Kids who tour the Library Center are fascinated when they are shown the 1906 Central High School yearbook with its long-ago photographs of the basketball teams, the girls in long skirts and the boys in long sleeves, says Sharol Neely who works in the local history department at the south side resource center.

The almost 600 yearbooks that are housed on compact shelving in the rare book collection are essential for reunions planners and those who are searching their memories for that special teacher or classmate. But Local History Librarian Michael Glenn says they are a “wonderful resource for a variety of other reasons.”

The yearbooks—most of which are from the Springfield high schools—are a time capsule, he says. “They offer a microcosm of a particular era, especially the popular culture of the time. For example, perusing the photographs will give you an idea of what people are wearing, and the clubs and sports teams are a good indication of the interests of a particular year.”

The Library’s collection is extensive, but not complete. “We don’t buy yearbooks, but we are always looking for donations to fill the gaps in our collection,” says Neely. “We would especially like to bump up our collection of junior high and middle school yearbooks.

“The Friends of the Library have been very good about watching for yearbooks among the donations they get for the book sales, and the Springfield Public Schools have been generous with their yearbooks. We’ll even take yearbooks from other states and send them to Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, a system that is building their collection.”

The library’s collection also contains yearbooks from some local colleges and universities, but you’ll find almost all years of the Central High School Resume, Glendale High School Falcon, Hillcrest High School Highlighter, Kickapoo High School Legend and the Parkview High School Viking Log.

To locate these, go to thelibrary.org and click on COOLcat, the library’s computerized catalog. Type in the name of the yearbook in the “title” box or the high school and “yearbook” in the “keyword” box. Or ask a librarian.

And, if you have yearbook donations, bring them to the local history department at the Library Center. Thanks!

Jeanne C. Duffey, community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District, can be reached at jeanned@thelibrary.org.