Commencement Materials, 1927-present

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

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1973

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Commencement Program: 1973, Fontbonne College

1972

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Commencement Program: 1972, Fontbonne College

1971

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Baccalaureate Program: 1971, Fontbonne College

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Commencement Program: 1971, Fontbonne College

1970

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Baccalaureate Program: 1970, Fontbonne College

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Commencement Program: 1970, Fontbonne College

1969

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Commencement Program: 1969, Fontbonne College

1968

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Commencement Program: 1968, Fontbonne College

1967

Commencement Program: 1967, Fontbonne College

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Commencement Program: Summer 1967, Fontbonne College

1966

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Commencement Program: 1966, Fontbonne College

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Commencement Program: Summer 1966, Fontbonne College

1965

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Commencement Program: 1965, Fontbonne College

1964

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Commencement Program: 1964, Fontbonne College

1963

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Commencement Program: 1963, Fontbonne College

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Commencement Program: Summer 1963, Fontbonne University

1962

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Commencement Program: 1962, Fontbonne College

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Commencement Program: Summer 1962, Fontbonne University

1961

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Commencement Program: 1961, Fontbonne College

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Commencement Program: Summer 1961, Fontbonne University

1960

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Commencement Program: 1960, Fontbonne College

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Commencement Program: Summer 1960, Fontbonne University

1959

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Commencement Program: 1959, Fontbonne College

1958

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Commencement Program: 1958, Fontbonne College

1957

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Commencement Program: 1957, Fontbonne College

1956

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Commencement Program: 1956, Fontbonne College

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Commencement Program: Summer 1956, Fontbonne University

1955

Commencement Program: 1955, Fontbonne College

1954

Commencement Program: 1954, Fontbonne College

1953

Commencement Program: 1953, Fontbonne College

1952

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Commencement Program: 1952, Fontbonne College

1951

Commencement Program: 1951, Fontbonne College

1950

Commencement Program: 1950, Fontbonne College

1949

Commencement Program: 1949, Fontbonne College

1948

Commencement Program: 1948, Fontbonne College

1947

Commencement Program: 1947, Fontbonne College

1946

Commencement Program: 1946, Fontbonne College

1945

Commencement Program: 1945, Fontbonne College

1944

Commencement Program: 1944, Fontbonne College

1943

Commencement Program: 1943, Fontbonne College

1942

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Commencement Program: 1942, Fontbonne College

1941

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Commencement Program: 1941, Fontbonne College

1940

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Commencement Program: 1940, Fontbonne College

1939

Commencement Program: 1939, Fontbonne College

1938

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Commencement Program: 1938, Fontbonne College

1937

Commencement Program: 1937, Fontbonne College

1936

Commencement Program: 1936, Fontbonne College

1935

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Commencement Program: 1935, Fontbonne College

1934

Commencement Program: 1934, Fontbonne College

1933

Commencement Program: 1933, Fontbonne College