Central Washington University Archives & Special Collections

06/12/2026

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Today’s post was researched and written by CWU Archives student assistant Julia Nicholson who graduates tomorrow!

Congratulations to all who are graduating! Let's take a look back at what Commencement at Central was like exactly 100 years ago when it was Washington State Normal School.

The 35th annual Commencement boasted the largest graduating class to date. A group of 150 students were graduating with two-year elementary degrees, 127 graduates received life degrees, 15 were given special diplomas for completing a three-year teaching course, and 88 students received elementary certificates. This was compared to 132 two-year degree and 80 life diploma graduates in the year prior.

Reverend George Fallis, a pastor from Canada, gave the Commencement address, which was titled “The Foundation of a Serviceable Life.” President Black presented the class for graduation and the Board of Trustees President, G.P. Short (namesake of the Getz-Short apartment complex) presented each graduate with their diploma. Music was provided by Jean McMorran and the women's double quartet. After the ceremony, attendees were invited to a luncheon in Kamola Hall.

The first picture below shows what campus looked like in 1926 and comes from the yearbook for that year. Next is the front page of the Commencement pamphlet, which is accessible online here: https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=cwu_commencement_programs. Inside, you will find the schedules for both the Baccalaureate ceremony and the Commencement ceremony. Additionally, lists of who graduated with each degree, as well as who was on honor roll each quarter, can be found at the end of the booklet.

06/11/2026

06/08/2026

Happy Monday, Wildcats! Today is National Children's Day and we share some pictures from the College Elementary School over the years!

Image Descriptions:
• Instructor Clara Meisner with children at Washington State Normal School, 1917
• College Elementary School, undated (images 2-5)

06/04/2026

Happy Thursday and Happy Pride Month, Wildcats! Today’s post was researched and written by CWU Archives student assistant Julia Nicholson.

In 1996, Central hosted their first Pride Week. At the federal level, Pride Month was not established until 1999, though Pride Week dates back to 1970. Central's events were held May 13-17 and hosted largely by the Gay and Le***an Alliance (GALA). An exhibition of cartoons was shown in the Student Union, a gay-rights video series "Questions of Equality" was shown, a Q&A with a s*x advice columnist was held, and the week ended with the "Fun and Happy Celebration of Diversity" dance—with the theme of "Feel Free to be Funky.

In 2016, the LGBTQIA+ rainbow flag was flown over Barge Hall for the very first time. This was also the first year that rainbow paw prints were drawn outside of the SURC. Both of these firsts are shown in the pictures below!

This year, EQuAL (Equality through Qu**rs and Allies) is hosting events for Pride Week, June 1-5. The events include a showing of "But I'm a Cheerleader,” an ice cream social with bracelet making, poetry and painting on the, a drag show brunch, and a professional drag show on June 5! Information on these events can be found on their Instagram at equal_cwu. Kittitas County Pride is also taking place this weekend and their events are listed at https://www.kittitascountypride.org/.

06/02/2026

Happy Tuesday, Wildcats! June is Neonatal Camping Month and National Great Outdoors Month. In honor of this, we highlight some pictures of Upper Kittitas County below from the Fred Kreuger Collection, https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/frederick_krueger/.

Image Descriptions:
• Family camping near Lake Cle Elum, 1920 (first 2 images).
• Family camp above Salmon la Sac, undated.
• Sue Jenkins on camping excursion, 1935.

05/28/2026

Throwing it back to one of the very first Sweecy Days! 👑 Here, the Sweecy Day King and Queen are crowned in a classic CWU moment.

Special thanks to CWU Archives and Special Collections for helping preserve these Wildcat memories. 🐾

05/22/2026

In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, today we focus on the San Dewayne Francisco Memorial Archives at https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/sdfrancisco/.

San Dewayne Francisco was born in Buckland, Missouri in 1944. His family soon moved to Burbank, Washington, where he grew up. Following graduation from Kennewick High School in 1962, San attended Central Washington State College (now CWUU). While at Central, San played football and wrestled while working three jobs to support his wife and son.

After graduating from Central in 1966 and completing his Air Force ROTC training, San was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1964. He was a member of the 555 (triple nickel) Squadron and flew the F4D Phantom fighter jet. In 1968 San was sent to Vietnam where he completed his required number of missions and was scheduled to meet his wife for R&R in December, but on November 25, 1968, another pilot was ill and San volunteered to fly one more mission.

Major San Dewayne Francisco was shot down over North Vietnam on November 25,1968. He ejected and was captured by the North Vietnamese, but was later killed by shrapnel from American bombs. There are ongoing efforts to find his remains.

This online collection includes images, documents, and correspondence documenting San’s life and career. His siter, Terri Francisco Farrell, did an interview in 2019 sharing about San’s life and the work to find his remains. The interview is at https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/sdfrancisco_returnefforts/1/.

05/18/2026

Happy Monday, Wildcats! May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Today we share pictures of an exhibit honoring this month curated by CWU Archives student assistant Lily Bauer.

The first image below shows a Chinese Scroll and Japanese Calendar. The Chinese scroll was likely made to be hung by a door during the Lunar New Year. While the origins of this specific scroll are unknown, its label reads "Chunlai Education Group."

The Japanese calendar is from 1980. This art piece was among other donations related to the Japanese Garden on campus.

The other images below show the window exhibit that includes articles published in The Observer (student newspapers) on events celebrating the month, such as the dedication of the Japanese Garden on campus. The articles highlight the rich culture, but also difficult struggles faced by students of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent.

There are also two 1992 posters about two events being hosted for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

The exhibit is up through the month of May.

05/12/2026

Happy Tuesday, Wildcats! In honor of National Archery Day occurring on May 10, we share some pictures from 1955!

Images are from the John Foster Photographs Collection, https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/john_foster_photos/.