Cornelliana History Brothers: A Chat with Evan Earle ’02, MS ’14, and Corey Earle ’07 Steeped in Big Red lore since childhood, they ponder their favorite artifacts, what Ezra would think of today’s University, and more By Beth Saulnier As the Earle brothers like to put it, Evan “does the stuff” and Corey “does the story.” Evan Earle ’02, MS ’14, is the University Archivist—responsible for collecting and preserving materials pertaining to Cornell’s history, and making them accessible to researchers and the public. His younger brother, Corey Earle ’07, is the University’s longtime (if unofficial) historian: as a visiting lecturer in American studies, he teaches AMST 2001: The First American University—affectionately known as “Storytime with Corey”—a wildly popular one-credit course on Cornell lore. Corey (center) and Evan (right) with dad Brian, sporting Big Red colors at Lynah. (Photo provided) Corey also frequently speaks to alumni groups and serves as a resource to innumerable administrators and departments—in addition to his full-time job as a principal gifts officer in Alumni Affairs and Development. Members of a large, multigenerational Cornellian clan, Evan and Corey grew up in the Ithaca area as faculty kids; their dad, Brian Earle ’67, BS ’68, MPS ’71, taught communication in CALS for nearly four decades before retiring in 2008. (Their great-uncle, Paul Hoff, MS ’40, was the first to attend, followed by their grandfather, CALS professor Wendell Earle, PhD ’50, and all five of his children.) Evan (left) and Corey in 1987. (Photo provided) From early childhood, the Earle brothers were surrounded by history: their family home, a former parsonage in West Dryden, dates from 1832. This summer, the brothers are teaming up to teach their first joint course, titled “Cornell, Collections & Conflict.” Offered through Cornell’s Adult University and based in Kroch Library, the weeklong class will examine the institution’s history through the lens of its archival holdings, with a focus on notable eras from the Civil War to the COVID-19 pandemic. In early May, Cornellians got Evan and Corey together for a chat in Kroch—the subterranean space that’s home to the University Archives—to reflect on their roles as “brothers in Big Red history.” What are your earliest Cornell memories? Corey: I remember going to my dad’s office in the old Roberts Hall before it was torn down, playing on a chalkboard as he was getting ready to move out. Evan: He would bring us to his classes—it wasn’t frequent, but enough that it stands out as a memory, seeing him lecture and interact with students. But my strongest affiliation with campus in my youth was hockey games. My parents brought me as an infant and I had season tickets from my grandparents when I was 10. I thought all Cornell students were hockey fans. Corey teaching AMST 2001, his class on Cornell history. Now a Big Red institution on par with the Hotel school’s Intro to Wines, it draws more than 400 students each spring—filling its lecture hall to capacity and generating a long waiting list. (Photo provided) Corey: Hockey players were my babysitters, because several would live with our grandparents each year, before the NCAA cut down on that practice. Evan: We had all these “older brothers” who were players. I’d bring them to school for show-and-tell; they’d bring all their equipment, sign autographs, and talk about being on the team. One way that I built ties to Cornell was through these hockey players being so loving with us as little kids. We had all these ‘older brothers’ who were hockey players. I’d bring them to school for show-and-tell.Evan Earle Do you have a favorite piece of Cornelliana, either something in the Archives or that you own? Corey: I have the Andy Bernard diploma that hung on the wall in “The Office.” They auctioned off the props after the show ended, and Evan purchased it for me as a birthday present—and when Ed Helms gave the Convocation address, I had him sign it. When I give the lecture in my class on “Cornell and pop culture,” I bring it in and students pose with it. Evan: Having the charter that established the University in the Archives is amazing. We also have the seminal letters of Ezra Cornell—the one where “any person, any study” is first used; and the one about an African-American student, saying “send him”; and the one to his granddaughter about wanting women to be educated here. I also like that we have the very first diploma that the University ever gave—from the first class, and the first person alphabetically. Cornell, Collections & Conflict When: July 11–15 Cost: $1,240–$2,269 (depending on whether meals and/or housing are included) Register by: June 25 Corey: I wonder if any other universities have their first diploma? I imagine that’s rare. Evan: Yes, it’s very special. But actually, the thing I usually say is my favorite item is the socks that Ezra Cornell wore on his wedding day. His mother saved them, and they went up on the Space Shuttle Columbia [carried by astronaut G. David Low ’80]. What do you admire most about your alma mater? Evan (right) and Brian Earle on Evan’s graduation day in 2002. (Photo provided) Evan: The breadth—of the fields of study, the faculty, the students. Other than all being here and connected to the University, we’re not homogenous. This is a place where you can have a conversation with someone who has a completely different background from you, and do so comfortably. And to some degree, I think that extends