Meredith Cornhuskin'

Item

Legacies Classification
Memorial Event
Memorial Type
Commemorative Events
Memorial Context
Lost Cause
Memorialized Subject
Meredith College Student Body
Title
Meredith Cornhuskin'
Background and Context
Cornhuskin’ as a Meredith tradition began in 1945 and was initiated by Doris Peterson, a physical education instructor, to promote comradery. The corn harvesting festival in Southern tradition is called ‘Corn Shucking,’ but Peterson’s roots in the Midwest resulted in the alternate name. This event was born from the Lost Cause movement based on its romanticization of the Old South. In the antebellum period, Corn Shucking included contests of agricultural skills and feasts for enslaved persons and was used to boost morale following the challenging harvest. Many of the events reinforced the racial hierarchy, such as enslaved persons parading the master of the plantation around his property on a chair while singing songs. Visitors to the antebellum South for such festivals often left with an idealized version of enslaved life and labor. Early photographs of Meredith’s “Cornhuskin’ Bee” showcase the strong connection to agriculture and the Lost Cause with exaggerated student costumes, including students in blackface, and events such as hog-calling, a corn shucking contest, and folk dances. Over time, these events have been discontinued along with ritualized hazing of lowerclassmen and ‘Midnight Raids.’ Student opinion on the event varies based on experience and knowledge of the antebellum tradition. Recent student criticism of the Cornhuskin' tradition appears in the student newspaper (see links below). Since 2021, Meredith College has worked towards increasing accessibility for students in response to student criticism. Meredith Cornhuskin' begins each year with a themed class parade on the weekend closest to Halloween.
Creator/Participating Person(s)
Peterson, Doris
Date created, installed or dedicated
October 30, 1945
Historical Period
1890-1945: Era of the Lost Cause, Jim Crow legal segregation and discrimination, and organized anti-Black racism
Funded by
Meredith College; Raleigh, North Carolina
Location: Institution, City, State
Meredith College; Raleigh, North Carolina
Learn More About this Subject
Deluxe Brunch presentation in 2022 by Dr. Daniel Fountain; goes into depth for the Antebellum tradition.
Letter from 1852: Mrs. Marshall, a relative of President Fillmore, wrote to her grandchildren describing her experience at a Corn Shucking festival. Her sentiments are not unusual to read for documents of the time.
Article from November 2021, written by Amiyah Jenkins citing what changes students feel need to be made for the event. “Opinion; What Needs to Change about Cornhuskin.”
Article from March 23, 2022, written by Freya Dahlgren, Opinion Editor. An insight into student perception of the event’s origins. “Student Research on Origin of Cornhuskin’s Name.”
Article from November 10, 2021 wherein several students describe their positive associations for the event, primarily the artistic and themed events. Written by Anna Price. Notably, one of the students she asked is a third-generation Meredith scholar.
Letter from 1852: Mrs. Marshall, a relative of President Fillmore, wrote to her grandchildren describing her experience at a Corn Shucking festival. Her sentiments are not unusual to read for documents of the time.
Article from November 2021, written by Amiyah Jenkins citing what changes students feel need to be made for the event. “Opinion; What Needs to Change about Cornhuskin.”
Article from March 23, 2022, written by Freya Dahlgren, Opinion Editor. An insight into student perception of the event’s origins. “Student Research on Origin of Cornhuskin’s Name.”
Article from November 10, 2021 wherein several students describe their positive associations for the event, primarily the artistic and themed events. Written by Anna Price. Notably, one of the students she asked is a third-generation Meredith scholar.
Doris Peterson Entry, Oak Leaves Yearbook
Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings/Corn-Shucking Song

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