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St. Andrews University Yearbooks now available on Digital NC

Digital NC is happy to announce the 2012 – 2014 additions of the St. Andrews University Yearbooks. The yearbooks detail student club life, such as the Forensics Club, and student-athletes such as Women’s Basketball.

St. Andrews University is located in Laurinburg, North Carolina. The university was established as a merger in 1958 between two schools and has since grown to now include a graduate degree program.

Women's Basketball

Women’s Basketball at St. Andrews University

To view from St. Andrews University, including additional yearbooks and student newspapers, visit them here.

To view our collection of North Carolina Yearbooks, visit here.


St. Andrews Presbyterian College Yearbooks Available Online

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Student yearbooks from St. Andrews Presbyterian College (now St. Andrews University) are now online at DigitalNC. Yearbooks from St. Andrews span from 1962, when the college’s first class graduated, to 2010.

The collection also includes the yearbooks from two now-defunct schools: Flora Macdonald College of Red Springs, N.C., and Presbyterian Junior College of Maxton, N.C. The names of these yearbooks reflect the Scottish heritage of the Sandhills region of North Carolina: the White Heather and the Bagpipe. Several volumes of the White Heather, including this one, are actually covered in tartan.


The Pilot in “The Pilot” and More From Person County Public Library

A sepia photo of a white church with a group of people talking in groups out front

From The Pilot, June 27, 1984

Four newspapers (including two new titles) from the Person County Public Library have been added to our site along with a brochure about historic Hillsboro. The newspapers in this batch include a special issue of Southern Pines’ The Pilot celebrating the bicentennial of Moore County, most of the 2011 issues of The Courier-Times from Roxboro (some born digital), one issue of the Sampson Independent from 1995, and a few issues of Roxboro’s The News Leader from 1979.

One of the delights of the bicentennial edition of The Pilot is that it is full of little tidbits of Moore County history. One blurb celebrates the legacy of Flora Macdonald, the folk hero who helped Charles escape from Scotland after the Jacobite Rebellion. After she was imprisoned in the Tower of London and pardoned, she immigrated with her family to North Carolina (hence Flora Macdonald College, now St. Andrews University, in Laurinburg). According to this article, some residents of Moore County can claim her as an ancestor. 

A photo of Amelia Earhart in a jumpsuit, in a field, walking toward the camera

From The Pilot, June 27, 1984

Another legendary figure who makes a guest appearance in The Pilot (joke unintentional) is Amelia Earhart. Earhart visited the Moore County airport in 1931 in an autogyro, a precursor to the helicopter. Her visit was part of a long history of aviation in the area, which apparently tended to conflict with another hallmark activity: golf. One resident, hoping to get flights over the course banned, wrote, “I have long felt that the airoplane flying over the golf courses is a nuisance to the players. Today I was scared out of my wits, as well as others with me, when the plane shut off its engine and swooped down to a height of about 25 feet over our heads on the 16th hole, course 3… and coasted to the field amid laughter in the plane at our discomfort.”

To browse all of our newspapers by location, date, and type, take a look at our North Carolina Newspapers collection. To see more materials from Person County Public Library, you can visit their partner page and their website.


The Laurinburg Exchange Now Digitized and Available Online at DigitalNC

The front page of the Laurinburg Exchange, dated April 1916. Topics include the local County Commencement, Passion Week and the local churches, and debate teams from local schools competing in Chapel Hill.

61 issues of The Laurinburg Exchange have been newly digitized and added to DigitalNC. These are the first issues from The Laurinburg Exchange to be added to our collection, covering dates and issues from August 1889 to December 1926. Published since 1882, The Laurinburg Exchange serves the readers of Laurinburg and Scotland County to this day. The Exchange joins two other newspapers in our collection that cover Scotland County: the student newspapers for Presbyterian Junior College and St. Andrews University.

A reading list for local high school students for the years 1924-1925.

Looking through these newspapers, many of the articles are about local issues concerning the citizens and residents of Scotland County. Municipal issues, like elections and political developments, were written about especially often. Some news from throughout the state was also posted in the Exchange. However, its coverage was mostly focused on local issues – at any moment, the paper might have been notifying residents of changes in their courts or new stocked items in local businesses, or for example, warning residents about a local fever outbreak. In the photo on the right, the Exchange published a list of required books and associated course prices for local high schoolers.

Adding The Laurinburg Exchange to our collection represents a new wealth of knowledge about the lives of ordinary North Carolinians at the turn of the 20th century.


Catamounts to Camels: College Mascots in North Carolina

Mascots are a complicated phenomenon. They inspire a spectrum of reactions: ridicule, ambivalence, or fierce loyalty. With thousands of yearbooks online, all of us here at the Digital Heritage Center have probably spent more time looking at yearbooks than anyone else you’re likely to meet. Mascots are a common theme.

I’ve been working on today’s post for quite some time; unable to find a history or comprehensive list of mascots in North Carolina I decided to compile one myself. So here’s a stab at a college mascot overview, drawn from yearbooks and other campus publications. Let me know what I’ve missed or gotten wrong!

