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Final exams are a ritual almost as old as Penn State itself. Whether in written, oral, or project format, periodic examinations enabled the faculty to assess students' progress toward their degrees. The photo above shows two members of the class of 1901 presumably engaged in preparing for finals or other studious pursuits in their room in Old Main. Note various decorations and appurtenances in the room, which seems to be a bit more crowded than similar quarters in more modern campus residence halls. The lamp on the desk is probably electric rather than kerosene, since electricity was supplied to the building as early as 1887. The bed at left was known as a "doubleheader," made by turning one of the room's beds upside down and wiring it to the other to form bunk beds, a common practice aimed at maximizing the amount of available floor space.
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