This post was written by Sophie Hand, a 2025 Junior Fellow in the Library of Congress’ Informal Learning Office. Sophie is a current graduate student studying to earn her Master of Library Science (MLS).
How do you remember your high school experience? As a 2020 high school graduate, I often reflect on the novelty of my last few months of high school, which included social distancing and virtual classes, and wonder how other people look back on their years in high school. This summer, as part of the Junior Fellowship program at the Library of Congress, I served as a program assistant for the Library’s High School Summer Internship Program. This year’s internship cohort consisted of 14 teenagers who helped develop content for an upcoming experiential learning center at the Library called, “The Source: Creative Research Studio for Kids”. As I learned more about the teenagers and how their high school experiences have been similar to and different from mine, I wondered about what high school was like in the past, and how it has changed over time.
Classes
I began by looking for information in the Library’s collections about high school classes in the past. Many topics and subjects have been standard in high schools over the years. The following image from 1899 shows a group of high school students performing experiments in chemistry class. Do you remember doing any science experiments in high school? What was your favorite one?
There is also evidence of math having been taught in high schools for many years. Check out this image of Abraham Lincoln’s sum sheets from high school! Do you remember doing any similar exercises in your math classes? Or do you notice anything about this sum sheet that seems different from the math worksheets you did in high school?
Additionally, many high schools throughout time have offered classes in topics that are useful in non-academic sectors of life. Take a look at this 1899 photo of a group of students learning to cook. Did your high school offer a cooking class?
Consider the following 1911 photo of a group of students learning to sew. Do you notice any similarities between the students in this photo and the previous image of the cooking class? Based on the time period these photos were taken, why do you think those similarities may be present?
In my high school, home economics classes were offered as electives and were not required courses for graduation. Were any home economics classes offered at your high school? Do you remember if they were electives or if they were required to graduate? If you took a home economics class, what was your experience like?
Speaking of electives, some students choose to take elective courses that allow them to develop their interest in specific topics. Electives, such as art classes, invite students to express their creativity through multiple mediums. Take a look at this photo of two talented student artists. I’m inspired by the hard work and imagination that their projects reflect!
Other electives, such as engineering and STEM-focused classes, allow students to dive deeper into specialized topics. The following photo, as well as the previous one, are part of a 2024 photography project in the Library’s collection that celebrates the work of students and educators from seven high schools across the United States.
Think about the classes you took during high school. Which was your favorite? Did you take any unique electives in high school?
Personal Development
In addition to the lessons learned through coursework, high school is also a time of significant personal growth for many teenagers.
Service hours have become a common way for high schoolers to give back to their communities. Many of the teen interns this summer have mentioned their previous volunteer experience, which has led me to fondly remember the service hours I completed through extra-curricular groups such as the National Honor Society. Below, you can see a group of high schoolers giving back to their community by participating in a school park cleanup.
Did you perform any service hours in high school? What kinds of volunteer activities did you do?
Traditions
Teenagers have the opportunity to participate in many traditions throughout their years in high school. For example, school dances are a fantastic opportunity for students to dress-up, socialize, and unwind with their peers!
This photo from Greenbelt, Maryland in 1942 shows students at a senior prom. How do the outfits in this picture compare to those worn at your school’s prom? Do you have any pictures from your school dances? What about the decorations? How do they compare to your school dances?
Additionally, high school graduation serves as the culmination of a student’s years of high school education. As a 2020 high school graduate, my graduation ceremony was far from typical, consisting of a drive-through procession and a virtual ceremony. However, it was still an opportunity for my peers and I to celebrate our achievements and our future plans. Check out this recording of Pomp and Circumstance, the song traditionally played as high school graduates enter their graduation ceremony.
Do you remember this song being played at your high school graduation? Do you remember how you felt at that moment?
No matter when you attended high school, it can be a very impactful time in a young person’s life. We hope you enjoyed reminiscing on your own high school experiences, as well as considering how the high school experience has changed over the years. If you’d like to see more resources related to high schools throughout time, check out the “Additional Resources” section below!
Activities
- Look at a family member’s yearbook from high school. How do the pictures in your family member’s yearbook compare to the historical pictures included in this blog? Talk with your family member(s) about any similarities or differences you see.
- It has become a tradition to decorate graduation caps, but that hasn’t always been the case. Check out these historical images of Ruth Lucas and Helen Keller in their graduation regalia. Now imagine how you would decorate your own graduation cap! Take a square piece of paper (approximately 9 x 9 inches) and create a sketch of how you would decorate your cap.
Additional Resources
- Check out this blog about the different activities teenagers have participated in over time.
- Watch this 1914 video of students leaving their coeducational school on the last day of classes.
- Try cooking some of these historical recipes from the Library’s collection. Do you think these recipes would be included in the lessons for a home economics class in the 1920s?
- Read about the work of this summer’s High School Interns as they explored personal journeys, literature, poetry, and art they found at the Library of Congress.
An earlier version of this blog included incorrect credits for images from EDUimages by All4Ed.