Welcome! Imaginary Shirt is a project where I research visual elements from high schools’ histories and then use them to make new t-shirt concepts. If you’re associated with one of these schools and would like to make any of these imaginary shirts a reality, let me know! I’d love to help you accomplish that. This companion newsletter gives some more details on process and on the schools featured. Enjoy!
Instagram Week in Review
Monday, 1 January 2024—Bellarmine Bells, San Jose, CA

Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, who was made a saint in 1930, did not believe that the earth orbited the sun. When Galileo began complaining that there were rumors that the church had punished him for this (correct) view, Bellarmine wrote a certificate for him (translated into English here):
We, Robert Cardinal Bellarmine, have heard tht Mr. Galileo Galilei is being slandered or alleged to have abjured in our hands and also to have been given salutary penances for this. Having been sought about the truth of the matter, we say that the above-mentioned Galileo has not abjured in our hands, or in the hands of others here in Rome, or anywhere else that we know, any opinion or doctrine of his; nor has he received any penances, salutary or otherwise. On the contrary, he has only been notified of the declaration made by the Holy Father and published by the Sacred Congregation of the Index, whose content is that the doctrine attributed to Copernicus (that the earth moves around the sun and the sun stands at the center of the world without moving from east to west) is contrary to Holy Scripture and therefore cannot be defended or held. In witness whereof we have written and signed this with our own hands, on this 26th day of May 1616.
See more designs from the Bellarmine set here
Tuesday, 2 January 2024—Carson Senators, Carson City, NV

In researching this newsletter over the past year, I’ve noticed how many older schools have burned down at some point. Perhaps in light of this fact, Carson High School took a pragmatic step, as reported in the May 16, 1896 Nevada State Journal:
The Carson High School has adopted a fire drill. The News says that at the sound of the alarm the pupils fall in line and march out and all are safely in the yard in just one minute after the alarm. The drill is practiced two or three times a week and the alarm is sounded when the children least expect it, and every detail is carried out without confusion and as thoroughly as though the building were in flames. It is a good thing and ought to be introduced wherever large numbers of children are congregated.
See more designs from the Carson set here.
Wednesday, 3 January 2024—Agua Fria Owls, Avondale, AZ

The October 23, 1955 Arizona Republic noted:
Movita Andrade, 17, hula-danced her way here last night to become Queen of the Billy Moore Days Nov. 11-12.
The brunet daughter of Avondale’s town clerk is a junior at Agua Fria Union High School. She did Hawaiian dances in the talent part of the queen competition.
According to her obituary, Movita was born in Hawaii, and died there in February 2023.
Avondale celebrates Billy Moore Days to this day. On October 24, 1958, the Arizona Republic explained that, “The celebration is in memory of a pioneer settler in the area who was the first postmaster and also first in many colorful enterprises that sometimes conflicted with the law.”
The January 3, 1899 Republic described a time when Moore was on the right side of the law:
Deputy Sheriff Billy Moore returned late on Sunday night with Gus Schultz wanted for stealing a horse from F.M. Messenger, who lives three miles south of Mesa, on the night of December 3.
As the fugitive neared the line it became evident that he was lost and equally evident that he was eating nothing. At last he turned around a mountain and started back. His wanderings accidentally took him out of the way of the officers and he finally returned to Casa Grande, where he was arrested before the return of the deputy sheriff who had left instructions covering the possibility of his return. It was a hard trip on both pursuers and pursued, but Schultz suffered most. The pangs of hunger were aggravated by bitterly cold nights. He some times traveled night and day to keep warm and when he reached Case Grande he was as nearly dead as alive. The trip was followed by a curious as well as humorous incident, the only thing that mitigated Schultz’s woes. He shed a tape worm eighteen inches in length. He did not know he owned a tape worm in the world. The incumbent was starved out.
As for the queen’s father, the town clerk was headed for less happy times after his daughter’s coronation at Billy Moore Days. The August 23, 1958 Republic reported:
Former Avondale city clerk Charles Andrade surrendered Friday on charges of embezzling some $4,350 in city funds.
“All the time I had every intention of putting it back,” he said, “but I got in too deep.”
He said his $490 a month salary would not meet expenses because of a sick wife and child.
“I was riding the tiger, so to speak.”
See more designs from the Agua Fria set here.
Thursday, 4 January 2024—Payson Lions, Payson, UT

