Welcome, new freshmen, to the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences here at BYU! Most of you were born in the years 1997 and 1998, and times have changed a lot since then. Here’s a little history for you:

• In ’97, Bill Clinton was just beginning the second term of his to-date uncontroversial presidency,
• Unemployment rates were low,
• Apple was struggling financially,
• Michael Jordan’s Bulls beat the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals.

In BYU’s Department of History, you can learn about these things and so much more. The popularity of the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” which won eleven Tony Awards, attests, in part, to a possible rise in attention to historical legacies. At the very least, it asks the question: what value could the study of history provide you as a new freshman?

The author Michael Crichton, in his book Timeline, said that if you didn’t know history, you are like a leaf not knowing you’re part of a tree. Consider getting to know a bit of your history…by dressing the part of a history student! Here are a few wardrobe recommendations:

Foot Notes

Ah, footnotes. Every history student’s favorite part of a research paper. That’s why you’ve probably noticed all the students around campus with post-its stuck to their shoes. If you join this trend, you’ll always have something handy every time you need to write a quick message–and you’ll make a bold fashion statement!

Three-Cornered Hat

It’s one thing to read about the 17th century, but history students need to immerse themselves in the time periods of their choosing. What better way to do that than the famed three-cornered hat (formally known as a “tricorne”) of colonial times? George Washington wasn’t too good for it. Neither are you.

The Hope Diamond

Yes, that Hope Diamond—the one that was owned by King Louis XIV, and that currently sits in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. The Hope Diamond is one-of-a-kind and may be a little out of your price range, but if you can get your hands on it, this jewel is a must-have accessory for the fall.

Finally, don’t forget your “I ❤️ History” t-shirt. All the cool kids are wearing them.

Three-cornered hat picture courtesy of Flickr.