Commencement Materials, 1927-present

This collection of commencement materials includes programs, invitations, tickets, and other related items.

You'll find a number of omissions here, which indicate gaps in our holdings. We are currently missing programs from the years 1929-1941, 1943-1955, and 1967. Please let us know if you have copies of any missing items and would like to share them for digitizing or donate them to the Archives.

Commencement Traditions

Graduation Chain
In 1927, the first class of Fontbonne began a tradition that is carried on today. Originally connected to the shovel used for the Fontbonne’s ground-breaking in 1924, a bronze chain bears the year of the first graduating class at its head, and each subsequent graduating class is connected by square links inscribed with each graduation year. A new link is added each year at commencement ceremonies to continue this unique part of the University’s history.

Ringing of the Bell
The women of the Class of 1949 donated a bell for the Ryan Hall Chapel. For many years, the bell was rung for a variety of occasions including daily prayers. It is believed that the bell was also rung at each Commencement, with the number of rings coinciding with the year of the graduating class (60 rings in 1960, 74 rings in 1974, and so on.)

In 2000, a new tradition was started and the bell was rung one time for each graduating student as a way for Fontbonne to celebrate each individual student’s effort and success. Now, all graduating students are invited to participate in the ringing at the conclusion of their commencement ceremony.

Image credit: Ticket from the First Commencement at Fontbonne College, 1927 | © Fontbonne University Archives