The March 15, 1984 Payson Chronicle article entitled “Payson’s Still Dancing” aimed to clear up a rather ironic misunderstanding:
T.V. and radio reports to the contrary, people are still dancing in Payson. The Payson City Council has NOT banned dancing at the Bon-Ton or anywhere else.
Last Thursday, two Salt Lake television stations and several local radio stations were reporting the city council of Payson, “the community where the movie ‘Footloose’ was filmed,” had banned dancing at the Bon-Ton, a city owned recreation center. Some stations were reporting that dancing was banned entirely in Payson.
On Monday, Councilwoman Furniss said, “Anyone who has been to one of the Youth City Council dances knows we support dancing in Payson. Only a very small percentage of the kids give us any trouble at all. If we can hold dances where we can keep that small percentage under control, we can have dances for the 85-90% that don’t cause problems.”
See more designs from the Payson set here.
Friday, 5 January 2024—South Fremont Cougars, St. Anthony, ID

South Fremont won its 1949 football tilt with Firth, but not without sustaining some rather serious accusations. The November 6 Post-Register explained:
Bitter words were exchanged here Friday between Firth Coach Ted Heath and St. Anthony Coach Ellis Williams following St. Anthony’s 21-14 victory over Firth in a Sixth district football game.
Heath complained bitterly to The Post-Register that St. Anthony had used “dirty tactics” to win the game.
He charged the South Fremont team with “gouging eyes, slugging and unnecessary roughness.” Heath said several of his players were sick following the game. One boy, Carl Hansen, was sent to a doctor for treatment of leg injuries which Heath said were incurred by roughness of St. Anthony players.
Williams and Heath had an altercation in the dressing room of the Firth high school following the game, exchanging views on the contest in regards to the roughness.
Williams Friday night termed Heath’s charges “a gross exaggeration.”
“I’ve coached for six years and have never had trouble with another coach before,” Williams said. “I have never taught dirty football and whenever I have to do that, I’ll throw in the towel and throw it in quick.”
Williams said he “felt very badly” about the argument.
See more designs from the South Fremont set here.
Saturday, 6 January 2024—Lake Oswego Lakers, Lake Oswego, OR

Among Lake Oswego’s almuni is bagpiper Jori Chisholm, whose web bio describes some of his accomplishments:
As a competitive bagpiper, Jori has won many top awards, including the U.S. Gold Medal for Piping (four times) and many top awards in Scotland at the Argyllshire Gathering, Northern Meeting, Cowal Highland Games, and Royal Braemar Gathering. He has also played with the world-famous Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, winning the World Pipe Band Championships three times, performing at the Sydney Opera House, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and at New York’s Lincoln Center.
See more designs from the Lake Oswego set here.
Sunday, 7 January 2024—North Thurston Rams, Lacey, WA

Former North Thurston Ram Kasey Keller’s hometown newspaper, The Olympian, ran a June 14, 1998 profile of the United States goalkeeper on the brink of the 1998 World Cup:
Kasey Keller doesn’t know why he plays goalkeeper. Why does anyone take on a difficult, often thankless job?
“I’ve asked myself that question on many occasions, “ he said.
“It’s a stupid position. I like being a goalkeeper in training, and I like being goalkeeper at the end of games.”
It’s the 90 minutes during matches that Keller feels exposed and, often, helpless.
“You can be a virtual spectator for long stretches, and then you’re called upon to save the game,” he said at the U.S. national team’s hotel north of Lyon.
“When you make a mistake in goal, it’s so apparent. Other players, if they make a mistake, they have a chance to rectify it. A keeper is sitting back there hoping someone else saves you.”
It usually works the other way around for the U.S. team, which often depends on Keller to save it.
He made five near-impossible saves that led to a 1-0 victory against Brazil in the Gold Cup in January. After the match, Brazil striker Romario said he turned in “the greatest performance I’ve ever seen by a goalkeeper. It was an honor to be on the field with him.”
Band-I-really-like Barcelona recorded a song about that very performance:
See more designs from the North Thurston set here.
See you next week! Tell your friends!