Freshmen in Grinnell: 100 Years of New Students at Grinnell College

“Freshmen in Grinnell: 100 Years of New Students at Grinnell College” is now on display on the main floor and in Burling Gallery on the lower level. Using materials from the Special Collections and Archives, this new exhibit explores the differing experiences of first year students at Grinnell College from 1900 to 2000. Broken up into thirty year periods, each case explores the first year life and follows changes that occurred over time. Throughout the exhibit, the topics of housing, behavioral expectations, registration, and tutorial are discussed.

Items such as freshmen beanies from 1945 and 1957, student handbooks from 1901 and 1924, a variety of photographs, and new student guidebooks from the 1940s onward are featured. Stop by Burling Library to view the new exhibit — perhaps you’ll see something familiar from your own time as a first year!

This exhibit was curated by Allison Haack, with poster design by Hannah Condon ’16.