Mimi's Yearbook~Photos, Friends and a Prophecy!

This week's blog prompt from the series 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks by Amy Johnson Crow is "Back to School".

 So many records, photos and other items that can help us learn more about our ancestors are being digitized and placed online every day.

Have you looked to see if there are yearbooks available to help you in your research?
Many have been placed on the site Edmunds High School for Edmunds/Sumter High Schools in Sumter, South Carolina.

I have my maternal grandmother's original book from her senior year but had never seen my paternal grandmother's.
Mary (Baker) Hudson (1920-2010), whom I lovingly called Mimi graduated in 1937.
I took a look to see if the book from her year is included in the collection.

And it is!

Cover of Sumter High School 1937
Image courtesy of EdmundsHighSchool, com

 Looking through the pages was so much fun! What did I learn about Mimi?

Mary Baker Hudson on Bottom Left
1937 Sumter High School Yearbook
Image courtesy of EdmundsHighSchool.com

Although I had seen her graduation photo before, I had not seen it on the page of the yearbook.
I learned the quote used to describe her and the clubs and activities she was involved in.

Enlarged quote and clubs and activities for Mary Baker
Image cropped from 1937 Sumter High School Yearbook
 Original image courtesy of EdmundsHighSchool.com

The yearbook included a page called "Baby Brawl" where there are baby and childhood photos for the graduating seniors.
There was one for Mimi! One I not seen before.

Image cropped from 1937 Sumter High School Yearbook
Original image courtesy of EdmundsHighSchool.com

Another photo new to me is this photo of Mary Hudson with some friends.

Mary (Baker) Hudson - in the middle with High School Friends
Image cropped from 1937 Sumter High Yearbook
Original image courtesy of EdmundsHighSchool.com

There is the class prophecy mentioning Mary Baker:

1937 Class Prophecy
Image cropped from 1937 Sumter High School Yearbook
 Original image courtesy of EdmundsHighSchool.com

And in the class will:

1937 Class Will
Image cropped from 1937 Sumter High School Yearbook
 Original image courtesy of EdmundsHighSchool.com

The signatures of friends who signed this particular book included Mary Baker at the bottom!!

Signature Page
Image courtesy of EdmundsHighSchool, com

Thanks so much, EdmundsHighSchool.com for those who have worked hard digitizing and putting the yearbooks and other information about Sumter County, South Carolina online.
Because of your efforts, I have learned more about my Mimi!

Have you looked for yearbooks or other school information about your ancestors? What have you discovered?

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

"Researching in School Records" an In-Brief With IDG Guide by Melissa Barker~Review

A new In-Brief with IDG Guide from the In-Depth Genealogist is available. The following in my review of this new product.

In her In-Brief with IDG Guide “Researching in School Records,” Melissa Barker shares important information on why, how and where to begin looking for your ancestors in these records.

Melissa begins by listing the types of schools that may have been available in the areas we are researching. Knowing about the community our ancestors lived in may help to point us to possible educational opportunities in the area, leading us to locate the various types of records possibly created.

Types of records can include special school censuses, enrollment and attendance records. Melissa explains what information often in the various types.

Other ideas on where to find school information include yearbooks and newspapers.

She cautions not to overlook Yearbooks and school photographs and explains where we may find them.

What if your ancestors didn’t attend school? Melissa also addresses this issue in the guide. She shares resources you may not have thought of that may mention them even if they weren’t a student.

After explaining the why, how and what the records that may exist, Melissa supplies a comprehensive list of links to sites with searchable school records, state archives, religious holdings, and articles on the topic of using school records for research.

When we are researching our ancestors, we should look beyond the typical birth, marriage and death records to see what else may help us to understand their lives. Looking for school records and the information they may provide is a step not to miss.

 Melissa Barker’s In-Brief with IDG Guide “Researching in School Records” gives the necessary information to begin using this important resource.

Disclaimer: A free copy of the In-Brief Guide “Researching in School Records” was provided for purposes of reviewing.

I am also an affiliate with the In-Depth Genealogist.

Have you used school records in your research?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,