Nichols School - Verdian Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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Fifty years have passed since the first Verdian was published. The 60 Verdian would be found lacking did it not delve into the pages of its predecessors to record the growth of the school as reflected in her yearbook. In 1910, Nichols School moved to its present location at Amherst and Colvin streets. From the Verdian of 1910 we learn, “As this is the first year that the Nichols School has been going on under its present management in the new school, it was thought appropriate by the class (nine seniors) that a yearly book ought to be edited by the pupils, and so, in October, 1909, it was voted by the Senior Class to undertake this task.” The name Verdian, stemming from the Latin viridus (green), was suggested by a senior, Harry Ewens. From this yearbook we have a description of Nichols in its eighteenth year. “The buildings of the School are surpassed by none of their kind in the country; the grounds are ample and well equipped for the various sports; the boys already enrolled are among the best in Buffalo, the masters are college bred, thoroughly trained, congenial and very earnest in their work.” This volume contains a section of student creative writing, jokes, and an impressive listing of six fraternities. Among the write-ups of various activities, athletic, academic, and social, was this one: “Among the lower forms of the School there have been formed third teams for the purpose of training the boys in the different branch of each game, so that when they grow older the points of the games would come to them very easily, and also for the purpose of putting out the best varsity team possible. This works another way, for by having the third teams, this allows the fellows to get into the spirit of the game, and also to get used to the way his chums Title Page from the 1910 Edition HISTORY O play, so that the result is the team acts like clockwork, and it is not only a pleasure for himself and the coach, but it is a team that the whole school would be proud of.” In 1911 appeared on the pages of the second Verdian reports of the Mandolin, Motorcycle, Golf, Gun, and Glee Clubs. The Quadrangle Club functioned somewhat as our Student Council does now. Songs of the school and write-ups on school dinners appeared. The 1912 book was the originator of the distinctive Verdian shape. It reported on skating parties, lectures, dances, the G.I.T., the annual flour fight, contained much humor and an elaborate school calendar. It was the biggest yearbook in Verdian history. In 1913 came mention of Nichols’ first newspaper, the Nuntius, and the athletic intramural system of camps (the Huns, Celts, and Goths) was formalized. During the year 1914, a monthly publication, the Pynx, took the place of a yearbook. In 1915, by faculty request, there was no school publication. In 1916 publication was resumed, and, worthy of note, appeared Nichols’ first organized soccer team. In the 1917 Verdian we find the statement, “Soon after war was declared it was decided that the entire school should drill two hours a week, plus fifteen minutes every day after lunch.” The Cum Laude Society was initiated at Nichols in 1918. Also in that year appeared the Senior Council and a weekly Club Activity Day. Pursuant to state law, military training was formally organized. During the wartime, Verdian ad staffs were hard pressed for advertisers. 1920 was a good year: the Nichols News put out its first issue and the long awaited enclosed hockey rink was built. In the 1922 yearbook we find reference to the Shotgun Club and a Riding Club which made use of the trails in Delaware Park. 1925 brought the completion of Mitchell Hall; it was a proud Verdian with pages filled with photographs of the school grounds. The sports section was replete with coverage of the first Triangular League contests with University School and Shady Side Academy. 1926 brought the Gleaner. In that year Nichols men produced two plays “In the Next Room” and “Mr. Bob” and established a Minstrel Club. The School Council, composed of

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History of the Verdian .... Seniors.................... Faculty and Administration Underclasses...... Junior School People and Places Activities Athletics Patrons and Advertisers 5

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HE VERDIAN class presidents, appeared the following year, 1927, in which Nichols beat Shady Side in hockey 10-0. From the 1927 Verdian comes this timely thought, “Scenes and incidents of these beautiful years of irresponsibility and boyhood friendships are reenacted vividly in our minds now; but years of more serious affairs and trying experiences will wear away the outstanding occurrences of today to obscure memories of the past .” The 1928 Verdian reports a Nichols circus. On into the thirties, football remained the big sport, receiving the most coverage. Jokes still found their way into the Verdian. In 1932 the football team met Cranbrook for the first time, and spoiled their undefeated record. Of some sixty who had been sophomores in the class of 1933, but thirty-seven were graduated: the Depression was felt. 1935 produced a distinguished yearbook, with green transparent dividers and much better photography. The Assembly Committee made its appearance. During the school year 1938, Cranbrook joined the League now called Interstate. The 1938 Verdian also gave thanks for new artificial ice in the rink. In 1939 Western Reserve entered the League. The Verdian found it increasingly difficult to obtain funds necessary for production, due to economic instability. The 1940 Verdian came out proclaiming itself “one of the most modern Verdians ever published.” 1942 was the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Nichols and the Verdian proclaimed it. Also appeared Clubs for Communications, Military Science, Economic Warfare, Navigation, and First Aid. This editorial from the 1943 book is significant: “Like so many boys all over the country, we (the senior class) were faced with a truly perplexing problem. The future was unknown, and indefinite, and few could make any plans.” A number from the class had already left to join the Service. A diminishing senior class of twenty-four published the Verdian in 1944. It contained a school hymn. In 1946 Nichols had an orchestra. The 1948 yearbook tells of the dedication of the Scheu Room and the alumni laboratory. In 1950 the Verdian first mentions the Forum and the Hockey Dance Committee. The following year appeared the Green Key Committee. The 1955 Vedrian reports on the Three-Sport Varsity Club and the Athletic Council. The Science Fair is an important feature also. In 1956 came Creative Writing, Driver Education; the next year, the Math Club, and the disappearance of the Dramatics Club. 1957 was the year of the new Gym. In the past two yearbooks the Publicity, Foreign Exchange Student, Study Hall Proctors, and Freshman Orientation Committees appeared. The biggest of the Verdians was in 1912, 251 pages, and the smallest, 1939, eighty-one pages. In 1955 the book was first printed by photo-offset. This is the most significant development in recent years. By this process, a greater number of pictures and a wider variety of layouts are made possible. The improvement in style and readability is great. As the fiftieth Verdian rolls off the presses it becomes another in a lengthening line of distinguished yearbooks. —Kevin Lewis MR. WILLIAM NICHOLS Founder of Nichols School