Given the technological changes over the past five decades, we wondered if we could do a large, comprehensive, and accessible History of PCD project.
The concept of an oral and video history evolved, with the idea that interviewing alumni and faculty could develop into a larger picture.
Could the history of certain sports, of the Roundtable, of the PCD Players, and other niche topics contribute to the comprehensive nature of this project? The first trial interviews begat other topics. Could we develop a history of senior projects? Of Field Day? Could we look at alumni grouped by careers like medicine, law enforcement, education, or the arts? Could we look at the many PCD alumni who are also graduates of our new partner, Henry Barnard School? Two early interviewees spoke of their athletic experience and pointed to one football game – the Knights’ come-from-behind victory over Moses Brown on Chowder Day, 1982 – as a topic that could stand alone and yet still represent the true “Play the Game” spirit of the school.
From the start, we agreed early on that current students could and should be involved in this process. So many skills to be acquired and shared!
We also hoped that the results could be viewable online and during the weekend of the Centennial Gala in 2024.