to the Ithaca community as a whole. Corey (left) and his dad at 2007 Commencement; he later earned a master’s from Columbia. (Photo provided) Corey: Another element is the opportunities that students have for personal growth—for learning in different fields, for exposure to different perspectives and backgrounds. We also have a history that we can be proud of: Cornell is set apart in the fact that it was founded on principles of access and inclusion. If you could time travel to the 1800s and ask Ezra one question, what would it be? Evan: I’d pick his brain further, to hear in his own words: what did “any person, any study” mean to him? We have his writings about it, and I think we can say that he truly believed in that message. But to hear him explain what he meant by that vision—I’d love to learn that from him. Corey: In the context of higher education today, it’d be interesting to see how the interpretation of “any person” has evolved over the years; how similar is it today to what he meant? I don’t think many people realize how progressive this farmer in the 1860s was. He was thinking about things that people weren’t having conversations about until decades later—the whole idea of access and inclusion in higher education. Back then it was mainly for wealthy, white, Protestant men. Ezra Cornell was really ahead of his time. On a similar note: if you could have coffee with any Cornellian from history, whom would you choose? Corey: [Founding president] Andrew Dickson White was around for so long—he saw a third of Cornell’s history—so he would have a great perspective. But I don’t think he was a lot of fun to hang out with; he was a very serious guy. On the other hand, he was an ambassador and entertained people from all over, so he was probably pretty good at sitting down for coffee or tea and telling stories. Evan (center) in Kroch Library with his immediate predecessors as University Archivist: Gould Colman ’51, PhD ’62 (left), and Elaine Engst, MA ’72. (Photo provided) Evan: He was here from the beginning. Hearing what he thought of the University toward the end of his life, in the middle of World War I—Was it going the right direction? What would he like to see it accomplish in the future?—would be fascinating. We have a history that we can be proud of: Cornell is set apart in the fact that it was founded on principles of access and inclusion.Corey Earle Evan, as the University Archivist, what do you think of Corey’s class on Cornell history? Evan: Well, to have an opinion, I needed to see it firsthand—so when I was a grad student, I took it for credit. And I really enjoyed it. But what also makes me happy about his course is the number of people he’s impacting—not only getting them to understand important aspects of Cornell history that make us such a unique institution, but building community and the togetherness of the shared experience of what it means to be a Cornell student. Finally, how do you think Ezra would feel about the institution he founded, if he could see it today? Corey: He was into the cutting edge of things; the telegraph, this great new invention—he wanted to explore it and invest in it. He believed in technology improving our lives and the future. So I think he’d be excited to see how that is continuing to play out. The Earles—(from left) Evan, Brian, Jody, and Corey—at an event marking Cornell’s sesquicentennial. (Photo provided) Evan: I think he’d be pleased at how much innovation is taking place here—not necessarily focused on engineering or technology, but being at the forefront of your field, regardless of subject. Corey: And he’d be astonished at the growth of the University, and its diversity. He kept a little diary of where students came from; he was really proud of the fact that Cornell drew students from all over the world. So looking at the student body today—I think that would be fun for him. Top image: Corey (left) and Evan Earle outside Uris Library. (Photo by Jason Koski / Cornell University) Published May 13, 2022 Comments Jane Mack 13 May, 2022 These ‘History Brothers’ are golden nuggets of insight and allegiance. They have built an epic brand for Cornell which inspires alumni pride and support. Reply Harold Seifried 13 May, 2022 Super family and a total honor to know them. Makes our Cornell family proud. 7 degrees in all from Cornell and Brian was our daughter’s mentor. Great article Reply Warren Kurtzman, Class of 1987 13 May, 2022 This is an excellent piece. I’m fortunate to know Corey personally and Brian was the professor who had the biggest impact on me as a student, so this was a great opportunity to get to know Evan a little bit as well. The Earle family is a tremendous asset to the Cornell community! Reply James g Miller, Class of 1969 14 May, 2022 It’s a treat to know them and to grow “mature” over the decades with Mom and Dad. I especially appreciate Evan’s enthusiastic willingness to squeeze in a Kroch Library presentation for my SUNY Cortland freshmen History/Social Studies majors each Fall. God bless them. Reply Terry McKeegan Davis, Class of 1968 14 May, 2022 Such a wonderful, wonderful family ! Brian and Jody are Ithaca High School Band classmates of ours and close friends. Evan and Corey are our Lansing neighbors. They all are an incredible asset to the Cornell community. So proud and grateful to know them all personally. This article is fabulous. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. 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