How to View Names from High School Yearbooks

Whether you want to track down an old friend, verify someone's education or conduct a background check, the most reliable way is to use a high school yearbook and contact the school in writing to request information. You can also call or contact the school online.

Things You'll Need

• Telephone
• Pen, stamps and stationery

Instructions

1. Call directory services through your telephone provider or look up the telephone number for the high school. You will need to know the city and state, or at least the full name of the high school, as well as the year for the graduating class and list of names you wish to review.

2. Call the high school and ask to speak with the principal's secretary or an administrator. If the high school refers you to the main school district office, call that number.

3. Explain that you wish to review the names from the high school yearbook for a specific year. High schools archive yearbooks and should have a copy of each annual version going back several decades.

4. If you know the name or names of the former students you wish to review, the high school may be able to photocopy those specific pages from a yearbook and mail them to you. Chances are you will be required to send payment in advance for the copies and possibly a self-addressed stamped envelope.

5. Be prepared to travel to the high school. Some school districts may only be willing to show yearbook information in person. More recent yearbooks may have been published in quantity and might be available for purchase. For older yearbooks, photocopies are probably your only option for a printed record.

6. Check websites such as www.old-yearbooks.com to see if the yearbook you are interested in viewing is available online.

References

• Online Yearbook Resource
• Tips for Tracking Down Old Yearbooks