Fashion Forward: Student Style in North Carolina Yearbooks

Exhibition Dates:

March 20, 2024 –   

Exhibition Location:

Wilson Library

in the Wilson Library first floor hallway,  located on the first floor of Wilson. 

 

About the Exhibition:

First published in the United States in the early 1800s, yearbooks are created by students. A yearbook from 1900 will have a lot in common with one from 2000, with photos of celebrations, clubs, and sports teams. This makes it easy to compare social trends and the style preferences of young adults over time. Earlier volumes typically show students posing for formal portraits. Most wear suits and dresses. As photography became less expensive, yearbooks increasingly included more snapshots of daily activities and casual clothing choices. This exhibit is a look at the changing hemlines and hairstyles found on North Carolina’s college and university campuses from 1891 to 2020. The yearbooks featured in this exhibit come from organizations throughout North Carolina who have worked with the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center. The Center, located in Wilson Special Collections Library, partners with libraries, museums, alumni associations, and more to share historic collections online. You can view the yearbooks shown in this exhibit plus many more from colleges and high schools at DigitalNC.org.

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