Vigo County Historical Society

Scrapbook offers insight into woman’s world

In June 1922, Alice Reese graduated from Garfield High School. During her senior year, she filled a purple felt covered book, "The Girl Graduate, Her Own Book," now in the Vigo County Historical Museum collection.

The scrapbook’s pages are covered with typical school memorabilia, but Alice’s comments and entries from her friends gives an insight into being a teen in the 1920s and makes us want to look beyond the written work and know the "rest of the story."

The book begins with a photo of Alice, a pretty girl, standing between railroad tracks and the Wabash River. She wrote, "Taken one Sunday in the spring of 1922. We picked apple blossoms and violets on our way over the river."

Beside a friend’s picture, she penned, "Dear Little Mildred Jacks. We sat at the same table in millinery a whole term and never had a single fight. You dropped your thimble, Mid."

One may wonder about her note next to a birthday invitation from the Brewster brothers: "Oh, what fun I had at this party, and the almost fatal outcome."

Then there is this note: "This was the grand success we hoped it would be. Went with Dick R. and regretted it."

What could have happened at the Garfield Blue Triangle Vaudeville Show on May 20, 1921, that prompted Alice to write this?

A blue-covered program from a Garfield Blue Triangle Boat Ride and Dance is pasted on one page.

Alice has noted beside it, "Some boat ride! The moon sure did all it could for us that night. It was a beautiful night and a wonderful dance."

A school newspaper article about the Senior-Faculty Christmas Party was given this critique by Alice: "This was a scream. Mercy, the teachers acted terrible. Chewed gum and acted scandalous."

Under a snapshot of a smiling young girl, Alice paid this tribute: "Joy is my ideal. No frolic is complete without her. I only wish every girl had as good and true a pal. This brings back memories of our confidential chats in the orchard, picnics, machine rides and the good friendly advice given me. If ever I make a success, Joy will deserve half the praise and mother the rest."

Wouldn’t you like to have known Alice?

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.