University of Pennsylvania Yearbook 1930, "The Record" --- An Art Deco Gem

18th Feb 2022

The University of Pennsylvania's yearbook is called The Record. The yearbook memorializes the graduating class each year. The 1930 Record has a black and white pictures of every graduate (all men), along with a brief bio and their club affiliations. There is then a rundown of each club and association with a group picture of all the members. This includes the Arts Association, The Wharton Association, the Christian Association, the Newman Club, the Luzerne County Club, the Travel Association, the Scales Society (musical) and the National Society of Scabbard and Blade (looks like an R.O.T.C. unit). The book also contains an index of all the fraternities with a group picture of their members. There is a big section on athletics with a picture of each varsity team including water polo, tennis, swimming, squash, lacrosse, golf, fencing, boxing, crew, baseball, track, soccer, and football.

Where the 1930 year book shines, however, is with its beautiful Art Deco illustrations which serve as chapter dividers; some are black and white and some are done in color and are spectacular. Each of the illustrations has the artist's name/signature on it, although were unable to trace who each one was.

The title page and foreword are attributed to Glass, although we are unsure of the full name of the artist.

The Biography, Contents and Athletics pages are attributed to Haynes. This is likely David W. Haynes of Philadelphia, who graduated from Penn in 1930 with a degree in Fine Arts, and he served as the art editor of this yearbook. The picture of three stargazers looking to the heavens has a biblical quality to it.

Haynes work in color is dazzling:

The Campus and Fraternity pages in color are attributed to E. T. P. Kennedy, with scenes of the Penn campus and the school's crest worked in with a beautiful, pale, long necked woman:

The Organization page was drawn by Stowe Myers. C. Stowe Myers  graduated from Penn in 1930 with a degree in architecture and went on to become a designer.

The page listing seniors who wore the varsity "P" is straight out of Greek mythology. The artist is not attributed:

The Penn 1930 Record is a fabulous Art Deco relic of the Red and Blue!