Tag: archives

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How Yorkies Used to Celebrate Graduation

It’s that time of year – graduation, exams, bittersweet endings, fresh beginnings…

As we celebrate this year’s Grade 12s graduating and becoming alumnae, it’s fun to remember the old YHS tradition of the “last will and testament”. While we wouldn’t recommend that Yorkies do this today, it is quite amusing to recall that past Seniors celebrated their graduation with the ritual of gathering around the incinerator(!) in the lane beside the school, reciting a last will and testament, and burning everything from class notes to stockings and bloomers as they said goodbye to YHS and hello to the rest of their lives.

Congratulations to our newest alumnae, the class of 2017. We’re sure you’re going to set the world on fire!

Reading the “last will and testament”, ca. 1950s
Goodbye, old uniform! ca. 1950s
So long, class notes! ca. 1950s
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Celebrating Class Anniversaries

Each year, the YHS Museum & Archives has an exhibit of photos to honour graduation anniversaries of alumnae classes.

Whether your class celebrates at the school as part of Alumnae Day or the Golden Luncheon, or gathers at another time, holding regular reunions is one of the ways that YHS alumnae stay connected and create a strong community of lifelong friends.

This year’s exhibit is now installed in the museum for the classes of 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, and 2002.

Class of 1987 is up first with their May 27th reunion. Let the celebrations begin!

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Museum & Archives Wish List

Don’t forget, we’re always seeking YHS historical memorabilia for the Museum & Archives. If you’re going through your attic or basement and find any of our wish list items below that you’d like to donate, please contact Susannah Smith, YHS Archivist and Museum Curator, at [email protected].

Junior students in the 1940-41 Chronicle
  • early uniforms: Junior fawn-coloured dress, Senior white summer dress
  • uniform accessories: gloves, ties, scarves, stockings, indoor slippers, socks, shoes, YHS jewelry and pins
  • graduation dresses and corsages
  • boys’ uniforms
  • school crests and badges
  • photos, albums, scrapbooks
  • prospectuses, yearbooks, notebooks, textbooks
  • documents, ephemera, invitations, cards, postcards, correspondence with founders or other staff
  •  school supplies, satchels and artifacts from YHS school days
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York House, the Hudson’s Bay Company, and Pop Art Icon Roy Lichtenstein

What could these three things possibly have in common? The answer is this year’s Museum Ambassador badge and our museum tote bag!

The image on the one-inch badge that Junior School students receive when they complete their Museum Ambassador activities comes from an advertisement on page 34 of the 1941-42 Chronicle. At that time, the school’s uniform supplier was the Bay, and the ad features a black and white drawing of two girls wearing a facsimile of the YHS uniform.

We were then inspired by the pop art of Roy Lichtenstein to colourize the image and make it more vibrant for our Museum Ambassador badge.

The button was so well-received that we had it reproduced on a cotton tote bag to sell at the 2016 Holiday Market.

If you’re a fan, the badges and tote bags are available through the Alumnae and Advancement office on the third floor of the Senior School.

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Those April Showers…

Is it raining or shining? 1948 Chronicle

 

Spring may be running a little behind schedule this year but don’t let the rain and chilly weather get you down!

Here are a few images of Yorkies from the YHS Archives to lift your spirits and remind you of sunny days to come and springtime celebrations.

Enjoy!

A rainy morning, linocut illustration, 1940-41 Chronicle
Juniors in Easter bonnets, 1972-73 Chronicle
Linocut illustration, 1948 Chronicle
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“Be kind to one another. Look for the best in each another.”

Yorkies in the 1942-43 Chronicle

This month, as we’ve been celebrating love in all its forms through Valentine’s Day and Pink Shirt Day, it’s heartening to remember that our school was founded on the values of kindness, friendship and appreciation of others.

When York House opened on September 7, 1932, Vice-Principal Janet Mitchell’s address from the founders to the students included the following words:

“We are particularly hopeful that you will be a friendly group, and that you will cultivate friendships with one another. This is essential to the growth of a school spirit. Let there be no lonely girls in our midst. Be kind to one another. Look for the best in each other — and you will be surprised how much happier you will be yourself.”

Janet Mitchell’s handwritten 1932 address

These words have just as much, if not more, relevance now as they did 85 years ago. Here’s to the enduring wisdom of our founders in emphasizing the importance of values that act as glue for our strong community and a recipe for happiness!