Freshman Beanies – St. Thomas Libraries Blog
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Freshman Beanies

As a new group of Tommies come to campus, I am reminded of Freshman traditions of the past.   Beginning 1926, freshmen and new students  to campus were required to purchase and wear purple and gray colored beanies to class and college social events.  The caps were worn from the start of classes until Homecoming where they were burned in the annual bonfire.   The wearing of the beanies was thought to foster school spirit among the new students.   Members of the school’s Tiger Club enforced the hat rule, often stopping  freshman students to make them sing the college song and “Rouser”.   The tradition faded in the late 1960s.

Freshman Week Picinicimg164

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Photographs from the University  of St. Thomas Archives

 

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