Alice Meacham Williams '39 Scrapbook, 1935-1939

This scrapbook was assembled by Alice Meacham Williams and contains materials from the years 1935 through 1939, when Williams graduated from Grinnell College with a degree in English. Included in her scrapbook are a wide variety of materials from her time as a student. Each page is absolutely covered, with not one empty space available. She seems to have saved just about everything!

In Special Collections and Archives, we have an extensive number of scrapbooks donated by alumni which chronicle their time as a student at Grinnell College. Scrapbooks provide a wealth of information about student life at Grinnell over the years. Each individual book covers a slightly different time period and captures a unique point of view. Scrapbooks are a treasure trove for patrons interested in social history and Grinnell student life.

Among the most interesting materials in the Alice Meacham Williams scrapbook are the ones that truly allow patrons to gain a sense of what it was like to be a Grinnell student in the mid-30s. Sick passes, grade reports, semester fee tickets, exam schedules, and a plethora of dance cards are just some of the ephemera available. (Ephemera typically refers to printed documents that were designed for short-term use.) A card near the beginning of the book shows that Williams received a scholarship for her first year of college in the amount of $120.00, with half of the amount applied to tuition each semester. Also from her first year is a card stating that she had tested negative for tuberculosis. Other interesting materials are a cap from a bottle of Coca-Cola, with the caption, “Reed Cottage wins basketball championship. 3rd floor celebrates!” and a telegram congratulating her on joining the Forensic Club and inviting her to dinner.

We encourage anyone with an interest in alumni scrapbooks to drop by and take a look at our extensive scrapbook collection.  Special Collections and Archives is open to the public 1:30-5:00pm Monday through Friday and mornings by appointment.