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Photos through the Decades at Meredith College: 1900s

In the Meredith College archives are literally hundreds of photos. With them, we can see both what students over the decades have in common, and how things have changed.

1900s

Four athletes with sports equipment. 

Four athletes with sports equipment. (Oak Leaves, 1905.)

Two students dressed for a campus production of

Actors dressed for a 1906 production of As You Like It. (Oak Leaves, 1907)

Six snapshots of students in playful poses '

Casual snapshots of members of the Cute Codak Club taken on the porch of a campus building or in the yard. (Oak Leaves, 1906)

The skeleton, surrounded by students in a science classroom, was  nicknamed

A skeleton, nicknamed "Mr. Bones," was a gift of the Class of 1907. The gift reportedly "delighted" Dr. Delia Dixon-Carroll, who taught classes in Physiology. 

This image of two young women in the Astro Hall with a props well and water pump were probably taking part in a play.

These two young women, posing in the Astro Hall with a prop well and water pump, were probably taking part in a play. (1908.)

Two students, seated on a bed, appear to be studying in their dorm room.

Many student's snapshots of the era were of friends in their dorm rooms.

A large group of students pose seated on the steps of East Building.

The downtown campus had limited space for recreation, but did have a tennis court. Tennis was a popular pastime among the students and staff. 

A group of unidentified women sit on the steps of East Building, the home of

A group of unidentified women sit on the steps of East Building, the home of "The Club," a residence hall for students who reduced expenses by buying and preparing their own food and doing their own cleaning. 

Twelve students from the

"Violin Department" (Oak Leaves, 1909.) when the college opened, many students were not interested in the full curriculum required for a bachelor's degree. Instead, they studied music or art exclusively and were awarded a diploma or certificate. Note the girls in the bottom row: they were part of the Academy serving elementary and high school students. 

Students in their their dorm room with walls decorated with photos and with banners from nearby schools.

Students often decorated their rooms with photos and with banners from nearby schools.

This photo from the Lucy Hood album (Class of 1913) is of three young Academy students with their books and an instructor.

Lucy Hood (Class of 1913) collected snapshots into an album now held in the Archives. Here an instructor and three students from the Academy pose on the lawn on the original downtown campus. 

A student in the art studio on the top floor of Main Building.

A student in the art studio on the top floor of Main Building.

Relevant Dates:

1899     Baptist Female University opens for classes

1901     Young Woman’s Christian Association organized. 

1901     Smallpox quarantine.

1902      President Richard Vann writes words to MC’s “Alma Mater.” (He writes the music as sung today in 1907.)

1902     First Class Day

1902     First graduating class (the “Immortal Ten.”) The day before commencement, the about-to-be graduates form the Alumnae Association.

1904     School renamed Baptist University for Women.

1904     School colors changed to maroon and white. (From violet and gold. Violet became color of Phis and gold became color of Astros. )

1904    First Oak Leaves published. (The yearbook was produced by senior class until taken over by  literary societies in 1906.)

1904     The iris is mentioned as the Meredith College flower. 

1905     Student Government Association begun – one of first in the south.

1906     First Crook Hunt. 

1906     First ivy chain.

1907     First Acorn literary magazine published.

1908     Business Department end.

1909     First Founders Day (January.) 

1909     School renamed Meredith College. 

1909     Art instructor Ida Poteat designs school seal.