Exterieur van het gymnasium van Yale University te New Haven before 1895

This black and white photograph captures the exterior of the Yale University gymnasium in New Haven, though its exact date and photographer remain unknown. Consider the historical context of Yale University during the time this photograph was taken. As an elite institution, Yale played a significant role in shaping societal norms, particularly those concerning gender and class. Access to facilities like this gymnasium would have been largely limited to a privileged segment of the population, excluding women and people of color. The architecture itself, with its imposing facade, speaks to the power and exclusivity associated with institutions of higher learning. What narratives are consciously and unconsciously constructed through the visual representation of such spaces? What stories are not being told? How do we engage in the process of unveiling the layers of privilege embedded within these images?