What was high school life like a century ago, in the 1920s – Where was the school? How big were the classes? What courses did the students take? What was their life like?
We know some information from newspapers, and from records in the History Project collection, including yearbooks and graduation and other event programs.
But these two new documents provide a more personal view. These are the diploma and autograph book of Edna Moore, who graduated in 1927 from Hopewell Township High School (then in Hopewell Borough). These were kindly shared by her son, Rich Anderson.
The diploma helpfully lists the specific courses that she took – albeit with one mystery. And the autograph book then has playful (and often rhyming) personal messages from friends.
== View the 1927 Edna Moore Hopewell High School Autograph Book (PDF) ==
== View the 1927 Edna Moore Hopewell High School Diploma (PDF) ==
The Diploma
Edna Beatrice Moore (1908-1998) graduated from Hopewell Township High School in 1927. Her diploma is dated June 23, 1927, with a seal at the bottom right: Board of Education / Township of Hopewell / Mercer County, N. J.
The diploma attests that she has “sustained a good character and made satisfactory attainment in the various subjects of the Course,” and then lists her courses:
- English, Arithmetic, Civics, General Science, Bookkeeping, Stenography, Typing,
- US History, P.A.D. , ME [Modern European] History, Biology, Commerce & Industry, Economics
- Commercial Law, Office Practice, Drawing, Music, Physical Training
A 1925 newspaper article also reported that she was one of only 26 students in all the Hopewell public schools who had perfect attendance for that school year.
One mystery is what high school course is “P.A.D.”? The only viable “P” and “D” course names from this period seem to have been Physics and Drawing?
== View the 1927 Edna Moore Hopewell High School Diploma (PDF) ==
The Autograph Book
The autograph book is around 6 by 4 1/2 inches, with patterned cover, with Edna Moore’s signature on the inside front cover, plus some leaves still pressed after the first page. The entries in the book are fun (and often rhyming) messages from friends.
However, this is not a graduation book, or a class book – Instead, Edna used the book to collect messages from friends over her entire time in high school, and with contributions from people in older grades.
The book has some 50 pages, with only 15 pages filled in with individual notes. These entries were made in with no particular organization, spaced randomly around the book and with multiple pages between them.
The entries are signed, most have a date, and many have the class year (e.g. “H.H.S. ’26”). The dates range from 1923 to Edna’s graduation in 1927, and the signers also range across older grades back to the class of 1925.
== View the 1927 Edna Moore Hopewell High School Autograph Book (PDF) ==
The Entries
The writings in the book are clever, mostly in rhyme, with some quotes and some original.
Original
Edna now / Edna forever
Moore now / But not forever
– Lillian Merrell ’26
Quote
“Be true – if you would be believed!”
– Ruth Morrell ’25
(From Essay on Burns by Thomas Carlyle, 1896)
Confusing
(The last word is a symbol for “square.” This usage shows up online in other yearbooks, although “versatile” is used instead.)
May you also be like a piano
Grand, upright, and □
– Helen Mae Green ’25
Racy
In the parlor there were three
Edna, the parlor lamp, and he (Leslie)
Two is company there’s no doubt
So the parlor lamp went out
– Margaret E. Hill
(Credited online to The Rose Technic)
Satisfied
We have laughed and talked together
And broken many a rule
But what can be expected
of Hopewell High School
– Minnie Stein ’27
The Students
This table shows Edna Moore and all the students with entries in the book, along with the date of the entry (if supplied) and the class year of the person who wrote the entry (if specified). The final column provides cross-references to other sources for information on the students in the classes (see below).
| Student | Entry Date | Entry Class | Cross References |
| Edna Moore | n/a | (HHS 1927) | [Perfect Attendance 1925] |
| Lillian [M.] Merrell | Nov. 23, 1923 | “H.H.S. ’26” | [Honor Roll ’26] |
| Catherine Wezler? | n/d | (“Tillie”) | |
| Katherine Stryker | Sept. 12, 1923 | ||
| Helen Whitenack | 3/19/25 | [Play 1924] | |
| Helen L. Field | n/d | ||
| Ruth Morrell | March 19, 1925 | “H.H.S. ’25” | [Class Treasurer ’25, Play 1924] |
| Margaret E. Hill | April 17, 1924 | “HS 1924?” | [not ’24?] |
| Helen Mae Green | March 19, 1925 | “Senior ’25” | [’25] |
| Edith D. Rule | Aug. 24, 1923 | ||
| Helen C. Hurley | n/d | [’26] | |
| Helen Titus | n/d | [’26] | |
| Lucy Palmatier | March 19, 1925 | [Class Secretary ’25] | |
| Evelyn Rich | July 7, 1927 | ||
| Minnie Stein | n/d | “’27” | |
| Agnes M. Stout | Sept. 14, 1923 |
The High School
In the mid-1920s, the Hopewell Township High School, also known as Hopewell High School, was located at South Greenwood and Columbia Avenues in Hopewell Borough, where it was built in 1910. However, the class of 1927 was one of the last in the building, as the high school was relocated to Pennington in 1929.
