Genieve L. Doering (1904-1979) Student Handbook

The Genieve L. Doering Student Handbook provides a unique and very personal view of student life at Northwestern in the early 20th century. Each year, Northwestern University students received a Student Handbook—a small (3 x 5) cloth-bound book, published by the campus University Christian Associations. The Handbooks comprised an introductory message from President Walter Dill Scott, information regarding Northwestern's campus, history, and organizations, as well as a substantial quantity of advertisements for Evanston businesses. Doering used the calendar supplied in the handbook as a diary, reflecting on different happenings during her freshman year at Northwestern. Common topics are the outcomes of athletic events, events with friends, and the stresses of academic life.

Note: The University Archives holds an extensive collection of blank student handbooks, dating from the late 19th century to the present. The handbooks are among the many resources held by the Archives to document student life over the years. Other resources include yearbooks, scrapbooks, photographs, diaries, records of student groups, and personal papers of alumni.