In celebration and honor of the
Class of 1965
’s 50-year reunion, a memory case is now on display in the Leatherby Libraries. The case contains a combination of donated memorabilia and items from University Archives and other library collections.

031


Louise Rusher ’65 donated the 1965 Student Handbook and several photos that portray dorm life and school dances.



Louise Rusher ’65 donated the 1965 Student Handbook and photos that bring the Chapman experience to life, including snapshots of dorm life and school dances. The case radiates Panther Pride with sections on Semester at Sea, graduation caps and pennants etched in Chapman cardinal, and 1965 issues of
The Panther

Newspaper
and the CEER yearbook.

“One (section) that was fun to research was World Campus Afloat/Semester at Sea, which had its first year as an official Chapman University program in 1965,” said Margaret Ellsworth, administrative assistant at Leatherby Libraries, who coordinated and constructed the case.

Ellsworth also expressed her thanks to University Archives librarians Rand Boyd and Maria Yanez, and student assistant McKenzie Tavoda for joining forces in finding and collecting the case’s artifacts.

In addition to artifacts that focus specifically on Chapman during 1964-65, some sections of the case also focus on timely American culture and history. For example, the case is alive with nostalgia including
The Sound of Music 
songbooks, records and film copies. The classic film won the 1966 Oscar for Best Picture.

A 1960s songbook featuring The Beatles is also prominently displayed, along with books on the 1960s civil rights movement — all gathered from Leatherby Libraries’ Special Collections, University Archives, and the Arts and Humanities Library.

The Class of 1965 kicked off its official reunion celebration weekend May 21 with a barbecue at the
Elliot Alumni House
, followed by a memorial service at the
Wallace All Faiths Chapel
to honor the memory of classmates who have passed on. President Doti inducted the Class of 1965 into the 50 Year Club at the Annual 50 Year Club Luncheon. Members of the class received a certificate, a 50 Year Club pin and a gold stole.

img_2924


The Class of 1965



“A few of the class members attended the baccalaureate service (Commencement) to celebrate the Class of 2015 and passed on to them ivy, which is a longstanding tradition,” said Sarah Buckley ’14, alumni engagement coordinator. “After the baccalaureate service the class joined for an intimate dinner on the (Marvin W. Meyer) Faculty Anthenaeum Patio where they shared stories from the past with Professor Don Booth and Professor Bill Cumiford.”

The celebration weekend came to an end with brunch at the Elliot Alumni House where the class shared emotional farewells, gratitude for the meaningful connections made and of course, abundant Panther Pride.

The 1965 50-year reunion case will be on display in the Leatherby Libraries through May 2016 when it will be replaced by the Class of 1966’s 50-year reunion case.

We’d love to hear (and share!) what you’ve been up to since graduating from Chapman. Share your story here.