History through yearbooks

Lynpar

5-Year Member
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Apr 4, 2010
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Forum friends I have the coolest opportunity to page through a couple very old yearbooks. They are Midships 1945 and Midships 1946! DS's friends grandfather went to KP we have come to find out. Although this gentleman has passed his daughter had these books in storage. She was kind enough to dig them up when she heard about DS getting an appointment.
The first thing that struck us is when you open the cover there is an arial view of the campus that takes up the inside cover and first page completely. Wow! Hasn't changed!
 
Wow, small world.

I'm curious how things have changed since then. Obviously public perception of military and service has changed. What would an alumni from '45 think of usmma today and cadets of today think of usmma then?

I'm sure it changes from year to year.
 
Interestingly when the book describes the academy and it's curiculum it looks as if it could have been lifted right off today's website. Only small changes in words but the phrasing is the same. When I have some time I will put up some specific examples. Really cool the way each midshipman is described in a paragraph. Using 1940's language but a lot of "wink, wink, nod, nod" when you read between the lines ( a bunch service academy boys just like today's in every way). The accolaides and teasing are really funny.
 
It is fun going thru those old documents. VMI recently digitized and put on line all of their old yearbooks (The Bomb) as well as the "Cadet" ( Cadet Newspaper). Just randomly I looked up the current Superintendent (Gen Peay) from the class of 62- his yearbook is at link http://www.archive.org/stream/bomb1962virg#page/78/mode/2up
Almost 50 years later- not all that much has changed other than a few buildings- as the Bible says- "Nothing new under the sun". It is kind of cool to flip thru these and then think that you have a common link even though you might have 50, 75 or even more years between you.
 
bruno that is really cool. But you just don't get the same musty smell!
 
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