June 7, 2006: From the Archives

FTA

Looking relaxed after four hard years of study, seniors smoke long clay pipes, called churchwardens, during Class Day in 1941. The event was first celebrated by the Class of 1856 on Cannon Green, where Class Day events still take place. Clay pipes were kept on hand for visitors to enjoy and, at the end of the program, were hurled against the cannon by students to symbolize breaking ties with undergraduate life. This custom eventually was abandoned as pipe smoking waned. Can any PAW readers identify these ’41ers? end of article