Larney preserves school history
Photo Credit: Kate Froehlich
Joan Larney looks through a box of old photographs. Larney moved and organized years of JC history into the Archives Room.
Kate Froehlich, Executive Editor
December 30, 2009
Filed under Lifestyle, On Campus
Joan Larney sits in the Archives Room, a former pantry in the Development Office, surrounded by pictures, uniforms, yearbooks, and other artifacts. She reminisces while changing her focus from searching for the first women’s uniform skirt to a lacrosse stick that belonged to a member of the original team, Jim Savore, who was killed during a robbery at a gas station in Bel Air where he worked.
Two years ago, the Archives Room was in the basement of the Development Office, a “dumping ground,” said Larney. Her daughter, Director of Alumni Relations Sue Greig was, according to Larney, concerned about “how damp it was in the basement” because “a lot of information was beginning to disintegrate.” Larney, as she approached retirement in December 2007, hoped to stay active, and agreed to tackle the project.
She began to move boxes of history to the Archives Room, already conveniently stocked with shelves from the days of nuns.
“If anyone is looking for something, they’ll be able to put their fingers on it,” said Larney of the Archives Room. The photos are kept in acid free boxes and organized by year. Newsletters, athletics schedules and programs, signed footballs, papers, and more are sorted accordingly.
Even “The Patriot” is represented, with every copy since Volume 1, Issue Two on file. Even letters from then governor Spiro Agnew and the Baltimore Colts organization are included, with personalized messages to the very first Editor in Chief.
“You don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been,” said Larney on the importance of keeping the history of the school in mind.
Check back soon for odd facts about the history of the campus.
Kate Froehlich canbe reached for comment at kfroehlich@jcpatriot.com.
