Sheet Signs at the University of Dayton

The University of Dayton student neighborhood is like no other. Each house has its own character built on the special stories and memories that have been mutually developed by students past and present. 

The land that our beloved neighborhood sits on today was originally owned by John H. Patterson to provide housing for NCR factory workers. In the early 1900's, it became a City of Dayton neighborhood and is now comprised of hundreds of houses owned both by the university and independent landlords. 

If you have ever walked down streets like Kiefaber or Lowes, you have most likely seen at least one bed sheet dangling from a house’s porch or window. One of the most distinctive traditions on the UD campus is the sheet signs that students create and hang up on their houses. The first documented sheet sign was in 1962, which read 'Good-by Dayton' and hung from the windows of the Gibbons hotel. There is a photo of the Gibbons Hotel in the back of the book.  

Over the last 6 decades, there have been thousands upon thousands of messages proudly displayed as an entertaining way for students to express their appreciation and fondness for their UD community. Such signs can easily be seen year-round highlighting many different events and happenings across campus, including Welcome Weekend, Family Weekend, College Gameday, Dayton 2 Daytona, St. Patrick’s Day, and other various holidays, to name a few.

This book highlights a few of the creative signs in recent years. All photos were taken by Grace McGinley (Class of ‘23) during her time as a UD student. Grace hopes this book brings Flyers from all over the country together by reflecting on the many great memories and traditions of their university. 

All net proceeds of this book will be donated to UD for tuition assistance. Like the sheets, the charitable impact will be present for many years to come. 

Go Flyers!