CSS Archives

Newspapers & Yearbooks

Through the College's Venture Fund, the following student publications were able to be digitized and placed in an online database:

- Newspapers beginning with the Scriptorium in 1932 to its end in 1969 and the Cable from its beginning in 1977 to the present.

- The Towers Yearbooks starting in 1937 through 2001 with some years missing as for some years a yearbook was not published. 

Every page of these publications can be searched simply by entering a name or phrase into the search field in the online database. Results of the search will display the page in pdf form, which can be saved, printed, or emailed. As the newspapers and yearbooks were already previously published and released to the public and past issues housed in the archives are freely open, this database is also similarly available.

Click here to search the the Towers Yearbooks and the Scriptorium and the Cable Newspapers

Screen shot of database - Enter your search term in the field following the word "Clear" and click "Search." To limit to a either the yearbooks or the newspapers or to a specific date range, click on the options on the left-hand side of the screen.

Campus Growth

Campus from 1937-1963
Tower Hall was built in 1909 with the second tower added in 1928
Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel and the Library built in 1938


Campus 1964-1968 - New Somers Hall


Campus 1969-1971 New Science Building

Aerial Campus Photos

Early Aerial View of Campus c. 1940s

Image of Campus c. 1950s


View From Tower Hall Window before 1964

Aerial View of Campus With Brand New Somers Hall 1965


Campus During Science Building Construction 1968

Campus Grounds

Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel


View of Chapel and Tower Hall


Stanbrook Hall, the all-girls high school from 1938-1968, building is now the Monastery


View of Campus

Inside Tower Hall

First floor of Tower Hall before second tower was added in 1928


Front Entrance Reception Parlor


Front Entrance Reception Parlor


Gold Parlor

History of Mayfest

The idea of heralding spring at Scholastica with a festival has a long tradition. The early years saw the all-woman school give homage to Mother Mary as May is the month of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Nine women with various ideals were honored, and the weaving of the standards of a Maypole saw the seniors passing the ribbons to the juniors symbolically representing the passing of the torch.

Click here to see a video of the 1956 weaving of the standards

The more modern festivities begin with Father F. X. Shea, the first male president. Every year of his presidency from 1971-74, he had a smelt fry at his house on Park Point. No one knew when this would occur as it depended on the fish and the weather, so a flag flown in front of Somers Hall would advertise the upcoming event.

Mayfest as we know it started in 1977. Originally it had a variety of events take place under a big tent some of which like Casino Night continue to this day. Others such as Cow Pie Bingo (yes, a real cow and you anxiously wait to see if she does a number on your square) and humongo boxing have gone by the wayside.

The early years of Mayfest were also a way for the students to earn money for the College for such projects as renovating the Little Theatre. In fact, the Library has some furniture that was donated by the students from Mayfest 1979. The very first Mayfest raised $1,300 and was given to the College's Adventure Campaign.

Other notable dates include the first Reif Run on April 27, 1979, commemorating the opening of the Reif Center. The race started at the corner of Arlington and Arrowhead and ended at the Reif, with Paul Stein being the first CSS person completing the 2.3 mile course in 12:39.

Finally, Ooze ball started in 1991 back when the big parking lot was still dirt. Here's to spring and tradition!