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 [email protected]
or 828-884-1820.