The semester has started and it’s great to have the students back and the 483 newbies here as well. What is also great is that there is a special publication that helps faculty and staff (and other students) get to know the new students.
Title page for 1896-97 Handbook
The Wildcat Handbook, as it is now known, was first published by the student YMCA chapter at Davidson. The oldest copy we have dates from 1896. Members of the YMCA took it upon themselves to provide useful information for new students. For 1896-97, this included a blank Recitation Scheme (otherwise known as a class schedule), descriptions of college buildings and student organizations, a list of faculty and descriptions of YMCA activities.
Recitation Scheme, now known as a class schedule – note there are no Mondays
They also included 3 pages of “Hints to New Students,” that included the train schedule to Charlotte and Statesville and help with housing. The housing paragraph notes:
Students are required to room in the college dormitories, and Prof. H.L. Smith has charge of the assignment of rooms. Any member of the Reception Committee will be glad to advise you as the selection of the room.
The book also has a section on discipline which states:
The College discipline is manly, and free from petty rules and restraints. There are no compulsory pledges save the one against hazing and the Faculty assume that all the students are gentlemen.
Boarding house fees in 1905 handbook
Over time, the handbook has added more information including the student government constitution, college yells and songs,maps, sports schedules and a directory listing of students. The name changed to Wildcat Handbook in 1926-27 and by the 1930’s the had over 100 pages.
Covers of Wildcat Handbooks from the 1920s-1950s
As more students drove cars to campus, the handbook added special maps that showed distances to all the women’s colleges in the area and later editions also listed hall phone numbers for dormitories at several of the women’s colleges.
The 1961-62 handbook introduced a new feature– a photograph directory of the new class– that has become one of the most popular features. This fall’s handbook is back to 62 pages — from a high of 160+ pages in the 1960s and provides some fun insights into student life and culture with lists of the top 5 places to get caffeinated, environmental groups on campus and places to buy local food as well as suggestions for places to study.
Covers of recent Wildcat Handbooks
The archives offers its thanks to the first YMCA committee and to all the editors and helpers who have kept the handbooks coming out each year. They are wonderful sources of college history!
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