Purdue at 150

Purdue at 150: AVisual History of Student Life by David M. Hovde,Adriana Harmeyer, Neal Harmeyer, and Sammie L. Morris tells Purdue’s storythrough rare images, artifacts, and words. Authors culled decades of studentpapers, from scrapbooks, yearbooks, letters, and newspapers to historicalphotographs and memorabilia preserved in the Purdue University LibrariesVirginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections. Many of the images andartifacts included have never been published, presenting a unique history ofthe land-grant university from the student perspective.

Purdue at 150 isorganized by decade, presenting a scrapbook-like experience of viewing over 400rare photographs, documents, and artifacts alongside critical contextualinformation. Each chapter provides a decadal historical sketch of PurdueUniversity, offering insight into the institution’s unique culture whileincorporating campus responses to major national events such as world wars andthe Great Depression. Spotlight sections highlight Purdue firsts, including thefirst graduates of programs, the growth and development of the internationalstudent population at Purdue, the creation of significant studentorganizations, and the foundations of both old and new campus traditions.

This curated journey through the personal experiences,spaces, and events of Purdue’s history not only celebrates majoraccomplishments and acknowledges the contributions Purdue has made to society, butit also explores some of the challenges and tragedies that shaped Indiana’sland-grant university. As a result, Purdueat 150 connects the identity and character of the University of 1869 to theUniversity of 2019 and beyond, as told through the stories of its students. Runningthroughout this journey is the enduring vision of the land-grant institutionand its impact on society, as seen through the material culture of Boilermakersfrom around the world.