"Well Anyhow We Done Our Damndest!": The 1912 Yearbook Recall

This exhibit tells the story of the recall and censorship of the 1912 Cornhusker resulting from Chancellor Samuel Avery's objections to the content and attitude of many of the cartoons featured in the yearbook.

Dana VanDusen, the editor of the 1912 Cornhusker, predicted more than once within the pages of the yearbook that he might upset some of his readers with many cartoons depicting drinking, gambling as well as an uneasy relationship between the University and the Legislature. What he might not have predicted is that Chancellor Avery would recall the books and have the objectionable pages removed. Because of this, there are three known versions of the 1912 yearbook in existence: the complete and uncensored version and two censored versions—one with pages and specific sections blacked out, and the other missing the corresponding pages.

Credits

Editor: Kourtney Smith, History 470: Digital History, Fall 2009