A Time Capsule Across Generations

Copies of the 130th volume of The Chathamite were distributed on the front steps of Pruden Hall earlier this spring. For co-editors Grace Owen ’26 and Avery Houser ’26, the yearbook represented more than a collection of memories. It was a connection and tribute to generations of Chatham Hall students who came before them. 

To shape this year’s edition, Grace and Avery pored over decades of The Chathamite, studying past layouts, features, and storytelling approaches. They were particularly drawn to the 1967 yearbook and its ability to capture not just events, but the feeling of a moment in time. 

“My vision as co-editor of The Chathamite was simple: create a time capsule,” Grace shared. “Not just a record of events, but a window into the culture, the energy, and the small moments that made this year what it was.” 

Wanting to learn more, the editors connected with Lynn Horowitz ’67, editor of the 1966-1967 yearbook. What began as a Zoom interview became a meaningful conversation across generations and inspired a new yearbook feature highlighting an alumna editor. Later, Lynn sent copies of a book she authored about wildlife in her Sonoma Valley home, complete with a foreword by former Polly Wheeler Guth ’44 Leader in Residence Jane Goodall. So many Chatham Hall connections. 

Inspired by the past, Grace and Avery expanded senior coverage and introduced new features designed to make the publication feel both personal and timeless. 

One of the most meaningful moments of the afternoon was the dedication of the yearbook to Mrs. Cierra Hubbard, whose quiet leadership and constant support touch every corner of campus. Cierra Fitzgerald joined the Chatham Hall community in 2014 and currently serves as the Director of Safety and Security Services and as a DEI Task Force Officer. 

As students flipped through its pages, The Chathamite accomplished exactly what its editors had hoped: preserving not only the events of the year, but the feeling of it. 

Reflecting on the experience, Avery shared, “Having the privilege to edit and shape the yearbook this year was truly such a fun and unique experience. Grace and I are so proud of how it turned out, and I am thankful to be able to give a little something back to the community that has given so much to me.” 

Like the yearbooks that inspired it, the 130th volume of The Chathamite serves as a reminder that while each year at Chatham Hall is unique, the stories, connections, and memories continue to link generations together.