Marshall Digital Scholar

The Marshall yearbooks were published by the students of Marshall College/University. These yearbooks are a reflection of the progress of the school, recording events of the year in an enduring and organized form. The 1908 Mirabilia was the first yearbook published by Marshall College (now Marshall University). Except for the years, 1920, 1922 and 1923, annuals were produced through 1931, at which time the yearbook ceased publication because of the Great Depression when money was scarce. The 1933 yearbook was the last issue under the title, Mirabilia. After an absence of seven years the yearbook was superseded in 1940 by The Chief Justice, titled in honor of John Marshall, one of the most famous of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and for whom the college was named when it was established in 1837. In 1942 there was again a three year hiatus during World War II when there were paper shortages. Publication resumed in 1945 but ceased for good in 1995. The editors for the 1954 Chief Justice yearbook developed and introduced the idea of Marco, the university's mascot. They named him Marco for Marshall College and he was their version of Marco Polo wandering through the yearbook and visiting different groups. In 1961 Marshall College achieved university status with the signing of the bill by Governor W.W. Barron. The 1960-61 Chief Justice cover was already in production bearing the name, “Marshall College.” It would have been prohibitively expensive at that late date and at that stage of the production to get it changed to reflect ‘Marshall University’. Therefore this particular yearbook reads ‘Marshall College’ on the outside spine, but inside the copy reads ‘Marshall University’. A section is devoted to the change to university status, with additional photos and information in the Activities section. The 1961 Chief Justice is also the first to display the use of color in the advertising section of a West Virginia yearbook.