About the Class of 1940 Newsletters

The Class of 1940 Newsletters

What is it?

This collection contains newsletters written for members of the class of 1940. The first edition, published in March 1944, includes a "roll call" of 23 households. The 1960 edition lists 49 households. The last edition, published in February 2002, lists 21 households.

Topics covered include where class members are living (including addresses); holidays; World War II; courtships and marriages; children and parenting; returning to campus for events like Woman's Day; Homecoming, and reunions; illnesses and deaths of both the classmates and their family members; domestic and foreign travel; military service; jobs and relocations; significant visitors; infirmity and aging; notable weather conditions; and grandchildren and other extended family.

Most of the editions were prepared around Christmas, with editions in January to reflect additional news, and sometimes another newsletter in the spring. All are typed, originally using stencils and, by 1978, duplicated on a copy machine. In the 1950s, the format solidified in an alphabetical listing of each person's news, almost always in that individual's own words. Some of the entries are very brief; others go on for a page or more. Those who sent their news in late are in an added "latecomers" section.

The editors created a strong social network with expectations for participation in the newsletter. In the earliest editions, classmates who did not contribute were referred to as "stinkers"; in later editions, the authors simply listed the people they didn't hear from, noting that non-participants would be removed from the mailing list after a period of time. From many of the entries, it is evident that many class members, particularly those in and around Bozeman, socialized in person frequently.

Along with the newsletter, there are a few letters from the Alumni Association about reunions and one group photograph.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Class of 1940 Newsletters, Montana State University (MSU) Library, Bozeman, MT, [Item permalink or DOI]

Copyright Notice

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