Yearbooks Online

Digital Initiatives Assistant Caitlin Holton scans a yearbook into the database.
Digital Initiatives Assistant Caitlin Holton scans a yearbook into the database.

Written by Bryan Field, Libraries communications officer

Recently, Binghamton University yearbooks, handbooks and newspapers were added to the Libraries’ digital collections. While the physical artifacts are housed in the Libraries’ Special Collections, a digital version is made available on various online platforms. This recent addition of these resources is a strong example of collaboration, preservation and the importance of creating accessible materials through digitization. 

“Digitization is a way to promote what we have within the libraries because people can’t always get inside the libraries to view the physical collection,” said Erin Rushton, head of digital initiatives and resource discovery. “Digitization helps present our collections in a way that is accessible and highlights, I think, some of the gems that [the Libraries] have.” 

The first selection of yearbooks made digitally available include a total of 24 yearbooks, formerly titled The Colonist, spanning from 1948 to 1969 and The Yearer in 1970 and 1972. During that time, the collection of yearbooks were officially the student yearbooks of Triple Cities College, Harpur College and the State University of New York at Binghamton. All of these institutions would later be known as the current Binghamton University.  

Images of a newspaper, student handbook and yearbook.
Images of a newspaper, student handbook and yearbook.

“The yearbooks are really cool. I feel like you get to know this campus in a way that you would never get from the marketing material from the University,” said Caitlin Holton, digital initiatives assistant. “You get to see the birth of Binghamton and also what really motivated the students at Binghamton in the past.” 


Discover this Binghamton University Libraries’ digital collection by clicking the corresponding link: yearbooks, handbooks and newspapers

Read this full story on the Library News blog.