Rum-tidy
Bum tidy
Umtidy dee
Rickety, rackety
Who are we
Feegee, weegee
How we roar
School cheer from the 1950s
The Historical Society of Greater Lansing is launching its “second pop-up for history” exhibit “Lansing High School Days” Friday, November 30, 2012, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at its temporary museum space in the Creyts Building at 831 North Washington Street (Corner of Oakland Ave.) in Lansing.
The temporary exhibit features a history of more than 100 years of Lansing High Schools and includes more than 300 artifacts and ephemera from 12 Lansing High Schools, both public and parochial.
Items on display include an assortment of band uniforms, prom attire, varsity jackets, trophies, school club memorabilia, scrap books, sports and commencement memorabilia and of course report cards.
“The pop-up exhibit celebrates the “glory days” of high school including academics, sports, proms and club activities”, said Valerie Marvin, president of the Historical Society.
The President said this is the second pop-up exhibit for the Society with the first focusing on shopping in downtown Lansing during mid-century. She said the Society will be launching a series of pop-up exhibits centering on a variety of themes that are important to the history of Lansing.
“The one-room pop-up exhibit format allows us to tell an interesting story in 20-30 minutes, but this exhibit would certainly warrant more space in a permanent museum,” she said.
“In one room, we provide a look at what it was like attending high school in Lansing through the ages,“ she said.
“Everyone will have their own favorites, but mine is the handmade 1955 prom dress, still elegant today, which came with a poem written for the occasion:
Prom Night by Gerianne Kuldt
He worries, “Will she like them,
These flowers that I’ve brought?”
She wonders, “Will he like my dress,
Or have I shopped for naught?”
He ponders, “What impression
Will I make upon her folks?”
She’s praying, “Please, dad, spare the boy
Your sage advice and jokes.”
He’s nervous - “Am I early,
Or have I come too late?”
She’s doubtful - “Shall I go down now,
Or should I make him wait?”
They’re off; the prom awaits them,
They’ll talk and laugh and dance,
An evening to remember,
Utopian romance.
(Utopian Splendor was the prom theme that year, 1961.)
The Historical Society President also said that they are collecting artifacts for other pop-up exhibits on themes that include, worship, eating in Lansing, city government, fraternal organizations and a variety of other themes. The organization recently leased space in the historic Creyts’ home to store for exhibits and meeting space.
For more information contact Valerie Marvin at 517-282-0671 or visit http://www.lansinghistory.org. In addition to the opening, the exhibit will open from 1 p.m.-4 p.m., four additional Sundays: December 2, January 6, February 3 and March 3. Also the exhibit will be open by appointment for alumni groups, organizations and classes. Call or e-mail to schedule an appointment.
