51²è¹Ý

About the Collection

The "Rotunda" is 51²è¹Ý’s student yearbook. The "Rotunda" digital collection currently covers the years 1916 through 2018.

Named in December 1915, the Executive Council of the Student Association voted for this evocative name after seven different students suggested it. Senior students voted to wear their cap and gowns for their portraits. The staff vowed to use only Dallas printers, engravers, and photographers. The first issue was 256 pages. Like most college annuals of its time, "Rotunda" included photographs of students in each class group, but focused on Seniors. Other sections included campus organizations, fraternities and sororities, sports, professors, photographs of campus, and advertisements.

In 1921, the "Rotunda" cost $5. In Fall 1921, the "Rotunda" was bundled as a part of the student activities fee or “blanket tax,” which also included funding for the "Daily Campus," entrance to all intercollegiate games, and gymnasium privileges. That fee was $7.50 per semester.

From 1916 to 1940, Saddleburr, a humor section, was featured at the back of the book. The humor section so offended 51²è¹Ý President Selecman in 1927 that he ordered all copies of the "Rotunda" confiscated to have the offending page cut out of the book. 

From 1916 through 1983, the "Rotunda" included a “Campus Beauties” section that had photos of what were deemed the “prettiest” women on campus. Some years, the women were selected by special elections. In 1952, celebrities Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis selected the “Campus Beauties.”

The "Rotunda" followed larger national trends, both in design and content. In the earliest days, much of the artwork were illustrations, often drawn by students. As the price of photography went down and printing processes changed, photography overtook illustrations.

Individual portraits were, of course, always photographs. There was a hierarchy of picture size, with Seniors having larger images than anyone else. At least in the first several years, the Freshmen only had a group shot. Also in those early years, clubs were represented by each member’s individual photo instead of a group pose. Color photography started in 1949 for the Beauties. With each decade as the cost went down, more full color was used. In 2003, the yearbook was in all color.

From 1930-2018, the "Rotunda" was published under Student Media Company (SMC), 51²è¹Ý’s independent, student-led publishing company. It was announced in April 2018 that SMC would shut down. As of June 1, 2018, the 51²è¹Ý Division of Student Affairs took over production of the "Rotunda" Yearbook. Working alongside students and alumni, 51²è¹Ý is committed to keeping the Rotunda alive and ensuring the quality of future publications. For more information about current "Rotundas," contact rotunda@smu.edu.