Children

In the early 20th century, schools frequently chose children as mascots or sponsors, whether for a sports team or for a particular class. The earliest example we’ve found on DigitalNC is from a 1910 publication by Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, which shows Elizabeth Settle Caldwell as the Senior Class sponsor.

Elizabeth Settle Caldwell, First North Carolina Mascot? From the 1910 Pine Knot yearbook, Atlantic Christian College.

Ms. Caldwell was the daughter of Jesse Cobb Caldwell, the college president. From what we’ve been able to tell, children mascots were frequently younger siblings of students, teachers, or others associated with the school. Students mention that Ms. Caldwell brought “solace to many a lonely, homesick heart” and this may be why children were chosen – to foster a feeling of family and comfort among students. We’ve seen several references to mascots being elected or being chosen through competition, although what this might be we haven’t been able to discover. The trend of choosing children as mascots seems to continue through the 1960s. The latest one we found is Dawn, the Senior Class mascot at Peace College (now William Peace University) in 1966.

Animals

Animal mascots span schools across the state, whether it’s Rameses at UNC-Chapel Hill or WCU’s Catamount. The bulldog and different types of cats win out as most frequently adopted. Pictures of live animal mascots start to appear in yearbooks in the early 1900s, and continue today although much less frequently. For a variety of reasons, including concerns expressed by animal rights activists, schools have shifted away from actual animals to students dressing up like animals, as you’ll see later on in this post. 

“Buc” is described here as East Carolina University’s first mascot. From the 1959 Buccaneer yearbook.

Characters

While about half of the four-year college mascots in North Carolina are animals, most of the others are characters that are historic, mythical, or extraordinary in nature. From what I’ve seen in NC yearbooks, humans dressing up as the school mascot really got traction in the 1960s. Initially, these costumes weren’t the fuzzy creations we think of today, but rather less complicated ensembles where the mascot’s identity (his or her face and body) was often apparent. Yosef the Mountaineer, beloved icon of Appalachian State University, was created sometime around 1942 and looked like this in the 1960s:

Yosef the Mountaineer, aka James Randle Tedder (we think). From the 1969 Rhododendron yearbook, Appalachian State University.

One of my favorites has to be this picture of Duke Blue Devil, from 1950:

The Blue Devil. From the 1950 Chanticleer yearbook, Duke University.

Perhaps it was too hard to maintain a degree of consistency as students graduated over the years, and mascot anonymity seemed like a better idea. Whatever the reason, you start to see fuzzy, oversized costumes with gigantic headpieces in the late 1970s.

The Big Costumes

Whether animal or character, plush mascots that include a single piece body suit with a large plastic or cloth-covered head is something most Americans can identify with, thanks to professional sports. Colleges in North Carolina really embraced these costumes through the 1980s. Here’s what the UNC-Wilmington Seahawk looked like in 1987:

The Seahawk. From the 1987 Fledgling yearbook, UNC-Wilmington.

Some schools have developed multiple mascots dedicated to different audiences. It seems like the difficulty with these types of costumes is how to pull off a fierce facial expression that doesn’t come off as goofy or too scary for children. I think this picture from Davidson College sums it all up:

The Davidson Wildcat and … friends. From the 1983 Quips and Cranks yearbook.

I will also take this opportunity to mention a mascot that routinely makes the “wait … what?” list – the Campbell University Fighting Camels:

The Campbell Camel. From the 1983 Pine Burr yearbook.

Even the humans and human-like creatures are clothed in oversized costumes these days. Wake Forest University’s Deacon is a dapper chap:

Wake Forest’s Deacon poses with fans. From the 1985 Howler yearbook.

In addition to the Demon Deacons and the Blue Devils, North Carolina boasts a number of  other spiritual mascots: North Carolina Wesleyan’s Battling Bishops, Belmont Abbey’s Crusaders, and Guilford College’s Quakers. Meredith College’s teams are known as the Avenging Angels (formerly just the Angels). While Elon University’s mascot is now the Phoenix, before 2000 they were the Fighting Christians:

The Elon Fighting Christian mascot with cheerleaders. From the 1986 Phi Psi Cli yearbook.

Two schools break with the animal/human tradition in North Carolina. The Brevard College Tornadoes and the Louisburg College Hurricanes. Weather phenomena mascots are always difficult to pull off. I couldn’t find one for Brevard, but Louisburg, which currently has a bird mascot, had “Louie” up until 2006:

Louie, the former Louisburg College Hurricanes mascot. From the 1996 The Oak yearbook.

Who knows when the next mascot sea change will happen. Below is a list of mascots in North Carolina; let us know if we got anything wrong. Which one is your favorite?

