Whitney School

Class photographs and more from the Whitney (Nebr) School! We've attempted to identify everyone, but you may be able to help us with several "unknowns"! If so, please send us an E-mail. You can click on each photo to see a larger version. In 2011, after the closing of the "new" school, a reunion of all Whitney students, teachers, and friends was conducted. You'll find our photos of that event at Whitney School Reunion
Read More
Class of 1927 Reunion - Crawford in 1977!
1 / 48

Class of 1927 Reunion - Crawford in 1977!

My how time flies! This clipping from the Wednesday, July 6, 1977 Chadron Record newspaper brings back memories......at least of the reunion era! All class members are now gone......but the people......and their family names......remain vivid in the memories many of us hold dear.

  • Class of 1927 Reunion - Crawford in 1977!
  • Whitney School  Grades 1–4 in 1953-54
  • Whitney School - ca. May 1965
  • Miss Ruth Ann Wilson's 1st & 2nd grade classes – 1949
  • Miss Frances Carlson's class at Whitney School - 1938
  • Long-time Whitney teacher and resident Mary Daniels
  • Miss Daniels' class(es) – Year not specified – Whitney School
  • Untitled photo
  • The first school in Whitney was on the ground floor of the Woods Hotel in 1886, according to Mabel Kendrick in her book "Still Alive and Well -- Whitney, Nebraska."  It was on the northeast corner of Missouri and Division Streets, where Connell Oil Company was located in later years.  Then, after a short period of classes in the Methodist Church, a one-room school house was built near the site of the present school.  It was used for some 35 years -- until 1922 -- when a new stucco two and one-half story school house was built for both grade and high school pupils.  That structure, shown here in the 1950s, also had a small gymnasium in the basement.  The building is still standing but has been vacant for many years.  (Douthit Collection)
  • This would be an early Whitney School photograph, probably taken in the 1930s, but that's just a guess.  Again, it'll be easier to see some of these happy faces by simply clicking on the photo to see a larger image.  
Stacy Spearman Combs has advised us that her father, Ray Spearman, is in the very back row, second from the left.  He would have been a senior in 1931 or '32.  See someone you know?  Send us an e-mail at  <a href="Mailto: galeymedia.gmail.com">Galey Media</a>.  Thanks.
  • 1957 at Whitney School
  • This class photograph has been in our collection for quite some time, but it was somehow overlooked when we first assembled this <b><i>School</i></b> gallery.  How could we have overlooked such a good looking bunch!  It's the "Upper Grades" from 1957-58.

Seated in front are (left-to-right):  Delores Buckley, Karen Galey, Ruth Olson, Mary Cottrell , Marie Dooley.  In the back are:  Lonnie Douthit, Tom Dooley, (unknown), Neil Daniels, and teacher, Josephine Johnson.
  • Thanks to Michael Cartwright for helping us identify everyone in this 1956 photograph.  In front (left-to-right) are:  Marie Dooley, Karen Galey, Jeanette Couch, Mary Cottrell, and Gloria Jiminez; middle row:  Neil Daniels, Ernest Jiminez, Elizabeth Jiminez, Margaret Galey, John Dooley, and Robert Cottrell; back row:  LaVern Fox, Wayne Cottrell, Michael Cartwright, and teacher Mrs. Alvin (Josephine) Johnson.
  • This is one of several photographs provided by Bob and Ruth Ann Connell of Chadron, Nebraska.   In earlier years, Bob was a student at the Whitney school; in later years, Ruth Ann was a teacher.  They were very helpful in locating old photographs and documents for <b><i>Whitney Reflections</i></b>.   To see a larger version of this 1958-59 photograph, simply click on the image.
  • Grades 5 and 6 at Whitney School in 1945-46
  • 1st and 2nd Graders in Whitney School - 1945-46
  • Naomi Rankin was one of the longest tenured teachers at Whitney School.

As Naomi Mougey, she taught in the old Whitney High School from 1924 to 1927 and was a teacher when the first class (Elmo Brobst) graduated in 1925.  Among her students in 1926 were Mabel Burkitt, Virgil Couch, Eva Cunningham, Calvin Lemmon, and Glen Kendrick.  

A generation later, as Naomi Rankin, she again taught in the Whitney  School from 1949 to 1968 for both lower and upper rooms.  She also served as a Principal.  Mrs. Rankin is also pictured below at a 1967 gathering with some of her former students.

<i>(Information from Mabel Kendrick's out-of-print book, "<u>Still Alive and Well: Whitney, Nebraska</u>")</i>
  • Second Graders of Whitney School - 1945-46
  • 3rd and 4th grade students at Whitney School in 1945-46.
  • Whitney School "Lower Grades" in 1945-46.
  • No Comments
  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2023 SmugMug, Inc.