A Primer in School Records
Family history researchers focus most often on locating birth, marriage, and death records to construct the basic events of our ancestors' lives. We then flesh out the names and dates with locations, occupations, and other details using census records, land and property records, military service records, obituaries, and probate packets. If we look at all these basic record types, it is possible to weave together a tapestry of the adult lives of our family members. However, we are missing a significant portion of these people's lives—their formative school years, which may provide potentially valuable clues and insights about them.
School records can provide a wealth of information about some of our ancestors, and in "Along Those Lines . . ." this week, I'd like to offer some suggestions about the types of records you might look for as you are researching your ancestors.
Enrollment and Registration Records
Consider the information you or your parents had to supply when completing enrollment cards and registration papers for any school. Parents' and students’ names (sometimes including mother's maiden name), address, and contact information were essential. Each student's date of birth, previous education and location, medical and inoculation history, and other details were often required. Educational institutions maintain these records as core components of every student's academic record file.
Transcripts
Students are measured on their academic performance, and their grades are permanently recorded in the school's file for the student. It is possible to obtain copies of transcripts for students from all levels of educational facilities. Colleges and universities request them all the time, as do employers seeking to verify the credentials of prospective employees. Genealogists can do the same. For example, I obtained copies of the transcripts for my aunt, Mary Allen Morgan, and her academic records from Peace College for 1922-25 and Duke University from 1925-26. These provide insight into her course of study, her declared major, her academic achievements, and her grades—a good indication of her academic commitment.
Yearbooks
One of the most frequently overlooked school record resources is the yearbook. Annuals have been produced by colleges, universities, high schools, military schools and academies, and private schools for many decades, and the practice has even extended to elementary and junior high schools. I enjoy tracing the year-by-year physical changes of students through their academic careers by locating both the portrait photographs and the candid shots taken in class and extracurricular activities. Better yet, you can often find important details about the person. Perhaps, for instance, a person's nickname is listed and a yearbook can help you finally determine how that nickname originated.
In The Lotus, the Peace College yearbook from 1925, my aunt's photograph is shown. In this yearbook from her final year, along with her photograph is a list of her activities throughout her academic stay there, including acting as treasurer of the Y.W.C.A. for two years and serving on the cabinet, playing intramural basketball, acting as a dorm fire marshal, participating in the drama club, receiving the Statistics Award, serving as a school delegate to a religious conference, and other activities. Her personal quote is included, as well as a paragraph meant to convey some sense of the type of person she was and her aspirations for the future. This is good stuff!
Alumni Directories, Newsletters, and Magazines
Alumni associations are active organizations, often engaging in strenuous fundraising. They provide an essential function, however, in publishing materials to communicate stories about the school and about alumni and their activities and achievements. A study of alumni directories can provide the addresses over time of your ancestor if he or she remained in contact with the school. Alumni associations also publish newsletters and magazines containing information about the school and about alumni. Sometimes the association maintains an index of alumni names and the issue of the publication in which they were mentioned. A complete collection of an alumni association's directories can usually be found with the association and/or in the academic library of the school.
Fraternity and Sorority Records
A yearbook can be a valuable clue in determining whether your ancestor belonged to a fraternity or sorority. The organizations also maintain membership records at a school and national level. Checking with the fraternity or sorority at the school may provide interesting details about your ancestor's residency in the house. Who knows? Your ancestor may actually be a house legend for some outlandish prank. Check with the fraternity or sorority to determine if it publishes directories and newsletters for members, and find out where to locate the archive.
Reunion Records
Class reunions have always been popular events. They may be organized and sponsored by class members, alumni associations, or by the academic institution itself. In any case, it is important to check for class reunions for the tenth, twentieth, twenty-fifth, etc., anniversary. Some smaller schools, such as the military academy I attended, even hold all-class reunions each year for the attendance of all alumni for all graduating classes.
Reunion registrants' names may be included in commemorative reunion booklets, along with short biographical sketches containing names of spouses and children, place of residence, type of employment, memberships, achievements, and other details. Copies of these materials often find their way to the alumni association and the school library or archives. In addition, make sure you check local newspaper records in the event that they reported on and photographed the reunion.
Researching the Records
Locating the school records you want doesn't have to be difficult. You need to know where (geographically) to start, though. Primary and secondary schools' records can usually be located by contacting the board of education in the town or county in which the child attended school. College and university academic records and transcripts can usually be obtained through the registrar's office for the institution. Alumni associations, fraternities, and sororities can be located through the institution as well. Copies of yearbooks, alumni directories, newsletters, magazines, and other publications may be stored in school archives, in school libraries, and sometimes in local public libraries. Genealogical and historical societies may also have copies of yearbooks. Don't overlook the fact that sometimes they can be found in antique stores and thrift shops.
The information you prospect through your research of school records can provide details about that important period in your ancestor's life that shaped his or her adult life. I've recently written a letter to Georgia Tech to obtain copies of my grandfather's records from 1897-1901, and I can't wait to see them. If you do your own homework and look for these types of records, you can share the excitement of this type of discovery too.
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