Et cetera : First Installment from IBSSS Student Archives

Mary Ingalls Society plans weekly articles from the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School student newspaper archives:

In our process of cataloging and preserving archival materials at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, we have discovered a wonderful collection of student news papers.  These date from 1936 to the mid 1990’s.  Our review has shown them to contain fascinating and entertaining insights into the day to day life of the student body.  These are not official reports prepared for bureaucratic reasons, but earthy and insightful stories.  Perhaps the best description of what these papers signify is provided by student journalist, Judy Shank ’58, in her article entitled “The History of the School Journal” that appeared in the December 1957 edition.  

A History of the School Journal

1935 was a great year in the history of our school because the School Journal was initiated.  Students at IBSSS wanted their parents, friends and the public to know about the activities that were taking place during the school year.

“The Scarlet Pen” was a four page pamphlet with no special cover.  It was edited twice monthly and sold for three cents a copy.  In 1937 the “The Scarlet Pen” was changed from a pamphlet to a magazine and was called “The Trail Blazer”.   In addition to the news items the publication had an editorial and a “chit-chat” column.   Later the name was changed to the “Campus Crier”.  In 1940 it was given its current name, “The School Journal”.  To make the Journal more interesting, original poems and short stories were added.  

The writing ability of the students improved as the years passed.  For several years the sophomore commercial class edited “The Journal”.  Interest in “The Journal” was aroused and soon all the high school students were helping.  For a while it was published 6 times yearly.  During the latter part of the ‘40s it was decided that “The Journal” should be published four times a year.

In 1954 the feature page was started.  Assemblies, the corral, and poetry have been featured in past issues.  Last year four departments of the school were introduced:  music, physical education, industrial arts and academics.  Also in 1954 the “Did You Know” column was begun.   Highly condensed facts are printed in it. 

Judy Shank ‘58

The 1968-69 editions were published under the banner of the “Rambler”.  The “Fact Finder” appears to be the name in the early 70’s and then inexplicably the name returns to the” Rambler”.  This remained the paper’s moniker throughout the remainder of the time it was printed.

The plan is to share articles from these student newspapers with you each Friday.  The articles will span several decades of school life and hopefully will awaken memories in some of our older readers and create a new curiosity and interest in those who have not had a great deal of experience with the school.  Our ultimate goal is to raise awareness and appreciation of the school’s historic significance to the education of visually handicapped individuals.

So get ready for a trip down memory lane or to be awakened to a world you did not know existed.  Feel free to give us feedback through comments in the online paper or by writing comments/questions to us at IBSSS Mary Ingalls Society, Box 326, Vinton, Iowa 52349.