Beginnings

Part I: (1868–Early 1900s)

  • The Cornellian yearbook was first published in 1868, just three years after Cornell University was founded.
  • It quickly became a student-driven record, blending portraits, poems, campus life sketches, and early student organization notes.
  • These early editions captured the energy of a brand-new university experimenting with its motto: “Any person, any study.”
  • The yearbook became a way for students to document their own story, beyond official records — the first visual and written legacy of Cornell’s identity.

A Changing World

Part II: (Mid-1900s–1990s)

  • Throughout the 20th century, the Cornellian became a mirror of Cornell’s larger role in American history.
  • In the 1960s–70s, students used the yearbook to capture campus activism: the 1969 Willard Straight Hall takeover by Black students fighting for representation, anti-war protests, and movements for gender equality.
  • The Cornellian preserved not just smiles and formals, but also the power of protest and student voice — a chronicle of a generation demanding change.
  • The book also highlighted moments of pride and success: championship teams, Nobel Prize–winning faculty, and alumni breaking barriers in science, politics, and the arts.

Today

Part III: (2000s–Present)

  • Today, the Cornellian continues its role as both a memory book and a historical document.
  • Each volume celebrates students’ milestones — from traditions like Dragon Day and Slope Day, to moments of resilience like navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The book reflects the diversity and creativity of the Cornell student body while also linking current students to the 160+ years of alumni who once flipped through its pages.

  • Purchasing or contributing to the Cornellian connects you to a living legacy: a record of challenges, successes, and a community that future generations will remember forever.