Research and Archives

The Museum collection is available for users to research with Museum assistance. Some materials are available for circulation. Most materials are directly relevant or specific to the Kent area, but some general historical materials are available.

Collections include:

• Artifacts
• Historical Books
• Historical Public and Personal Documents
• Newspaper Archive
• Photograph Archive
• Map Archive
• E-media Archive
• Reference books
• Free Informational Brochures

The Museum also houses several specialized collections, such as a local Japanese heritage collection, a collection of music players and musical instruments, and Kent high school annuals dating back to 1911.

The GKHS provides reference services for information requests to members and the public. It can customize information delivery for both private and professional patrons. Information about other historical sites and museums is available. Photographic and archival material can be reproduced for both personal/research and commercial purposes for a small fee. 

The process of digitizing the yearbook collection has started. Check back for new postings. 

Here are past Yearbooks: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1956. 

Here are photos of the 1960s yearbooks.

The art of the yearbook changes with history.  Starting in 1964, technology began expanding. A supercomputer was invented, going speeds of up to 3 million instructions per second. Now computers run instructions per second at megahertz! Art and history blend together. 

If you would like to see the yearbooks, send us an email or stop by!

Here are some quotes from the yearbooks themselves!

1964: "We boast that all we know but we really know nothing".

1965: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country"-John F. Kennedy.

1966: "I came, I saw, I conquered". 

1967: "STUDIES, I've got an essay due Monday, got any aspirin?".

1968: "We are enthralled by the imagery of life, and so searching for identity".

1969: "The spectrum breaks--bursting--fulfillment in all goals".

If you think this catches you eye, come by the museum, there are some quite interesting photos and art from the 60's in these yearbooks! History changed with each year.