Purdue at 150 / The Founders Series (PDF)

Purdue at 150: A
Visual History of Student Life by David M. Hovde,
Adriana Harmeyer, Neal Harmeyer, and Sammie L. Morris tells Purdue's story
through rare images, artifacts, and words. Authors culled decades of student
papers, from scrapbooks, yearbooks, letters, and newspapers to historical
photographs and memorabilia preserved in the Purdue University Libraries
Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections. Many of the images and
artifacts included have never been published, presenting a unique history of
the land-grant university from the student perspective.

Purdue at 150 is
organized by decade, presenting a scrapbook-like experience of viewing over 400
rare photographs, documents, and artifacts alongside critical contextual
information. Each chapter provides a decadal historical sketch of Purdue
University, offering insight into the institution's unique culture while
incorporating campus responses to major national events such as world wars and
the Great Depression. Spotlight sections highlight Purdue firsts, including the
first graduates of programs, the growth and development of the international
student population at Purdue, the creation of significant student
organizations, 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 major
accomplishments and acknowledges the contributions Purdue has made to society, but
it also explores some of the challenges and tragedies that shaped Indiana's
land-grant university. As a result, Purdue
at 150 connects the identity and character of the University of 1869 to the
University of 2019 and beyond, as told through the stories of its students. Running
throughout this journey is the enduring vision of the land-grant institution
and its impact on society, as seen through the material culture of Boilermakers
from around the world.