A requirement for all freshmen attending Oklahoma A&M College to wear small caps, called beanies, to class was enacted sometime in the 1910s.
The sophomore class was usually in charge of making sure the freshmen wore their beanies and the rule was strictly enforced through the 1920s and 30s. However, when older students, especially veterans of World War II, returned to the classroom the tradition took a nosedive.
From the mid-40s through the 60s, wearing beanies on campus was generally limited to the pledges of fraternities and sororities, the new members of certain student organizations or to show school spirit at sporting events, like student Harold Janeway (pictured) back in 1918.