Virginia – College Students And Their Interesting Hats
In this historical photo of Virginia, a group of Bethany College students is seen either in 1850 or 1851. According to the Library of Congress, the image shows a party of “Members of The Ranters,” who were recognized as a singing club that liked to perform practical jokes on others.
While the hats and strange gestures of university students have no apparent significance, some researchers in the photograph have provided interesting explanations for the gathering.