My paternal grandmother, Veronica Bodziony Kowalski, graduated from Cleveland's John Hay High School in 1936. I was recently able to find her yearbook online through the Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery. There she is in the second column, third from the top.
John Hay High School 1936 June Class Yearbook
The 1940 U.S. Census asks respondents their 'highest grade of school completed.' Using this information, I've deduced that Veronica was the first high school graduate in her family. Her parents were Polish immigrants, and, according to the census, her father completed the 8th grade and her mother only made it to the equivalent of 2nd grade. She had two older siblings, but neither finished high school. She also had two younger sisters, both of whom did graduate from high school also.
Here is her high school diploma and final report card:
Here is her high school diploma and final report card:
©2013, copyright Emily Kowalski Schroeder
