Women final 2024 by

Hey sweetheart!

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:04:56 UTC

This advertising was a bit confusing upon first glance; it is a bit vague to tell what it is besides appealing to women on campus. It has a snappy title and it is one that likely wouldn't be seen today, not that it holds any inherent sexism but more how appeals to demographics have changed. A contest like this would be similar to a prom queen or beauty contest, only you apply directly rather than being nominated. This being a february issue “sweetheart” could either be related to valentines day or a contestants popularity.

The Sentinel student newspaper collection, KSU/51/01, Kennesaw State University Archives.

Watchful eyes

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:06:04 UTC

Strict behavioral expectations such as these are ones someone would more closely associate with the 1950s than the rapid cultural change of the later 1960s. The “ladies and gentleman” highlight plays into not only an expectation of behavior but of gender roles and performance. One could parce from this there would be an equally strict expectation on dress.

The Sentinel student newspaper collection, KSU/51/01, Kennesaw State University Archives.

Notable presence

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:12:36 UTC

The 1970s were different at KSU than the strict behavior expectations of the late 1960s, the yearbook mentions individuality, freedom and the booming popularity of “rock n’ roll” both as a musical genre and a mindset. It is filled with smiling pictures of students of all demographics goofing off and having fun, there's a notable rate of women students attending the college and African americans. While black students are lesser they are present and smiling just the same. There are also black staff members serving as secretaries and food service, but also teaching positions.

Montage 1975, Student Publications. Montage and Talisman, 1967-1995; KSU/51/02; Department of Museums, Archives, and Rare Books, Kennesaw State University.

Hangout

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:13:37 UTC

Similar to the 1970s the 1980s yearbooks see an emphasis on candid shots of its student body across campus, studying, working or enjoying time with their friends. This picture shows a group of young women hanging out together and chatting near the library, showing a presence on campus. It also shows the increased rate of female students, as they huddle together to talk as in prior auditions mixed gender photos took a president. Which, isn't to diminish the existing amount of women prior.

Montage 1986, Montage and Talisman yearbooks, 1967 - 1995, 11-020, Kennesaw State University Archives.

Against all odds

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:14:20 UTC

As the college grew so did the substance of the yearbook into more than just a collection of smiling faces and class buildings. More stories were included to remember and congratulate the year – in this addition there is a segment named “against all odds” dedicated to the atypical students of Kennesaw. Those with disability, low income, exchange students and specifically those getting their education later in life. There is a highlight dedicated to mothers getting their night school education, how their children will understand and the struggles to balance work, children and education all at once. These women are taking advantage of the acceptability for women's higher education later in life, getting more than the housewife experience that was sold or perhaps forced on them in younger years.

Montage 1986, Montage and Talisman yearbooks, 1967 - 1995, 11-020, Kennesaw State University Archives.

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:14:37 UTC

Spring fling

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:15:30 UTC

A young woman in a bikini draws one's eyes instantly to the page, then the title of the article and the noticeable word: Plague. Opening this school newspaper I had expected to find an example of perhaps sexist rhetoric railing against exposing clothing. Instead, I found a funny and satirical article by a female student about the “dangers” spring can bring from frisbee to love. It is a highlight of spring fever and the good mood the season brings. It does not shame the model but rather uses her as a highlight for a enjoyable season.

Integration

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:16:28 UTC

Kennesaw is still new as a junior college, being established in 1963, and is proud of its growth. The catalog displays the cleared land and some construction before delving into the layout, guidelines and payment options for the new school. It was the requirements that explicitly caught my eye where they directly state to be compliant with the civil rights act of 1964. It is an interesting thing to note that a college in the south would have been integrated from its earliest years and chooses to advertise that fact in the first few informative pages of its course catalog!

Kennesaw Junior College Catalog, 1968-69, Office of the Registrar, Publications, course catalogs, 1966-2009, KSU/24/01/001, Kennesaw State University Archives.

Women in the lab

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:19:08 UTC

Throughout this project there have been pictures of women participating in all aspects of campus life and education. This stood out to me as it features a full size photo of two young women in a science lab prominently in a course catalog. Signaling a shift in womens fields, as women had been subtly shifting out of narrow gender defined jobs for some time by the time of this catalog.

Kennesaw College Catalog, 1986-87, Office of the Registrar, Publications, course catalogs, 1966-2009, KSU/24/01/001, Kennesaw State University Archives.

Education for women

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:20:30 UTC

From looking through archived materials already, Kennesaw had always been a diverse school with a variety of female and African American students, then highlighting stories of those of a atypical background than fresh out of highschool. Looking in the financial and payment portion of the catalog there are several scholarships/aid programs named for or funded by women. Most varying between students with higher than average grades and being expected to maintain them, from a certain area or economic background etc. However this scholarship went to women specifically, with some other requirements.

Kennesaw College Catalog, 1986-87, Office of the Registrar, Publications, course catalogs, 1966-2009, KSU/24/01/001, Kennesaw State University Archives.

Highlight the untold

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:21:04 UTC

Highlights women's role in the aid crisis as caregivers, siblings, loved ones etc. A story that was lesser told back in the early 1990s but needed to be highlighted. It also goes along with the “traditional” role of women as caregivers and emotional centers, which holds a great deal of merit especially in times of crisis and heartache. It additionally points out women's role as advocates, typically to topics they are closely tied to. This article is a untold story in two regards, LGBT and gender.

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:21:17 UTC

Reflection

rkreuzer1 — 2024-12-06 20:21:37 UTC

I found the experience of looking through the archives far easier online than in person, which may be in part to being a child of the digital age despite remembering when the computer was a “room” in the home. Online was much more direct, exact and organized then skipping through boxes but it did lose a bit of that sense of discovery the other can provide. I was not too terribly surprised by the research itself, oftentimes similar to black history, women's history is always painted through the lens of suffering and oppression. Which is not to diminish the true negative sides, but the need to diversify how it is taught and show strength, love and the average life. It was assuring to find stylish, smiling and study focused women so similar to me in these archived pages, we tend to think of ourselves as so “detached” and “better” than the past that we leave so much behind. I was glad to see and make connections.