Central High School Scrapbooks Collection

The collection is comprised of 23 binders containing newspaper clippings, correspondence, awards, photographs, game schedules, fliers, varsity letters, etc., collected by Robert A. Illig (CHS, 1950), compiler of a two-volume collection of photocopied Central High School memorabilia, "Our Lady on the Hill." These volumes, which are described in a separate entry, reproduce some of the material found in these binders.

Volumes 1-4, "Letters," consist of correspondence, primarily responses from Central graduates or the families of alumni to Illig's requests for reminiscences, photographs, yearbooks, class rings, sports-memorabilia, and other material or information related to the school (1990-1993). Letters, with reminiscences the school and of Newark in general, and biographical details, relate to, but are not limited to, the following alumni:

Volume 1: Daniel Ruhnke, Joseph Gamba, Frank Preston Gill, Eleanor (English) Gallagher, Pete Steffens, Ernest Kritzmacher; Volume 2: Irv Schnitzer, Isadore (Dore) Schary (by David Steinberg), Nancy Frederici, Sherman "Jocko" Maxwell, William Koczyk, Mel Bourne, and the Rev. Michael A. Fuino; Volume 3: Isadore Wasserman, Max M. Novich, Florence M. Smith, Roy Wright, Alexander Matturri, Connie Springer, Sigmund Rothschild (by Sigrid Rothschild), and Tony Farina; and Volume 4: Frank Loskot, John Kreig, Willard Burnett, Robert La Torre, Nat Bodian, and Joseph Kruger. A few individuals, including Daniel Ruhnke, Frank Gill, and Max Novich sent several letters, scattered throughout the volumes. Volume 2 also includes lists of incidents of fires and false fire alarms from 1978-1988.

Volumes 5-10 and 15: "Sports 1 (1913-1949)," "Sports 2 (1916-1991)," "Sports 3 and Cross Country (1935-1991)," "Basketball (1940-1944)," "Fencing (1937-1971)," "City Champ (Baseball team, 1947)," and "Central High School Football Scrapbook (1945-1949)," consist primarily of clippings of articles from local Newark newspapers and from Central High School publications related to the school's teams and individual athletes; also included in the volumes are a few rosters, schedules, team photographs, and the occasional varsity letter

Volumes 11-13: "Greg Cordones, baseball and basketball (1946-1952)," "Vince Carnevale, cross-country (1934-1990)," and "Bill Helbig, football, track (1920-1992)," are dedicated to individual athletes.

Volume14: "Newark Athletic Hall of Fame from Central High School" (1917-1989), consists of brief biographies and athletic career summaries of 20 CHS inductees into the Newark Athletic Hall of fame. Inductees include former students, coaches, and one championship football team.

Volume16: "Pre-Central," contains typed excerpts from newspapers, and the Central High School Handbook regarding the construction of the school, the dedication of the school, "historical facts," and diagrams of the floors

Volume17: "Central's Distinguished Alumni," consists of a list of distinguished alumni by profession, followed by clippings, photographs, etc. related to those alumni. Individuals represented in this volume include Brigadier General Kenneth Reith, Police Director Hubert Williams, Vietnam War POW Larry Guarino, orthopedic surgeon Max Novich, World War II POW Otto Schwarz, Prudential Insurance Company Executive Joseph Vecchione, Metropolitan Opera First Violinist Joseph John Malfitano, art appraiser Sigmund Rothschild, Paterson school principal Joe Clark, Mother of the Year Josephine Zuccarello Alagna, Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson, New Jersey state senator Donal C. Fox, and others.

Volume 18: "Central's Misc. History, 1912-1993," consists largely of clippings, including obituaries, from newspapers and CHS publications, regarding the school's alumni, teachers, coaches, and principals. Also included are a few photographs of alumni and several lists: of principals (1912-1989), of authors who graduated from CHS, of fire incidents, etc. Individuals mentioned in the clippings include, but are not limited to: Principal William Weiner, English teachers Alex Lewis and Jessie Boutillier, fencing coach Constantine Rotunda, Physical Education chairman Harry "Doc" Sargent, Hollywood producer Dore Schary, and Newark City Councilman Donald Bradley.

