Not to long ago I was perusing my favorite free bookshop, the neighborhood dump, and among all the Mary Higgins Clark and John Grisham I stumbled upon a pile of Depression-era yearbooks from Rhode Island State College. That's what is so great about the dump: My fellow dump divers usually lean towards the less interesting and leave me with a great selection of books...like a leather-bound 1896 version of Tennyson's poems, or a first edition 'The Dark Island' by Vita Sackville-West.
Anywho...back to the yearbook. Inside lay hundreds of specimens of life of the young buck or doe graduating in the class of 1936. What happened to them afterwards? Are they still alive? I can't help but make up stories about all of them!
Here we have Ernestine Elizabeth Greene. Isn't she striking? I feel like done up in a more Pre-Code attire and a permanent wave, she could be the next Norma Shearer. But alas! she studied Science and my guess is she was married before graduation and the only time she used her Science education was when her five kids were working on their homework. I actually hope this didn't happen.
Many of the women majored in Home Economics, which is such a change from today!
Next up: F. Justin McCarthy. Majoring in Physical Education. He seems the quiet-type doesn't he? He's another one with such an interesting look (and wardrobe). What did he go on to do with his life? Did he go back home to Maine and become a gym teacher? (Down East Dilettante: was he your gym teacher?) Any guesses?
I'll leave you with that today, but tomorrow (I hope this isn't a bore for you) we'll discuss the scandalous lives of Sororities, Varsity Sports and secretive Art Professors. All products of my imagination!
5 comments:
I thought I was the only one that looked at old yearbooks and came up with stories! Some people just speak to me and I wonder what ever happend to them...go figure.
oooh... i can't wait!
How delightful! Both of them are most marvelous looking. I love them both!
Oh dear! I'm finding this incredibly moving! It's going to be one of those days. Thank you!
What a great post, I do stare and wonder and stare and wonder, who are you there in the photograph? You are not alone.
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