inspections he adopted the policy of reserving one particular pair as his "inspection" shoes which he would wear only at inspections and parades. These he kept in a high state of polish, even polishing them at times when they really didn't need it. The other pair were always worn as everyday shoes and he maintained them as time permitted by cleaning and polishing them practically every day. There came a time of almost continuous rain for a full week. It was impossible to keep shoes in decent condition, even if you wore them on alternate days, making honest efforts each day to clean and polish the pair not being worn. At Saturday's Inspection there were few decent looking shoes. The Inspecting Officer looked over Pfc. Barret real good, then remarked: "Those shoes have the appearance of those of a real soldier."
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Archival MaterialJohn T. Barret with Mary Lamar Knight, sponsor of race, with his cake prize(Georgia Institute of Technology, 1924-03-08)GEORGIA TECH FRESHMAN CROSS COUNTRY RUN; Grant Field, Saturday Afternoon, March 8, 1924. Won by John T. Barret, sophomore, Class of 1926. (He later dropped out of school and did not graduate until June, 1929.) Here we see the hero in all his glory, receiving at the hands of Miss Mary Lamar Knight, 104 Ginwood Place, Atlanta, Phone Hemlock 563 5-W, sponsor of the race, the winner's cake which Miss Knight prepared herself with her own white hands. Miss Knight, member of the Atlanta Junior League and Debutnat's Club, was far above this Yo-Ho from Crawford County, Arkansas, and was terrified when his Inspector 'Little Six" Carpenter, a member of Koseme, advised him later in the day that, not only must he address to Miss Knight a note of gratitude and appreciation for the delicious cake, but he must politely request a date of her. After a three day emotional struggle with his timidity around girls, Barret called Miss Knight for a date which she graciously granted to his great surprise. He rode her on the Ponce de Leon streetcar from her home to the Howard Theater and back, - something over two miles each way, - and after the show he provided her with light refreshments at a neighborhood drugstore. Throughout this social occasion Miss Knight was uniformly cordial, friendly, understanding and sympathetic. Feeling himself intruding into the true Royalty of Atlanta society, Barret did not ask Miss Knight for a second date, though she urged him to do so when he left her at her door. He even neglected to make any effort to kiss her goodnight. One of the Atlanta papers published a picture of our hero and Miss Knight in a group with Miss Catherine Cannady and Miss Corday Rice, also of the Atlanta Junior League and Debutant's Club.