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Where the Sagebrush Grows: A History of USU Homecoming Traditions: Homecoming at USU

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Homecoming at USU

Utah State students have celebrated Homecoming continuously since 1930, except for one year during World War II. Alumni and community members flock to campus, making it an important time to interact with each other and get to know one another as part of the Aggie family. As such, a marketing campaign is put on every year to invite everyone to the celebration. Below are advertisements, schedules, and other marketing materials designed to invite Aggies old and new to campus.

SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd07Item004-003.jpg
The front page of the Homecoming brochure in 1972.
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 7.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd08Item006.pdf
This bulletin was sent to alumni in 1947. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 8.)

 

SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd08Item005.pdf
Alumni received this Homecoming update in 1960. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 8.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx002Item014.pdf
The assembly program from the 1964 Homecoming assembly. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 2.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx002Item002.jpg
This Homecoming ticket was meant to be pinned to the shirt and gave an alumnus access to all of the activities. Date unknown.
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 2.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx002Item012.jpg
A ticket to a Homecoming football game.
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 2.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd08Item011.pdf
A brochure containing information for alumni about Homecoming 1986. [click image to enlarge; click again to brows all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 8.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd07Item001.pdf
The 1970 Homecoming program. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 7.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd07Item002.pdf
The 1971 program. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 7.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd07Item003.pdf
The program for the weekend of Homecoming 1972. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 7.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd08Item003.pdf
The theme in 1973 was “Memories in Bits and Pieces.” [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 8.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd08Item001.jpg
The 1989 theme was “Homecoming: The Sequel.” [click image to enlarge]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 8.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd09Item005.pdf
The theme for 1993 Homecoming was “Journey Back.” [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 9.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd09Item006.jpg
These advertisements from 1993 were meant to be folded into a pyramid and set on a table. [click image to enlarge]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 9.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd08Item010.pdf
The schedule of events for Homecoming 1996. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 8.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd08Item008.jpg
1997’s Homecoming schedule.
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 8.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01Bx001Fd01Item003.pdf
In 1998, this pamphlet encouraged people to “Take the ‘A’ Train” and return to campus. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1, Box 1, Folder 1.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01Bx001Fd01Item002.pdf
Door hangers were published to remind people of the week’s events. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1, Box 1, Folder 1.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd09Item003.pdf
The schedule for Homecoming of the centennial year. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 9.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx001Fd09Item004.jpg
In 1991, a demolition derby was a Homecoming activity. [click image to enlarge]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 1, Folder 9.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01Bx001Fd01Item004.jpg
USU Homecoming 2000. Theme: “Forever Blue.” [click image to enlarge]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1, Box 1, Folder 1.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01Bx001Fd01Item005.jpg
In 2003, Homecoming was about “Living the Aggie Tradition.” [click image to enlarge]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1, Box 1, Folder 1.)
DNO-0038-2008XXXX_UnitedByTraditionGraphic.jpg
In 2008, the theme was “United by Traditions.”
SCAUA-25p04s09-01Bx001Fd01Item006.pdf
In 2010, Homecoming’s theme was “Leaving Your Legacy.” [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1, Box 1, Folder 1.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01Bx001Fd01Item007.pdf
2011 featured the theme, “Old and New, Forever Blue.” [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1, Box 1.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01Bx001Fd01Item008.pdf
In 2014, the theme was “Once an Aggie, Always an Aggie.” [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1, Box 1.)
SCAUA-25p04s09-01c36Bx002Item013.pdf
An advertisement for Homecoming 2014. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, Miscellaneous Homecoming Materials, Record Group 25.4/9-1:36, Box 2.)

A Newsworthy Event

Homecoming has always been a newsworthy event for the student publications on campus. The first student-published newspaper was called Student Life and began as a monthly magazine in 1902. Its publication varied between weekly, biweekly, and almost daily. In 1978, it was renamed as The Utah Statesman and is still published today as a weekly paper.[1] Following are a few examples of Homecoming in the news on campus. 

SCUA-25p05s08-1930-Vol029-005a.jpg
On October 19, 1930, this article was published in Student Life magazine introducing students to the first Homecoming at Utah State. [click image to enlarge]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, University Archives, Record Group 25.5/8)
SCAUA-25p05s08-1992-10-19combo.pdf
The October 19, 1992, edition of The Utah Statesman featured several articles on Homecoming. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, University Archives, Record Group 25.5/8)
SCAUA-25p05s08-1967-11-07-004.jpg
This full-page ad for Homecoming was printed on November 7, 1967. [click image to enlarge]
(Utah State University Special Collections and Archives, University Archives, Record Group 25.5/8)
SCAUA-25p05s08-1964-10-23combo.pdf
The Student Life newspaper from October 23, 1964, was all about Homecoming. [click image to enlarge; click again to browse all pages]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, University Archives, Record Group 25.5/8, October 23, 1964)
SCAUA-25p05s08-1934-10-11-001.pdf
The Student Life newspaper from October 11, 1934, described the upcoming Homecoming celebrations. [click image to enlarge]
(Utah State University Special Collections & Archives, University Archives, Record Group 25.5/8, October 11, 1934)
[1] Robert Parson, Encyclopedic History of Utah State University (unpublished manuscript), 138–139.