Scanning history

Digitizing yearbooks makes Linfield’s history more accessible and connected 

Many things have changed dramatically during Linfield’s history. Fashion, for example. Some styles (thankfully) died out a long time ago, while others are still around or back on trend. The curriculum has evolved in significant ways. Specific clubs, sport teams and activities started and ended. These and plenty of other differences are visible at a glance if you flip through the pages of Linfield’s yearbooks stored in the library. 

It’s also fun looking at quotes, stories and photos from over the decades that show how little has changed. Students still note the rivalry with George Fox or share their opinions about food at Dillin Dining Hall.  

We saw all this and more this summer as we digitized each page of 90 “Oak Leaves” and Commencement “reviews.” The publications span from 1912 to 2003.  

Each yearbook page was fed into a ScanSnap scanner, and each image edited to make sure the final product was properly framed and no fingers or creases were in the way. Depending on the length of the yearbook, it took an average of 15-30 minutes to digitize and upload each one to Linfield’s DigitalCommons, the university’s digital archive. While it may seem repetitive work to some people, we never tired of exploring the pages of Linfield’s history and making it available to the public. 

The result is a searchable archive that anyone can access over the internet. The yearbooks are available as .pdf files to view online or download. 

Digitizing the pages gave us insight into many long-forgotten stories and eras. We were surprised to learn about the number of famous guests that have visited campus, for example, including the late singer Tina Turner and former President Jimmy Carter. We saw these historical figures in places that we can still visit, like the Richard and Lucille Ice Auditorium. It makes these events – and Linfield’s history – feel all the closer to home.  

Seeing how different parts of the McMinnville campus have been used for the past century is humbling, also. We were able to see the campus grow from the solitary building of what is now Pioneer Hall to include the sprawling network of buildings and spaces we have today. Some of the current buildings still house the same programs or student activities we found mentioned in the yearbooks, while others’ roles have completely changed.  

In the end, scanning these pages made the experiences of past students feel more relatable and our Linfield community seem that much more connected. Now, we invite you to journey into Linfield’s past through the digitized archives, as well.  

See the online collection of yearbooks at: digitalcommons.linfield.edu/yearbooks