Are you an alumni of Summit High School? Are you planning a class reunion? Are you looking for a photo of your grandmother from the class of 1950? The Summit Free Public Library and our partner the Summit Historical Society are delighted to announce that the Summit High School yearbooks from 1921 through 2017 are now available online at no cost to users through the Library’s website.
Yearbooks are popular for those doing genealogical research. The reference librarians often receive calls from across the country or across the world from descendants of former Summit residents searching for pictures of their ancestors. Reporters might also seek out the high school pictures of a former Summit resident who is in the news. Yearbooks can provide a really good snapshot of the community in time; it’s a way to preserve the memories of the community. The yearbooks provide an intimate glimpse into the changing styles of teenagers through the decades from the staid formal teens of the 1920s through the 40s to the rock-and-roll influenced teens of the 50s, 60s and 70s.
With only one copy of each yearbook, Library staff worry about wear and tear, deterioration or the threat of vandalism. Digitization removes those worries and makes the images available from anywhere. It is important for the Library to preserve this valuable resource of local history.
Special thanks is given to the Summit Historical Society for providing copies of yearbooks missing from the Library collection. Access the yearbooks easily by clicking here (or find the link under the Resources tab on our homepage) and start taking a walk down memory lane today.
Susan Permahos
Director, Summit Free Public Library