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Graduation Photo Challenge


We've all seen the senior photo challenge lately on social media.....in support of the graduating seniors of 2020 that are missing out on their last semester in school and ultimately missing their graduation ceremony, apparently if we post our senior photo this shows support and solidarity and will make them feel all better.  Doubtful it's really helping but hopefully still providing some good laughs to see some of the amazingly awful (and some surprisingly really good) senior photos of graduates-past.

I haven't had the courage to post mine. It was 1989 and a decade of perming my hair had finally taken its toll.....moving it from curls to straight out frizz.  

Here is a graduation photo that I find a bit more interesting than big, frizzy hair.


1923 Sacred Hearts Commercial Course Graduation Photo
Antonia Sutter Graduation Photo from Sacred Hearts 2-year Commercial Course, 1923. Note the pose with the typewriter.

A century ago, Sacred Hearts School in Sun Prairie offered a two-year commercial course.  My grandma, Antonia Sutter, was a 1923 graduate of this course.  She was 15 years old at the time.  From what I was able to find, this was her last official schooling. 

I would like to know more about this commercial course at Sacred Hearts but unfortunately haven't been able to find much. I only have some anecdotes from my aunt Mary Ann about how grandma attended these classes, many that had to do with bookkeeping, which allowed her to help with her father's cheese factories.  Mary Ann also would tell us about how she would walk from their home in East Bristol to Sacred Hearts to attend these classes.  I don't know exactly where in East Bristol they were living at the time, but regardless, this would not have been a short walk.

Found within all of the possessions of the tavern was this 'yearbook' from 1925 that mentions alums from the course (including my grandma).  It talks about some of the students that went on to attend the high school in Sun Prairie.  But it appeared that for many, this would be their last bit of formal schooling, going on to become housewives, farmers, hospital workers or other trades.  It was a different time indeed. 

Sacred Hearts Sun Prairie
A Flash From The Torch Booklet, Sacred Hearts' School, Sun Prairie, WI 1925

1923 Alumni Sacred Hearts School, Sun Prairie WI
The 1923 alum of Sacred Heart's Commercial Course
Commencement Exercises, Class of 1923 Sacred Hearts School, Sun Prairie WI
1923 Graduation Ceremony


Comments

  1. Praying GrandmotherApril 17, 2020 at 4:12 PM

    What a fun bit of information about your Grandma Antonia. I believe education beyond elementary school was a rare treasure back in those days. My parents were of the next generation younger than your Grandma yet neither of them went beyond an 8th grade education.

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