The past came alive this week at Emerson High School in Oklahoma City, when workers discovered slate blackboards with almost perfectly preserved writings and drawings dating back nearly 100 years.

The chalkboards, dedicated Nov. 30 and Dec. 4, 1917, were discovered in three classrooms during MAPS for Kids renovations at the school, 715 N Walker. In addition to math, reading, music and handwriting lessons, rules for keeping clean appeared on the board along with a history lesson about the Pilgrims.

City and school district officials will decide how to preserve the blackboards.