51³Ô¹ÏÍø

The Chestnut Burr 1926 Cover

Flashback to '26: Campus Life a Century Ago

The Chestnut Burr yearbook captures 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Normal College in the Roaring Twenties

Jen Lennon by Jen Lennon
March 17, 2026

The bee's knees! Take a gander at 1926 as we flip through photos from The Chestnut Burr, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's student-produced yearbook, published from 1914 through 1985. These snapshots capture campus life during the Jazz Age — a time of bobbed hair, fraternity pins and collegiate style that was simply swell.

To ambitious youth entering college, to joyouse, busy youth in college, to idealistic, serious youth leaving college; to the spirit of youth everywhere, we dedicate this book.

Dedication in the Chestnut Burr from the editors
The Chestnut Burr Published By Senior Classes of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Normal School Kent Ohio 1926
Building on campus in 1926
Stylized silhouette of an athletic figure in motion on a running track or field. Modernist design emphasizing speed and athletic movement labeled "ATHLETICS".
1925 Football Team
The college had lost 37 consecutive games scoring only one touchdown in all these games.
Football coach 1925
Merle Wagoner began his work as coach in October, '25. His general good spirits and his contagious enthusiasm have already won for him the respect of the college men.
Football players in 1925
The football team tied three games, won one game and lost one game in the 1925 season.
Men's Basketball Team 1926
Basketball Squad 1926
Women's Basketball 1926
Blockheads — This notorious gang is as yet unconquered! The team work of Strayer and Blalock is inconceivable and truly make one's hair raise to witness such accurate shots, made from all angles on the floor.
Classical architectural building with prominent columns and symmetrical design in dark brown silhouette style. Formal institutional building facade labeled "ORGANIZATIONS".
The Searchlight focus on people in 1926
Sorority members in 1926
Y.W.C.A. Cabinet — With the coming of spring, one begins to look back over the work which he has done to measure to some degree his success
Men's club in 1926
Men's Union
Collage of campus images in 1926
Collage of campus images in 1926
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