(Addition 2022)

Volume 19: Carl G Anderson - c. 1913 (copies)-1993, clippings (copies), letters

Vol 20: Misc #1: Plan for Central High from 1940 Handbook, John F. Bateman Biography, Football fliers / schedules (1924-1927), Report cards (1920, Kitzmacher and 1938-1940 Margaret Spry), Articles re: general/classes/sports/students/teachers (1912-1982 some copied), Ring photo, Postcard (1916), Class Day Program (1945, 1949), list of Principals, medal (Bessie Kasem, 1921), Photos (not original 1917, 1921), Track and Field 1914-1968 Timeline, "History of Central High School", tickets, awards and certificates (1938-1940 Margaret Spry, 1916 Sports Letter Gill), telegrams (1929), "Central's First Faculty", Nicholas Scalera Judge's Questionairre, Roll of Honor 1922, Frank P Gill portrait, Dore Schary photo, Albert Lewin photo, 25th Anniversary Dinner Dance program (1962), Time Magazine 1988 on Joe Clark

Vol 21: Misc #2 Copy Dedication program (1928) with letter from NJ Historical Society (1988), Articles (1934-1991), Fliers/brochures/articles Catherine and Joseph Malfitano, Jospeh is class of Jan 1938, "Memorial for William Bauer" (1990), Pivot Jan 1922 copy, Tangent June 1990, Alma Mater Song, Football programs (1926-1946), Senior Recognition Day program 1940, Misc reunion programs, Handwritten document 1932 Student Council, Central Chatter 1926-1927 and undated copy, Program Central v Barringer 1927, Class Day 1957, "The Goals of Education" (1931), "Football at Central" (1943), Stadium News 1928, "Songs and Cheers" (1925), material on Jacob Schaffer DDS, Class Election Material, misc. notes, material on Helen Reingold, "Down Memory Lane", Jocko Maxwell clips, Photo from Gertrude Meeker, Library Bureau certificate

Vol 22: Misc #3 Commencement programs (1917, 1920-1922, 1926-1934, 1936-1942, 1945-1950, 1957, 1960-1961, 1963-1965), Class of Jun 1949 Valedictorian Speech Irene Marchuk, Articles (1929-1991), invitations, certificates Marion Yanick (Class 1940) and Helen Metsopolish (1937), Material on Dr. Max Novich, "Great Black Athletes" comp. by Jocoko Maxwell class of June 1928, Class Song, Sports Letter from Emma D'Aloia Jacobus class of 1936 and unattributed, Reunion Material, Material from Antoinette Casciano including "Some Memories From Central High School" , photos and award pins, Alex Caprio, Gertrude Riker, Anotoinette Casciano, Marion Yanick report cards (1946-1947, 1934-1938, 1933-1937, 1938-1940 ), Football Squad 1946, Testimonial Dinner Salvatore Commisa (1959), School pins from Gertrude Riker Meeker, Biographical on Horace S Bellfatto (1981), John Bateman photo, Pivot ad contract, copies of yearbook covers, photo of school, Articles on Fred Kilgus Inc who contracted to build school (1911-1949), Marion Yanick certificae of admission to High School, Class Day 1945

Vol 23: Misc #4 Articles (1912-1992), Photo Helen Budznski, Celia Horowitz and Evelyn Schieling, Reunion material, Class Day 1945 Program, Senior Recognition Day (1961, 1963), Handbook, Dinner dance invite, "Sports Mem Book", "Our Best" Jun 1945 Class Project, Speech Jun 1949 Barron Castle, Misc tickets, Scholar Athlete Dinner (1983), Class Dya (1912), Senior Prom (1920), Interscholastic Championships (1919), Photo and certificate Gertrude Riker, John Broadbent photo.