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More than 100 years ago, Shirley W. Owen, Kenneth Fuessle and their staff of high school writers set out to start a student publication that would provide a source of news and information to the school staff and student body.

Fuessle picked up his English teacher’s alma mater newspaper and was inspired to make something better. Owen was elected as the first Editor-in-Chief and Fuessle, who later became the second editor for the paper, signed on as his managing editor.

On February 4, 1915, Owen ran down the hall with a bundle of fresh newspapers from the press with excitement. The first paper was distributed to the school and the Pasadena High School Chronicle was born.

One hundred years later and after a name change for both the newspaper and the school itself, the Pasadena City College Courier is proud to celebrate this huge milestone. Furthermore, the editorial staff has decided that one newspaper anniversary edition is not good enough for 100 years worth of history.

This April, the Courier will publish a very special 100th anniversary magazine devoted to telling its story.

Within the magazine, you will read the history not only about the student newspaper, but also of Pasadena City College and the surrounding area. You will get a glance at what it was like during the times of war, poverty, the changes in society and the extensive history that was covered by this publication.

Each writer and photographer will tell stories about the greatest moments/stories in the past 100 years, shed light on the darker ones as well. Further, we intend to show that we have made mistakes, as not everything can always be perfect in the process of putting a newspaper together. And some of them were humorous.

Furthermore, the magazine will help tell the story of journalism itself. Some things have not and never will change. Other things, such as how the paper is printed and where the business is going, are always changing.

About 99 years ago, the newspaper’s message to the community was that if it didn’t receive more subscriptions, the Chronicle would have to shut down. A little dramatic, but there is one truth in that message: the readers are what keep us writing and their thirst for news and information about their school.

The Courier staff would like to thank you, the reader, for continuing to pick up the paper, or going online to read about what’s going on at school.

We’ve been here for 100 years. We hope to serve you for 100 more.

Philip McCormick
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