School Mascot Notes
Appalachian State University Yosef the Mountaineer First appeared in the yearbook in 1942
Barton College Bulldog  
Belmont Abbey College Crusader  
Bennett College   Known as the Bennett Belles
Brevard College Tornado  
Campbell University Fighting Camels The Hornets in the 1920s-1930s
Catawba College Catawba Indian  
Chowan University Hawks The Braves until 2006
Davidson College Wildcats Also a bulldog (1929) and a bobcat (1939)
Duke University Blue Devil  
East Carolina University Pirates Formerly Pee Dee the Pirate
Elizabeth City State University Vikings  
Elon University Phoenix The Fightin’ Christians until 2000
Fayetteville State University Broncos  
Gardner-Webb University Runnin’ Bulldogs  
Greensboro College The Pride Formerly the Hornets
Guilford College Quakers  
High Point University Panthers  
Johnson C. Smith University Golden Bulls  
Lees-McRae College Wily the Bobcat  
Lenoir-Rhyne University Joe and Josie Bear  
Louisburg College Hurricanes  
Mars Hill College Mountain Lion  
Meredith College Avenging Angels Formerly the Angels
Methodist University Eagles  
Montreat College Cavaliers  
Mount Olive College Trojans  
North Carolina A&T Aggie Dog (Bulldog)  
North Carolina Central University Eagles  
North Carolina State University Wolfpack  
North Carolina Wesleyan College Battling Bishops Formerly the Circuit Riders
Peace College Pacer  
Pfeiffer University Falcons  
Queens University of Charlotte Rex the Royal  
Saint Augustine’s University Mighty Falcons  
Salem College Spirits  
Shaw University Bears  
St. Andrews University Knights  
UNC Asheville Bulldog  
UNC Chapel Hill Rameses the Ram Also known as the Tar Heels
UNC Charlotte Norm the Niner  
UNC Greensboro Spartans  
UNC Pembroke Braves  
UNC Wilmington Seahawk  
UNC School of the Arts Fighting Pickle  
UNC School of Science and Math Unicorn  
Wake Forest University Demon Deacons  
Warren Wilson College Owls  
Western Carolina University Catamount “Paws”
Wingate University Bulldog  
Winston-Salem State University Ram  

Celebrate May Day by Crowning the Queen of the May

Today is May Day, the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. In pre-Christian Europe, May Day celebrated springtime fertility with festive community gatherings, and the tradition has continued into the Christian era. Later, European settlers to America brought May Day celebrations across the Atlantic.

Here in North Carolina, May Day was especially celebrated on college and university campuses by crowning a May Queen and sometimes even by dancing around a May pole.
 
We searched our North Carolina Newspapers and North Carolina College and University Yearbooks collections to bring you these vernal images of May Day.
 
The May Queen and her court at Bennett College. From the 1963 edition of the Bennett Bell.

The May Queen and her court at Bennett College. From the 1963 edition of the Bennett Bell, the Bennett College yearbook.

Maid of Honor and Queen of the May at Flora McDonald College (now Brevard College). From the May 1, 1959 issue of The Skirl, the student newspaper of Flora McDonald College.
Maid of Honor and Queen of the May at Flora McDonald College (now St. Andrews University). From the May 1, 1959 issue of The Skirl, the Flora McDonald College student newspaper, contributed to DigitalNC by St. Andrews University.
 
When Montreat College was a women’s college, students sometimes dressed as both male and female members of the May Court. From the 1936 edition of The Sundial.
When Montreat College was a women’s college, students sometimes dressed as both male and female members of the May Court. From the 1936 edition of The Sundial, the Montreat College yearbook.
 
May pole dancers at Montreat College would weave over and under each other until the ribbons were tightly braided around the May Pole. From the 1936 edition of The Sundial.
May pole dancers at Montreat College would weave over and under each other until the ribbons were tightly braided around the May Pole. From the 1936 edition of The Sundial, the Montreat College yearbook.

Course Catalogs on DigitalNC

Course catalogs, student handbooks, and other campus publications from a number of institutions — including Brevard College, Campbell University, Chowan University, the College of the Albemarle, Davidson College, Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina Wesleyan College, and St. Andrews University — have been added to the North Carolina College and University Yearbooks collection. These materials, many of which date back to the nineteenth century, aren’t just about the course offerings and descriptions – they often include detailed information about admissions, tuition, campus policies, institutional history and mission, and student life.

I’ve especially enjoyed reading the various rules and regulations laid out in these volumes. Most of them apply to female students, and seem to be aimed at thwarting “improper” behavior. Some of my favorites are below.

Regarding dress:
 
 
From the 1930 Elizabeth City State Normal School Bulletin. In my experience, mothers are more likely to cause embarrassment to their children BY supervising the buying of school clothes.
 

 
From the 1944-1945 Students’ Handbook of Flora Macdonald College. Everybody knows that kerchiefs are only appropriate at buffets, duh.
 

 
From the 1961-1962 St. Andrews Presbyterian College Student Handbook. It’s a good thing they regulated the wearing of bermuda shorts. The sixties were crazy enough already.
 
Regarding behavior:
 
 
From the 1917-1918 State Colored Normal and Industrial School Catalog. I definitely don’t associate with anyone who hangs on corners. And note writing? Forget it, you’re no friend of mine.
 
 
From the 1945-1946 Students’ Handbook of Flora Macdonald College. Other kinds of windows might be okay. 
 
And, of course, regarding guns:
 
 
From the 1917-1918 State Colored Normal and Industrial School Catalog.  I know teachers college can be pretty rough, but just leave those guns at home.


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This blog is maintained by the staff of the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center and features the latest news and highlights from the collections at DigitalNC, an online library of primary sources from organizations across North Carolina.

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