06/15/2023
Did you know that Snohomish High School was among the first schools to support the World War II draft? We also have a rich history of sports dominance in football, baseball, and basketball. "The Panther: Student Handbook" provides insights into the school's Christian values, the development of our famous school pride, and the beginnings of a Snohomish legend.
Written in 1944 by the Associated Students of Snohomish High School, this handbook aimed to provide students with information about school schedules, sports, clubs, classes, and more. It is a 30-page book with a light-blue cover featuring the words "The Panther" and "Snohomish High School Student Handbook," with a panther symbol in between. The pages are typewritten, except for the last few pages which are bright yellow and provide a guide to studying and preparing for exams. Every student received a copy of the handbook at the beginning of the 1944-45 school year, most likely in the current-day A building. The handbook was a requirement for all students, and they were expected to carry it with them and refer to it when misbehaving.
The handbook includes schematics of the recently expanded campus, club and sports rosters, and mentions of Snohomish legend Keith Gilbertson. The schematics depict the school's growth from a single building (now A building) to multiple buildings, including parts of the present-day D building, the Office building, and a small stage where the promenade sits today. In the handbook, clubs and sports are given almost equal importance and social status. However, it's important to note that these programs reflect the social norms of the time, which were socially dated. Many of the programs required adherence to Christian values. For example, the Hi-Y Club, a group similar to the YMCA, emphasized a clean-Christian lifestyle to "purify" society. The drill team (cheerleaders) had specific rules regarding appearance, flexibility, hair length, and clothing. One striking example of the handbook's datedness is the exclusion of girls from participating in sports like basketball or tennis. Their main focus was on academics and clubs, but it's interesting to note that we were historically one of the first schools to integrate female sports.
This artifact is essential for understanding our school's history and the societal norms of that time, particularly during the peak years of World War II. It provides a rare and detailed glimpse into the experiences of schools during wartime. Additionally, it holds significance as one of the first mentions of the Gilbertson family, with Keith's role as the president of the committee responsible for creating these books. We can observe Keith's transition from a student to a coach and teacher, understanding his deep involvement in the school and his dedication to improving the educational experience for everyone. Other artifacts in our collection include a 1943 Kla Ha Ya yearbook, where we see Keith's brother, George. George is important because he became the superintendent of the district, demonstrating Gilbertson's dedication to our school. In the DuChesne collection, “Gilbies” antique typewriter is displayed which was used to write letters to all of Keith’s former athletes. Could Keith have learned how to type through the creation of these handbooks? Well from all signs, yes! We see striking resemblances in writing styles in the handbook and in Keith’s letters (of course all types); with word choice and sometimes funny jokes sprinkled in!
