Prohibition was over, yes. But the Depression was still in full swing, with 20% unemployment, compared to today’s 3.8%. Not being able to support a family might be a justifiable reason to drink, which probably contributed to the formation of a group called Alcoholics Anonymous that year. In addition, The Social Security Act was signed. Wikipedia fun facts include these bits of trivia:
- Airplanes were banned from flying over the White House.
- Porky Pig made his debut in Looney Tunes’s I Haven’t Got a Hat.
- The world’s first parking meters were installed in Oklahoma City. Really? OKC?
- Humorist Will Rogers was killed when his plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Barrow, Alaska.
- The China Clipper took off from Alameda, California to deliver the first airmail cargo across the Pacific Ocean; the aircraft reached its destination, Manila, and delivered over 110,000 pieces of mail.
Meanwhile, fortunate young Americans still attended college, like these students at West Texas State Teachers College. As you know, my favorite parts of my many yearbooks are the candid shots. Many of them are only two inches high in brittle paper collages, but with the power of zoom, we can get a great sense of the campus culture.
Come back soon for more 1935 pics; this yearbook is a treasure trove!
I Don't Get It 
I just love your collection of pictures. Check out those guy’s pants. Some look like bell bottoms from the 60’s and those skirts are definitely maxis.
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I see what you mean!
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I bet campus culture in 1935 did not include rape, drugs, fights, robbery, theft, and professors that hate America, etc. Just the other day, I had a student tell me how scary it was at Texas State University in San Marcos. Of course, I am not outing the school in anyway. Problems are at every college campus now, in addition to the exorbitant costs to attend. And if you are lucky you will have between $50,000 and $80,000 in debt and have your first job a Chic-Fil-A for somewhere between $10 and $14 and hour. Great photos!
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Those are all good points! Surely there was some fighting and theft, but not to dangerous levels. My aunt attended it when it was Southwest Texas, but that was decades ago, when it was a party school, not frightening. How terrible that we have teachers that hate America, but it’s true. Hey, I have a college degree and STILL don’t make $10 an hour, so those Chic-Fil-A kids got one up on me. And they get Sundays off! But you’re right; the debt these days is unforgivable. I wouldn’t wish college debt on anyone.
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Love these yearbook pics.
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I’m so glad!
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