Back to School with High School Yearbooks!

Between 1941 and 1945, WWII touched and shaped every aspect of American life. From large urban centers to small rural hamlets, no sector of daily life – whether public or private – was immune to the war’s influence; not even the lives of high school students not yet old enough to vote. As students dealt with typical high school experiences like prom and varsity sports, they were forced to confront the realities of the war.

High school yearbooks offer a unique historical perspective that comes directly from the students who live through World War II, and the Museum is hard at work collecting and digitizing as many of these yearbooks as we can, with the goal of all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico being represented. See You Next Year: High School Yearbooks from WWII is a digital collection of these special artifacts, which provide a rare opportunity to experience the challenges, setbacks, and triumphs of those who were so deeply impacted by the war.

Explore See You Next Year: High School Yearbooks from WWII today, and find out how you can help us fulfill our goal.

Locals! Join us on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30pm for our Dinner with a Curator Series. Explore the themes of these yearbooks over dinner with Student Programs Coordinator Collin Makamson.