In the Archives, we have three originals of this 31 ¼” x 7” panoramic photograph. In it, the Meredith College community have gathered on the original downtown campus.
An article in the March 14, 1924 Twig reported that “over three hundred Meredith girls” - plus staff - “pour(ed) out of the entrance of Main Building last Wednesday morning during chapel hour.” The writer added that the students having “no time to put on our best accoutrements…the pictures show us as we really are.”
The photograph, according to the article, was taken by Mr. Frye (actually, the name was "Fry") of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was likely using a Cirkut camera. Patented in 1904, the Cirkut used large format film capable of producing a 360-degree photograph up to 20 feet long. Both the camera and the film rotated on a special tripod during the exposure. Cirkut cameras were used mostly by commercial photographers to capture city views, group portraits, and special events.
While it is very difficult to identify the students, several of the faculty and staff on the front row are recognizable.
In the panoramic photo of the downtown campus, students and staff fill the foreground, with several college officials and instructors in the front row, much to the amusement of the Twig.
Carlyle Campbell Library
Meredith College
3800 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
919-760-8532
