Light the Way: The Campaign for Berkeley

In 1895, the men’s track team was the first Cal team to compete outside of the state. It carried blue silk banners emblazoned with the word “California” and the state emblem, a grizzly bear, in gold. When the team won beyond expectations, their banners were displayed at the jubilant homecoming — and Cal’s mythical guardian was born.

Over the years, depictions of the Golden Bear in The Blue and Gold Yearbook changed alongside the times and artistic styles. A 1928 bear ferociously rips through The Daily Cal. Bears in the 1942 book resemble a cheerful or mischievous Mickey Mouse. Many are humanized — studying, playing sports, even flirting — while others show the solitude and power of a real animal.