Snapshor of a Teenager in the 1920s-30s Rosman

Many of the materials in the Local History Collection at the Transylvania County Library come from the generous donations of individuals.  A recent donation included a scrapbook and photograph album created by Selma Morgan.  Miss Morgan was raised in the Cherryfield area and graduated from Rosman High School in 1930.  She attended Western Carolina University when it was still known as Western Carolina Teachers College at Cullowhee.

Eighteen students graduated from
Rosman High School on April 30, 1930.

The scrapbook includes Graduation Exercise programs for 1926, 1927 and 1930.  Graduation was much different at that time than it is today. It was comprised of multiple events over a period of several days.  In 1930 the exercises began with a musical recital on Friday evening.  Commencement Exercises on Sunday consisted of an invocation, songs and hymns, scripture readings and a baccalaureate sermon.  Class Day on Monday was a more light-hearted event featuring the Senior Class history, music, poem, statistics, prophecy, will and gifts.  The Senior Class presented “The Dust of the Earth: A Rural Drama in Four Acts” on Tuesday evening.  The events culminated on Wednesday evening with the presentation of diplomas and honors at the final graduation ceremony.

Numerous clippings featuring school events, athletes and community news are also in the scrapbook.  The largest number of clippings though are for wedding announcements of Morgan’s classmates and friends.

Selma Morgan's photo albums features pictures from the
late 1920's and early 1930's in and around Rosman.

  The photograph album contains over 60 photos.  The photographs are not identified but appear to be Morgan’s classmates, friends and family.  In addition there are 36 personal name cards from classmates in the back of the album.

These items offer a wonderful snapshot of the life of a teenager and those central to her life in Rosman in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

If you have materials of local interest that you would like to donate to the local history collection please contact a staff member in the North Carolina Room at the Transylvania County Library.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.