The Hopewell Herald newspaper reports that the high school class of 1926 had 28 high school graduates, the largest class ever, and the class of 1927 had 21 graduates – with three going to college, six to Normal School, one studying law, and one going to medical school. For the 1927-28 year, the high school had 164 students – 62 freshman, 40 sophomores, 35 juniors, and 27 seniors. The grammar school then had 339 students.
We have several Hopewell High School graduation, yearbook, and other event programs from the mid-1920s in the History Project collection, which list the curriculum, the students in the classes, as well as class officers, honors, and participation in school events.
== View 1927 Edna Moore Hopewell High School Autograph Book (PDF) ==
== View the 1927 Edna Moore Hopewell High School Diploma (PDF) ==
We welcome additional materials for local schools that we can share – including yearbooks, graduation programs, and programs for plays and other events.
More on Hopewell Valley Schools
Posts on school materials, including yearbooks, graduation programs, and plays.
- See also post on St. Michael’s Orphanage and School
Browse all School materials in the Image Album and Pamphlet Collection:
- Hopewell Schools History Posters – Hopewell Elementary School at the Harvest Fair
- Images – Hopewell Valley Schools Album – Class photos, classrooms, etc. (search by name, etc.)
- Pamphlets – Hopewell Valley Schools – Yearbooks, commencements, etc. (select by town, name, etc.)
Hopewell Valley Schools – History
- Post on Hopewell School Mascots – and the Frog – School names, mascots and logos
- Post on The Timberlane School Name – The Timberlane Drive development
- Post on Learning Your Letters – School Signs – Princeton High School (1919 / 1920)
- Post on Toll Gate and Hopewell Elementary School Centennials (2026)
Hopewell Borough Schools History – Grammar & High Schools
- Post on Hopewell Elementary School History – Hopewell Schools History posters
- Documents on Hopewell Borough Schools – Briefs and Posters
Hopewell Grammar School (Model Ave.) – 1888 – Posts & Materials
- Post on Model Ave. Grammar School Annex – Jewelry, invention, guitars, metalwork
- Post on c1912 Hopewell Grammar School Kids – Photos on Model Ave.
- Post on 1920s Hopewell Teachers – Scott & Scharring-Hausen
- Brief – Hopewell Grammar School Summary Brief (PDF)
- Brief – Hopewell Grammar School Annex Summary Brief (PDF)
Hopewell Elementary School (Princeton Ave.) – 1926 – Posts & Materials
- Post on the Hopewell Elementary School Centennial – history and additions
- Post on Hopewell Elementary School Class Plaques – 1926-1966 – Photos and names
- Post on 1941 Hopewell Elementary School Newspaper
- Post on 1952 Hopewell Elementary School – Graduation program and yearbook
- Pamphlets – 1956 Hopewell Elementary School “Hi-Lights” Newsletters
- Pamphlets – All Hopewell Elementary School Pamphlets – with yearbooks, graduation programs, newsletters
- Brief – Hopewell Elementary School Summary Brief (PDF)
Pennington Grammar School – Posts & Materials
- Post on 1950s Memories of Pennington – Mike Thomsen – Building evolution
Hopewell High School (Columbia Ave.) – 1910 – Posts & Materials
- Post on The Confusing Hopewell Firehouse – and Boro Hall and High School (1910)
- Post on 1917 Hopewell High School Yearbook – “Blue and Gold”
- Post on 1920s Hopewell High School – Commencement / Class Day books
- Post on 1924 Hopewell High School Program and Ads – Senior class play
- Post on 1927 Hopewell High School Diploma & Autograph Book
- Pamphlets – All Hopewell High School Pamphlets – with yearbooks, graduation programs, diploma
Hopewell Valley Central High School(s) (Pennington) – 1929 / 1958 – Posts & Materials
- Post on 1950s Memories of Pennington – Mike Thomsen – Buildings, school days
- Post on Central High School 1962 Practicum Report – School operations
- Post on Central High School 1961 Student Handbook – Rules & Clubs
- Post on Business Classes at Central High School, c. 1966 – Typing & bookkeeping
- Post on Central High School Class of 1966 – 2016 Reunion Scrapbook – Valley Images
- Post on Central High School Curriculum: 1962 & 1976 – Booklets
- Pamphlets – All Central High School Pamphlets – Yearbooks, graduation programs, curriculum
See also the Document Archive for additional historical school materials.
