Preserving the Legacy of the Booster

Here's an incredible opportunity to help preserve the history and legacy of the Booster, Lafayette Jefferson High School’s student-run newspaper. In partnership with the Indiana State Library, this project will allow the Booster to have its extensive collection -- dating back to 1913 -- digitized and preserved online for all to access and enjoy for generations to come.

From local sporting events to world wars, the Booster has served as a time capsule, capturing decades worth of trends, evolving social climates, and absolutely heart-warming nostalgia of its student body. Once this project is brought to light, all past issues of the Booster will be accessible to anyone, anywhere free of cost through the website The Hoosier Chronicles, which is run by the Indiana State Library.

(Photo caption: The Jeff newspaper began as "The Monitor" in 1913. In 1922, it was renamed to what readers know it as today, the Booster.)

(Photo caption: "Victory in Europe has come at last," reads the May 10, 1945 issue of the Booster. The article goes on to depict students in their classrooms listening closely on the radio for the war to end.)

This project brings with it the ability to keyword search past issues of the Booster, allowing readers the ability to search events, names, favorite featured columns, and more. Alumni, their families, and Booster-enthusiasts will be able to quickly search the massive database for anything ranging from a great grandparent's basketball achievements to their own “senior will” or articles they had been quoted in as a student.

While most alumni will associate the Booster with long-time and remaining advisor, Mr. Chuck Herber, he is not alone in the efforts to memorialize the history of the Booster. Preserving the school paper has also become a true passion project for Jefferson High School teacher, Mr. Andy Dooley, who has already taken great measures to protect the archived issues.

During a recent visit with both Dooley and Herber, the two shared the extensive amount of work already underway. Dooley, with the help of his students, has created a massive database chronologically outlining more than a thousand hardcopies of the Booster that the school has filed away. For every issue, they have outlined major headlines, editors-in-chief, as well as major advertisers. Their spreadsheet also contains extensive information on the condition of each physical copy, including notes on discoloration, brittleness, and pages with rips or tears.

(Photo caption: The Booster provides a snapshot in time of our city's rich history, featuring ads from notable establishments such as The Lahr Hotel, Luna Theater, The Fowler Hotel Barber Shop, McCord's Soda Fountain, Aca Y Alla Roller Rink, Star Theater and more.)

In addition, Dooley has worked hard to organize and preserve the school’s extensive collection of physical copies of the Booster. With his efforts and great attention to detail, the copies have been carefully placed inside specially-designed boxes that work to preserve and protect the newspapers from further deterioration.

It is without question or doubt that Dooley’s passion for the Booster mirrors that of Mr. Herber.

Even with all of Herber and Dooley’s efforts, the best way to protect the Booster’s legacy will be to digitize the past issues. This GoFundMe will allow the Booster staff to move forward with having each issue carefully scanned and then databased with the Indiana State Library, allowing readers to access these past issues for years to come.

Any additional funds raised will be used to continue the momentum and efforts of the long-standing and award-winning Booster newspaper.

Donations can also be made by check.

Checks should be made out to Jeff High School, with the memo: Booster Major Projects

Send to:

Jefferson High School

c/o Booster Newspaper

1801 S. 18th St.

Lafayette, IN 47905

--------

For any former students and Booster staff who may still be reading and wondering, Mr. Herber is still as energetic, passionate, and humble as we all remember. And, yes, he is still teaching; this year marking his 57th year in education. When I asked if this year was going to be his final one, he let out a “meh,” shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know.” His response was quickly followed by a “come this way, I have more to show you,” as he enthusiastically led me on a tour around the Booster headquarters.

The Booster room looks slightly different than it did years ago. A renovation project at the high school resulted in the area being split into two classrooms, with The Booster room residing in what former staffers might recall as the back portion of the room. Stacks of the current year’s issues still line the same shelf as they have for decades; and current students’ work and Photoshop masterpieces still line the walls near their design desktop computers. The former darkroom, now an open door storage room, is filled with past issues of the Booster and more plaques and accolades than I could count. Herber’s chalkboard had been replaced by a dry erase board, but it was still scattered with a list of major headlines and events for current staffers to know about, just as it has been for decades. “I miss my chalk,” Herber said, and as a former staffer, I will admit that I missed seeing it, too.

Even with all the change that the decades have brought, one thing has remained constant: Herber’s absolute love, dedication, and passion for The Booster and his students, past and present. I was amazed by his ability to recall the names, interests, and passions of my own former classmates from decades ago. Details which have already started to fade from my own mind were quickly recalled by Herber.

Herber reminded me of many things during my visit with him; the biggest reminder, though, was just how lucky I, and so many others, have been to know him, to learn from him, and to grow because of him. From a personal standpoint, I see this project as a way of not just preserving the legacy of The Booster, but also the joy and legacy of Herber’s incredible career in journalism.

All the best,

Your 2004 Booster Co-Editor-in-Chief,

-Lindsey Sickler