Winding, Trailing Arbutus: IU Yearbooks Through Time

Yearbooks are a common but vital resource in the University Archives where you can find documented the life and presence of individuals who may be difficult to trace elsewhere, or through their photographs corroborate knowledge about their lives. The function of yearbooks has changed subtly over time, as technologies of text and image production have developed. The literary and satirical approaches found in early volumes gradually gave way in the latter half of the 20th century to a self-conscious attempt to reflect the pressing concerns of the time. This exhibit attempts to display how the Arbutus yearbook can nurture insight into the daily lives of students, varied experiences of living through historical events, as well as showcase the changing forms and functions of the yearbook throughout its production history. As you peruse the exhibit, keep in mind that the yearbook is just one resource among many and that there are copies available to use in the reading room.