The birth of The Burr dates to nearly the beginning of Kent State University, then Kent Normal School. In the spring of 1914, the first full academic year, students from the Walden Dramatic Club produced the school's first yearbook. It ran a grand total of 79 pages.

The issue was dedicated "To the generations of young men and women, who in succeeding years will receive training in the Kent State Normal School."

The all-female group from Lowry Hall, the school's first dormitory, named their brainchild The Chestnut Burr, after the many chestnut trees that dotted the campus in its infancy.

(Click here to hear advisor Ann Schierhorn talk about the chestnut trees on campus.)

The hands controlling The Chestnut Burr would change many times. The 1940 edition, now up to 236 pages, fell under the jurisdiction of the university Publications Committee, along with The Kent Stater and The Duchess, another campus magazine.

The Chestnut Burr was all the rage in 1943 with its glossy color photos. Despite the excitement of the novelty, editors wrote that Uncle Sam had taken his share of staff members to war.

World War II continued to create difficulties for the staff, even after the fighting had ended. In 1947, the largest issue to-date was heralded as a "New Era" yearbook. Still, work was slowed multiple times because of nationwide shortages of supplies and equipment, specifically newsprint.

The '47 edition also included collaboration with the Canton branch of the school, which contributed 24 pages to that issue. The Burr continued to grow.