A Lantern Slide Through Time

Faculty Sponsor

Professor Kevin Ostoyich

College

Arts and Sciences

Discipline(s)

History

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 5-3-2018

Abstract

Using lantern slides and various campus publications housed in the Valparaiso University Archives I explore campus life from 1925 to 1933. The standards for men and women at Valparaiso University differed drastically from what they are today. Particularly, there were rules that governed interactions between male and female students. I examine the rules and norms on campus at the time to highlight a contrast with modern campus life and to attempt to explain why the romance between a student, Lorena LaHayne, and an instructor, Myers Zimmerman, was not seen as scandalous at the time.

By investigating the specific case of the student LaHayne and her instructor, I argue that the strict rules for student interaction may have actually helped to encourage such a romantic relationship.

Keywords: Zimmerman, LaHayne, gender, campus life, rules, lantern slides

Biographical Information about Author(s)

I am a sophomore history major with an interest in tracking moral and ideological developments over time. During a history internship in the University archives, I was drawn to working with the lantern slides for their unique images. As I researched the context for the slides in student handbooks and university publications, I came to find the expectations for students then was very different than in modern time, prompting further review and ultimately this project.

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