Text and Photography by Ben Moon
Sheepskin from Tech University), and of course Dr. Kenneth G. Matheson was President of Georgia Tech. These signatures all appeared on the 1912 diploma. Georgia Tech diplomas are still made of genuine sheepskin, just as they were back in 1912 when Mr. Callaway first helped produce them. Many colleges are now printing their diplomas on a finequality paper instead of the more expensive and durable sheepskin, and part of the reason is the limited supply of sheepskin. Sheepskins must be ordered a year in advance from England with the proper number and size specified. Stevens has been a long-time customer with their supplier, one reason they are still able to get the number needed. The production of a diploma,
The degree, nemo, and date are typeset by hand and individually imprinted on a small platen press. Mrs. Jessie Morgan is also no stranger to Tech: ^he has been printing the diplomas since 1920.
also the same process as in 1912, takes three days from beginning to end including an entire day for the ink to dry on the engraved portion. First the black lettering is engraved to give a raised surface that can be felt, then the gold seal is engraved in position. The name, degree, Chancellor's and President's signatures, and date are printed in position by a letterpress operation, then each finished diploma is signed by the registrar individually. On graduation day each person's diploma is still handed to him by the president along with a handshake —a touch of individual attention also often missing in the graduation exercises of some huge universities. It's a document handcrafted of finest materials, a proof of highest accomplishment worthy of display.
But if an alumnus.loses his diploma by fire, flood, or other damage, it's not gone forever... a replacement can be ordered through the office of the Registrar at cost, which will vary depending upon the year of graduation. Diplomas awarded after 1948 cost $15 to replace; those awarded earlier, a larger size, cost $20. J. P. Stevens keeps the old dies on hand all the way back to 1912, and only has to dig out the proper one and clean it up. The basic design and wording hasn't changed through the years. And why should it be changed — it's a classic, and it's sort of a nice thought for the freshest graduate that his Tech sheepskin is essentially the same as the ones hanging in the offices of great Tech graduates of past y e a r s . •
Each diploma is meticulously inspected by Mrs. Louise Pinkerton, also a long-time employee of J. P. Stevens. Any minute flaw is cause for the diploma to be rejected and re-done.
This diploma, printed in 1919, is among those filed by Mr. Callaway •in the event a Tech graduate wishes to have his own replaced. The master dies were retained through the years.