Dormitory Drawing

Dormitory Drawing

Madison College, residence hall, students, smoking

Iris Alina Ruiz, nicknamed "Titi," was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico in 1921. When she was 17, she traveled to the United States to attend Madison College for Elementary Education from 1939-1942. Her drawings included in this collection depicted the world that existed around her, including several buildings of the campus, the entrance sign of the university, the cupola of Wilson Hall, residence halls, and her personal items.

This particular drawing is of the inside of her dormitory room at night and shows the ever popular pennant gracing the wall. She also decided to personalize the space with a framed picture. Most striking about this image is the “Positively No Smoking,” sign below the pennant. Iris has taken care to draw this in juxtaposition to an ashtray by the window, which is open for the smoke to escape. The ban on smoking in dormitory rooms was a way to promote a type of controlled environment that Iris decided to defy--at least through her drawing.

Iris Alina Ruiz

Iris Alina Ruiz Collection, SC#5051

James Madison University Libraries and Educational Technologies

1939-1942

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300 dpi jpg

Still Image