University Libraries Unveils Online Yearbook Collection

Indulge in fond memories, scan the names of the graduating classes, and laugh at the hairstyles…

University of Tennessee alumni, students, and the general public can now access a wealth of UT history as the University Libraries’ Digital Library Initiatives unveils an openly-accessible online collection of Volunteer Yearbooks. The collection spans from the 1897 inception of the yearbook all the way through the 2001 edition.

Since the first issue of the Volunteer Yearbook, the tradition has been carried on annually with the exception of 1918, when university activities were halted due to the events of World War I.

Yearbooks are written, edited, photographed, and designed entirely by UT students, and hence convey the unique perspectives of the student body throughout the years. The publication showcases athletics, academics, daily student life, and reflects larger cultural and social trends.

While the yearbooks comprise a record of the tremendous change and progress that has taken place at the University of Tennessee, they also capture the Volunteer spirit that remains largely unchanged even today.

Visit the Volunteer Yearbook collection at http://yearbook.lib.utk.edu. For questions regarding the collection content and design, contact Melanie Feltner-Reichert, Director of Digital Library Initiatives, at mfeltner@utk.edu; or Paul Cummins, Digital Library Initiatives Programmer, responsible for design of the collection interface, at pc37@utk.edu.