Dublin Core
Title
Maynard School Athletics Letter Awards
Description
The typical “letter sweater” was awarded to seniors who played enough to earn their letter. Through the 1960s, for boys it was football, basketball, and baseball. For girls, it was field hockey, basketball, and cheerleading.
For football, you had to have played in 9 quarters in a 9-game schedule. The letter sweaters were given out by the Athletics Department, usually at the annual spring sports banquet. The black and orange sweater would have stripes on the left arm. Each stripe indicated each year that you earned a letter in your chosen sport.
There have been different letter sweaters over the years. In 1952, there was an “M” on the front of a black crewneck sweater. In 1955, there was an "M" on a black cardigan sweater with orange trim. In 1962, the lettermen and women formed an “M” on the steps to the old George Washington Auditorium on Summer Street. (Their sweaters were probably not available yet.)
In the 1964 timeframe, when a letter was earned for the first time, the person would usually acquire a white cardigan sweater of a certain type. The letter would be sewn over the left pocket of the sweater. These sweaters were purchased by the player who earned the letter. These were usually worn by the boys. The sweater could be purchased locally at the New Idea Clothing Store, located at 65 Main Street at the time.
Around 1966, black and orange jackets were given by the Booster Club to seniors who participated in sports. These jackets had the "M" on the left side, over the heart, with the graduating year embroidered on it - in this case "66". The rear of the jacket said "Maynard".
In 1966, the MHS Athletic Department made a change from the annual senior letter sweater to a black sport coat with a patch sewn onto the top left pocket. This was continued through the 1960s.
Photos
1. Letter sweater circa 1955 – front view
2. Letter sweater – rear view
3. View of the actual letter and sport chosen by the senior that earned it (in this case, field hockey)
4. Sweater label “Sportswear by Alps"
5. Letter sweater from 1952 yearbook
6. Letter sweater from 1955 yearbook
7. The lettermen and letterwomen without their sweaters in 1962 yearbook
8. Letter sweater circa 1964 - front view
9. Letter sweater - rear view
10. Letter jacket 1966 - front view
11. Letter jacket - rear view
12. Letter "M" from 1966
13. Letter "M" from 1965 for football
14. Letter "M" from 1962 for basketball in junior high school
15. Maynard High School Athletics patch
For football, you had to have played in 9 quarters in a 9-game schedule. The letter sweaters were given out by the Athletics Department, usually at the annual spring sports banquet. The black and orange sweater would have stripes on the left arm. Each stripe indicated each year that you earned a letter in your chosen sport.
There have been different letter sweaters over the years. In 1952, there was an “M” on the front of a black crewneck sweater. In 1955, there was an "M" on a black cardigan sweater with orange trim. In 1962, the lettermen and women formed an “M” on the steps to the old George Washington Auditorium on Summer Street. (Their sweaters were probably not available yet.)
In the 1964 timeframe, when a letter was earned for the first time, the person would usually acquire a white cardigan sweater of a certain type. The letter would be sewn over the left pocket of the sweater. These sweaters were purchased by the player who earned the letter. These were usually worn by the boys. The sweater could be purchased locally at the New Idea Clothing Store, located at 65 Main Street at the time.
Around 1966, black and orange jackets were given by the Booster Club to seniors who participated in sports. These jackets had the "M" on the left side, over the heart, with the graduating year embroidered on it - in this case "66". The rear of the jacket said "Maynard".
In 1966, the MHS Athletic Department made a change from the annual senior letter sweater to a black sport coat with a patch sewn onto the top left pocket. This was continued through the 1960s.
Photos
1. Letter sweater circa 1955 – front view
2. Letter sweater – rear view
3. View of the actual letter and sport chosen by the senior that earned it (in this case, field hockey)
4. Sweater label “Sportswear by Alps"
5. Letter sweater from 1952 yearbook
6. Letter sweater from 1955 yearbook
7. The lettermen and letterwomen without their sweaters in 1962 yearbook
8. Letter sweater circa 1964 - front view
9. Letter sweater - rear view
10. Letter jacket 1966 - front view
11. Letter jacket - rear view
12. Letter "M" from 1966
13. Letter "M" from 1965 for football
14. Letter "M" from 1962 for basketball in junior high school
15. Maynard High School Athletics patch
Creator
Sportswear by Alps
Date
1950s and 1960s
Contributor
Donated by Janet Jarvinen King, her sweater - member of MHS Class of 1964
Donated by Tom Sheridan - his sweater and other items - member of MHS Class of 1966
Narrative by Tom Sheridan
Donated by Tom Sheridan - his sweater and other items - member of MHS Class of 1966
Narrative by Tom Sheridan
Identifier
2025.506
2025.507
2025.508
2025.509
2025.510
2025.511
Artifact Item Type Metadata
Materials
Cloth
Condition
fair
Storage
AB113
SU8-1
Artifact Room