Kodaikanal International School. Click on this site and risk getting lost in this world for several hours!
Some of the highlights of the Archives include a collection of school yearbooks,“The Eucy,” beginning in 1940, and an assemblage of historical photographs of Kodai and its early (white) settlers. These include pictures of transportation up the Coolie Ghat, views from
Coaker’s Walk, and sights around the Kodai lake and township. In addition, there are class pictures through the years, beginning in 1901,
and recipes from the 1950 (5th edition) High Clerc Cookery Book. (Porcupine Meatballs, anyone? Page 49!). At present the Archives
house Eucys from 1940 through 1999, but uploading continues so keep checking. Just a glimpse of all the different front cover designs of the
Eucys through the ages is a treat.
In response to a grant request from KIS for the funds remaining in the Archives Fund, originally established by the Class of 1961, KFI has assisted with the part-time salary of Barbara Block, Class of 1976, to allow her to continue work on the archives, especially the Nora Mitchell Collection.
The Nora Mitchell Collection was a large bequest made to the school after Nora, a much-loved and highly respected teacher from 1964 to
1986 died. Besides being an excellent teacher of German, Indian Social Studies, and Geography, she was an avid traveler. The collection
includes her travelogues and pictures, beginning in 1951 with her European travels, through her arrival in India in 1956, to what appears
to be her last trip in 2000 when she was living in London.
Barbara Block is not only cataloguing this collection but is bringing the KIS Archives to the attention of students, staff and alumni around the
world. She and Manjusha Ninan, KIS Alumni Coordinator, wrote an article for the “Flag Green” about the Nora Mitchell Collection which
can be viewed at The Nora Mitchell Collection – KIS Flag Green. They have also very creatively initiated an all-school photo competition
which involves cooking a recipe from the High Clerc Cookery Book and submitting a photograph of it. Barbara can be seen presenting the
cookbook to the students at a weekly “Vanakkam” (assembly) at Barbara Block Presents KIS Archives.