Students on the Arts Quad in 1967—as a couple of the then-ubiquitous free-roaming campus dogs saunter past. Glorious to View Vintage Color Slides Bring East Hill’s Past to Vivid Life In the University Archives, we found a little-seen trove of images from the 1960s–80s. Are you in them? Editor’s note: Do you have additional info on these images? Do you or anyone you know appear in them? Scroll down to leave a comment! By Joe Wilensky Several stories beneath the Arts Quad, within the vast archived holdings of Kroch Library, is a wealth of vibrant views of Cornell that have gone unseen for decades. It’s part of a massive collection of work by University’s official photographers—chronicling a changing campus, student life, official events, and candid views of the daily rhythms of the academic calendar. In the pre-Internet days (in this case, 1973), library patrons had to flip through card catalogs. Channeling Indiana Jones, Cornellians has for months been mining the archive in search of images that best capture East Hill in the mid-20th century—and the result has been an embarrassment of Big Red riches. This story is the first in what will be a regular series that showcases a sampling of the photos—plucked from among thousands of pages of clear plastic sleeves housing the 35mm slides—which are at once remarkable and mundane. Hold a loupe up to any random frame, and you may find undergrads studying amid a sea of paper, in an era before laptops; students lounging in dorm rooms and on quads, clad in period fashions; or an early version of Touchdown the Bear (looking far fiercer than today’s) frolicking with sports fans. In 1973, members of the Big Red Band get in position for a practice. Many of the brilliantly colored slides—most of which date from the late 1960s through the early 1980s—were taken for campus publications, viewbooks, Cornell Chronicle news releases, and various presentations. University Archivist Evan Earle ’02, MS ’14, says that while some of the photos were taken for official assignments, others reflect the creative eye behind the camera. “Often, you can see the whimsy and beauty that a photographer captured more spontaneously,” he says, “not necessarily part of a historic event, but just something they stumbled upon or saw and realized it would make a good shot.” Often, you can see the whimsy and beauty that a photographer captured more spontaneously. University Archivist Evan Earle ’02, MS ’14 Only a tiny fraction of the Archives’ many thousands of images have been scanned or digitized, Earle notes; many are filed under generic subject headings, such as “students—outdoors” or “athletics.” (Want to get a first-hand look at them next time you’re on campus? Earle notes that visitors are welcome to browse photos in person.) And Cornellians can even add to the collection: the Archives accepts donations of images documenting campus life in all eras. Last year, for example, the family of former yearbook staffer Jim Cunningham ’71, BS ’72, MEng ’75, gave several large boxes of his prints and negatives. “Of the tremendous number of images captured by Cornell’s photographers, only select shots may ever have been published,” Earle observes, “while many other wonderful moments of campus history are stored, waiting to be rediscovered.” Hop in the time machine–scroll down! Frank H.T. Rhodes—about a month into his 18-year tenure as Cornell’s president—at a meet-and-greet on the Arts Quad in 1977. A once-infamous rite of passage: course registration in Barton Hall (here seen in fall 1984). Two long-gone Collegetown stalwarts—Sam Gould’s store and Triangle Book Shop—anchor this 1980 view of the intersection of College Avenue and Dryden Road. A 1981 lab at the Vet School. A classic scene from student Move-In (1982) on West Campus. Louie’s Lunch Truck—still feeding hungry Cornellians to this day—at its familiar spot near North Campus in 1984. Hanging out in a dorm in 1967. Prepping Schoellkopf Field in 1977. This 1972 view of 10-speed bikes parked near the Straight offers a glimpse (at top right) of the iconic tree stump that long served as a campus bulletin board and political canvas. Top: Students on the Arts Quad in 1967—as a couple of the then-ubiquitous free-roaming campus dogs saunter past. (All images courtesy of Rare and Manuscript Collections.) Published August 27, 2024 Do you have more info on these images? Do you or anyone you know appear in them? Comments Robert Breen 1 Sep, 2024 Precious memories! Reply Karen Jewett-Bennett, Class of 1979 3 Sep, 2024 I lived in the grey building with the balconies in the photo of College Ave show here. It was Fall of 1977 and Stuart Lewis owned the building. It was great fun to sit out on the balcony and call out to our friends as they passed by. Reply Brenda (Wilkinson) Melvin, Class of 1987 3 Sep, 2024 Great photos! I do remember registration lines in Barton Hall and, of course, Louie’s Lunch Truck! Reply Joan Pope Kokoska, Class of 1977 3 Sep, 2024 That’s me in my Cornell Marching Band Uniform – second clarinet from the right! I have so many great memories and friendships from our travels with the band! Reply Barbara (Quintal) Perkins 4 Sep, 2024 The vet school lab picture jolted me back to fond memories of my time at Cornell. Depicted are my classmates NYSCVM ‘83. The photo captures the earnestness with which a diverse group of individuals engaged in the hard work of realizing their dream of becoming veterinarians. As I look back, the effort was very worthwhile. I am grateful to have been a member of that class, and to have spent my life working as a veterinarian. Thank you, Cornell. Reply Randye Ringler, Class of 1976 9 Sep, 2024 WOW, now that I am over the shock of being considered “vintage” may we see more? I am one of the lucky ones who was captured on film and used on page 71 of the ’74 Cornellian. So many of my friends also made it to the yearbooks and I would love to see more. At some point I was smart enough to make a list of the names and pages of friends’ pictures (phew). The campus has changed dramatically. We need to see these pictures. Reply Erica Kirsners, Class of 1971 17 Sep, 2024 I love that one can date a photo as pre- or post-1968 by noticing whether girls (as we were then known) are wearing skirts or pants. As I remember it, skirts were a requirement in 1967, my freshman year. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Alumni From the Hill to ‘The Hill’ Alumni Big Red Ink: Cornellian Tattoos, in Living Color Alumni On ‘Undercover Boss,’ a Hotelie Gets His Hands Dirty—Literally