Ivy Day Programmes
1892 - 1900
1892 - 1900
"May we never overtake the Ivy in our course and think we can stop and rest... may there always be out shoots of our vine just above us and out of our reach... which will shine through the storms of life when they gather around us, hiding us from view; or whether the sun of prosperity envelopes us in its ever welcome rays... 'press on! press on!'" - The Cadet, July 1890, page 67
The Class of '92 added a three-dimensional cut out of an ivy leaf to their programme. The program also has an irregular edge, perhaps mimicking the edge of a leaf or the path an ivy vine climbs. The class' slogan is in German and translates to "with heart and hand."
The Class of '94 created a more elaborate image of ivy leaves. Considering the necessity to reproduce the image, it is most likely an image printed from an etched plate. In this format, the image could be reproduced as many times as necessary. The class' slogan at the top of the programme translates to "In the United States."
The Class of '95 used a technique called blind embossing, pressing a raised image into a piece of paper without ink, to create the raised image of ivy leaves on the top of the programme. This class returned to the irregular edge used by the Class of '92. The event has also been changed from "Ivy Exercises" to "Ivy Day Exercises."
The Class of 1896 followed in the footsteps of the last class with their blind embossed programme. The programme was simplified, providing only the essential information: the event name and the date. The class also included an irregular edge on the programme, but it is different from the edges of prior years. The edge is more jagged unlike the more rounded edges from prior years.
The Class of 1897 created an entirely different design from previous classes. This program has multiple layers carefully assembled. On the very top layer, a small print or watercolor appears on a circular piece of paper. Behind that is an image of ivy leaves. It is a mix of blind embossing and embossing with ink. A metallic, green ink brings out the ivy leaves and emphasizes their raised texture. A square of a shiny plastic-like material shows through the negative spaces cut out around the embossed image. The students also included an irregular edge along the programme like others from years past.
Jumping a few years from the last programme, the class of 1900 left behind the prior interest in embossing on the programme. Instead, students created a print. The woman in the image carries a segment of an ivy vine in her raised right hand. Within the image, are the words "IVY DAY, UM" which can be seen within the breaks in the lines of the image. Looking closely, ivy vines wrap around the words, a subtle detail easily missed. Unlike previous class programmes, the information about the event is embedded within the cover image. The class also added green tassels on an off-white cord to their programme.
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