West Tech Tatler

The West Tech Tatler is the official publication of the West Tech Alumni Association. The very first Tatler in the form of four typed pages was on West Technical High School letterhead and was dated June 1, 1983. Copy of the first edition is shown below.

The Tatler was published for many years by the students and a group of reporters, along with at least one teacher. It was sent out once or twice a year and included news about graduates, class reunion information and a membership form. The last edition was for the 1982-1983 school year. Most of those issues have been bound into several photo albums to preserve them forever.

Over time, the Tatler evolved into the twelve page newsletter with various formats, leading up to the current format. It features news from the Alumni Association, class reunions, a memoriam column to report the passing of alumni, alumni articles and news, information about annual WTAA events, official West Tech merchandise, guest writer articles and other informative articles about past and present students.

The West Tech Tatler is published four times a year, February, May, August and November, and to receive a copy of the Tatler, you need to be a member of the WTAA.

In March, 1997, two years after West Tech officially closed its doors, a commemorative issue of the Tatler was published with a nostalgic chronical of the life of West Tech High School, recalling 83 historic years. It was authored by Gayle L. Turner, who taught English and walked the halls of West Tech for twenty-one years. Only a few issues of the 1997 commemorative Tatler are on file at the West Tech Museum.

While planning the 100th year celebration for 2012, the late Robert Kitzerow, Chairman of the Trustees, enlisted journalist Paula Slimak from the Class of 1960 to update the commemorative Tatler in time for the July celebration. It was a massive challenge that Paula undertook, starting with Decade One in 1912, and continuing on all the way to Decade Eleven, ending with 2012. The centennial commemorative Tatler was a labor of love and dedication, and is still available for purchase through the alumni association.