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Original antique commencement invitation, dated 1898.
Reads:"The Senior Class of the West Chester State Normal School request the honor of your presence at the Commencement Exercises, Thursday morning, June thirtieth, at ten o'clock. Normal Auditorium, 1898."
Printed by E.A. Wright, Philadelphia — a well-known Philadelphia stationery/engraving firm of the period.
The cover features hand-colored crossed flags: the American flag and a single-star flag resembling the Cuban flag, likely a patriotic nod to the Spanish-American War and Cuban independence movement, which dominated U.S. news in 1898. A small enameled class pin/ribbon marked "98" sits at the flags' crossing point.
West Chester State Normal School (now West Chester University of Pennsylvania) was one of Pennsylvania's teacher-training "normal schools" in the 19th century.
Folded card format, cream stock, elegant script lettering throughout. Blank interior pages. Light wear and toning consistent with age; please review photos closely.
A charming piece of 19th-century Pennsylvania education history with a timely Spanish-American War-era patriotic motif.
