Online Archival Museum

While few people are able to come to campus to view the rotating exhibits in the archives, many are interested in the materials preserved there.  To increase accessibility to the items, the school now hosts an online archival museum!  This museum is designed to allow visitors to view some of the materials available on selected topics, with new exhibits added periodically.  The online museum, which was only very recently made available for public viewing, currently features an exhibit about how WWII affected Governor Dummer Academy, its students and alumni.  A second exhibit is scheduled to be available sometime in January of 2016.  We welcome all interested people to visit the museum at https://govsarchives.omeka.net/ and check out this opening exhibit with an assortment of fascinating items and stories.

Answers to Gov's Trivia

I hope everyone enjoyed the opportunity to test your knowledge of school trivia.  The answers to the last blog's questions are listed below:

1. The plaque was hung in the Lang Gymnasium, which is now Schuman, also known as part of the Math Science center.  I was interested to note the reference at the bottom of the plaque to "non sibi sed allis," which I had previously believed was a more recent school motto.  

2. The alumnus is Rufus King, who had a career in early US politics.  Not only was he a signer of the US Constitution, he was also an anti-slavery activist, a US Senator from NY, and a Federalist candidate for President.

3. The oldest Milestone in our collection is from 1923, which was, I believe, the first year of publication.  Prior to that, most students kept scrapbooks in order to preserve their memories.  Our collection of Milestones are available on line at https://archive.org.  Once on the site, search for Governor's Academy Milestone.

4. The photo of these fashionable young men was from the 1975 Milestone.

5. In 1905, the Little Red School House and Perkins occupied the place that is now occupied by the Pescosolido Library and Kaiser Arts Center.

Archives Trivia

Test you knowledge of school history!  How many of the following photos can you identify?

1. What building was home to this plaque?

2. Who is this famous alumnus?

3. Below are two images from our oldest yearbook, describing student life from that year.  What is the year?

4.  Here is a photo of some fashion conscious students from an earlier era.  Guess the year this photo was taken. 

5. This photo of Perkins and the Little Red School House was taken in 1905, prior to either building being renovated and moved.  What two buildings are in this location today?

Good luck!  Answers will be posted next week on this blog!

International Controversy!

        Did you know that Eleanor Eames, wife of then Headmaster Ted Eames, caused quite a controversy during the couple's 1951 visit to a British public school?  Apparently, school tradition dictated the The Great Hall, used for dining, excluded all women.  As the school's headmaster told the couple, "No woman has dined in the Great Hall since the school was founded!"  Not wanting to upset her hosts, Mrs. Eames resigned herself to eating the chocolate bars she had intended as gifts for a student in the headmaster's study, while her husband and the headmaster dined in The Great Hall with the rest of the school.
       The incident was significant enough to be included in a 1951 article from the Boston Globe.  If you are interested in reading the details, the article is included below.  The incident lends a new dimension to a statement made by one of Eleanor Eames' long time friends, who after witnessing all she did in a typical day to help the school, its students and faculty, declared "There must be a special place in Heaven saved for headmasters' wives."  To this Eleanor replied, "Well, thank you very much."  After a short pause, she added, "but I think I'd rather go with Ted."

Ever Changing Perkins!

1905 Tennis match behind Perkins Gymnasium (on what is now the lawn in front of the Phillips Building)

1923 renovations on Perkins

     
         Did you know that Perkins has not always resided next to Boynton House? Nor was it built as a dormitory.  The original building, constructed on the other side of Mansion House in 1887, served as the first gymnasium for Dummer Academy.  Under headmaster Charles Ingham, it was renovated and moved in the mid 1920's, at which time it became a dormitory.  Finally in 1956, it was moved to its present location. Since this move, additions to both ends of the building have been added.  Below is a link to a video of the 1956 move, which looks surprisingly current with vivid color film.  A close look at clothing, vehicles, and surrounding buildings will help identify its actual creation date from the Eames era. Watch the entire clip for a guest appearance from a familiar face for some alumni.  Enjoy this video flashback!

http://govs.smugmug.com/Mystery-video-1/i-sBxQvhr

Newspaper clipping about 1956 move of Perkins Dormitory

Govs Fashionistas

Fashion trends have changed quite a bit in the 251 years of school history.  From styles of clothes to styles of hair, students and faculty have rocked some unusual looks through the years.  This is just a small sampling of some of the styles found in archival photographs.  The years of the photos, from left to right, top to bottom, are as follows: 1968, 1966,1972, 1954, 1975, 1967, 1969, 1880, 1891.

Old School Basketball Footwear

Basketball shoes have come a long way since Chuck Taylors were first produced by Converse in 1917. With the Academy's long history, students here were playing basketball before these ubiquitous sneakers were invented!   For most Governor Dummer Basketball teams, footwear showed little advancement for several generations of players.  Below is a collection of basketball sneaker photographs.  See if you can guess the era of each!


1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Wow.....that's a lot of sneakers!  Have you decided on your guesses?  Don't peak until you have.





















Answers:
1. 1935
2. 1964
3. 1978
4. 1925
5. 1944
6. 1956
7. 1995
8. 1993
9. 2006