Graduation Day

In this GDR article, it describes the graduating ceremonies of the graduating class of 1924 from Gainesville, Texas. There were 62 students with 38 girls and 24 boys graduating. The Superintendent from the Dallas ISD spoke at the graduation and gave some prolific advice considering the Great Depression occurred from 1929 to 1933. He said “I suggest to you two things. In the next ten years, do two things save and invest. Save time and invest money.” He also said what every young adult should hear “The greatest investment you can make is the investment in yourself.”

A graduating class of 62 students is pretty impressive considering the size of Gainesville, the locale and the average economic class structure of this rural area. Based on research conducted, the southern United States really didn’t have an influx of high school graduates until the 1940s. Mainly the northern and midwestern United States saw the biggest growth in this area. Research also indicates that the more affluent, less industrialized and urban areas saw the biggest growth. In 1924, Cooke County was extremely rural, relying on oil, cattle and cotton.

Similar to today, not all of the high school graduates will go on to attend university. The graduates of today have endless opportunities; careers, college, trade school, etc.

To the graduating class of 2021, Cooke County Library congratulates you on your successful year! We hope that the library will always be a source of information and adventure to you and your family.

This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (Grant #LS-246193-OLS-20) to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. (2021)