Exhibits

     In 1995 when Howe High School closed its doors, Howe alumni and the Irvington Historical Society rescued items not retained by the Indianapolis Public Schools. This included copies of The Tower, The Hilltopper, and Pen Points; photographs; trophies; programs; class schedules; and a collection of flags. Much was stored at the Bona Thompson, used in small displays, and supplied to the Indianapolis Public Library to create their digital collection of Howe publications.
     The Irvington Historical Society is displaying that collection of flags for the first time since 1995. It fills an entire gallery and is impressive! It also seems to have caused a great deal of conversation among Howe alumni who did not remember class flags. “Who made them?” “Who chose the colors?” “When were they used?”
     They were visible in panoramic photos of graduations from 1987 to 1994. Yet there is no record in either the newspaper or the yearbooks.

     Thanks to Carol Yeager ’57, retired Principal Frank Tout provided the story.

     “I did have the flags made. (The principal as autocrat, I guess.) The Art Department was less than enthusiastic about the idea. The Home Economics took over the project and came up with the end products. The banners came out looking less arty than I might have envisioned, but they got the job done. Notice the “sameness” about the banners, a result of all the banners being done at the same time. No seniors were really involved since the banners were made after they were long gone. And the banners were made to add some color and some tradition to the graduation event.”