Lance 1973, Cover - CARLI Digital Collections Featured Image

Certain times of the year engender reflection: birthdays, holidays, and life transition occasions such as graduation (which is taking place here at Eastern this weekend). In the latter instance, yearbooks are an obvious avenue for looking back at the past.

Collectively yearbooks are regarded primarily as institutional documents--and yet they are curiously personal items, akin to a formalized photo album or scrapbook. Without any connection to the school or knowledge of the people featured within, what can one say?

Maybe that's why I tend to be more interested in the covers. Or maybe it's covers that intrigue me, since despite the adage, we judge. Or possibly I just have a thing for '70s graphic design. At any rate...

OCC Lance is a complete collection of the twenty-seven yearbooks published by Olney Central College from 1965 to 1991. Several of the covers, through color and/or illustration, make visual reference to the college's mascot, the Blue Knights. The 1973 variation on that theme stands head and shoulders above: a calligram in the shape of a jousting helmet, with the title Lance composing the head piece and the year forming the collar, topped by a red feathery plume.

Written by Ellen K. Corrigan, Associate Professor, Cataloging Services, Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University

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