This exuberant glimpse of life at Riverdale Country School was published as part of the famed New York independent school's centennial celebration. Vern Associates worked closely with the school to create a lively, engaging window into its past, present, and future.

Concept

Since scholarly histories of some of Riverdale's headmasters' eras have already been published, the school was anxious to find a new way to capture the energy and excitement this educational mecca generates. The writer organized the book around the main themes of life at Riverdale-academics, athletics, and the arts-then bookended these sections with a snapshot of the school's earliest days and a probing look into the future.

Content

Each of the five principal sections begins with a picture timeline that captures pertinent highlights of Riverdale's hundred-year history. The narrative text that follows encapsulates the events that have defined the school and introduces the major players. In profiles, alumni and faculty look back at their years at Riverdale and how they prepared the students for life. Each section is peppered with "Riverdale Builds" sidebars that look at some of the important infrastructure changes that have shaped the campus.

Design & Production

Riverdale has an impressive picture archive, which was plumbed for the 170 images that enliven the book. The frequency of pictures and their lively interplay with the text help to convey the contemporary school's atmosphere of energy and enthusiasm. Use of a fifth color helps to set off the sidebars and profiles and distinguish them from the narrative text.

The Result

A lasting tribute to and vivid look at one hundred years of educational excellence.