October is American Archives Month! Since 2006, this month has been dedicated to promoting the work of archivists, individuals who collect and preserve items of enduring value. Archivists play a vital role in making these materials accessible to you, the public. Without archivists and archives to preserve the unique records of institutions and individuals, the past would be forgotten. Shippensburg's own University Archives and Special Collections, located on the upper level of the Ezra Lehman Memorial Library, exists for these reasons--to collect materials of importance related to the university and make them available. These collections hold a plethora of stories that may aid in research papers and projects, learning more about family alumni, or just feed the curiosity of an inquisitive mind. We thought that we would highlight some of our more interesting items and who knows, maybe you will be inspired to pay us a visit!
Underground Newspapers
Have you ever wondered what campus was like during the social movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s? We have a collection of underground student newspapers that cover protests against the Vietnam War (Shippensburg Free Press), as well as activism for racial and gender equality (The Black SSCene and Sisters for Liberation, respectively). Whipper Snapper can fulfill your counter-culture curiosity with its trippy artwork and information on local music, record stores, and coffee shops. You can read more about the Black SSCene, an African American student produced newspaper, here.
Scrapbooks
Scrapbooks are a fun and eye-catching display of history. We have a collection of scrapbooks that range from 1891 to 1984. Check out a previous post about scrapbooks to learn more about the collection.
Sports Information
Go Raiders! Even if you aren't a football fan, it's interesting to flip through old advertisements and photographs in the vintage football programs. Homecoming 2015 is only a week away! Stay tuned for next week's Throwback Thursday post to learn more about the history of Homecoming...
Oral History Collections
Oral history interviews provide more intimate recollections of the past and offer a first-hand perspective. We currently have several oral history collections that were created by Ship History students. If you would like to hear personal stories about the civil rights and women's movements, African American student and faculty experiences, or what it was like to live on campus throughout the years, our oral history collections would provide great insight.
Artifacts
Perhaps the most bizarre object we have is the stereoscope. With this device, two identical images are viewed through a view finder and merged together to create a 3D image. This one was patented in 1907. Modern versions of this would be the Viewmaster, a popular children's toy. Of course we have other artifacts as well, such as Ship memorabilia, trophies, LPs, and more.
Photographs
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| Students have fun during All College Week (late 1970s) |
We have a large collection of photographs that chronicle student life, sports, faculty, architecture, and much more. If you need something special for a paper, project, or presentation, we can scan and send them right to your email!
Whether you're interested in sports, fashion, or car-culture, the Shippensburg University Archives is bound to have something for you! Email specialcollections@ship.edu or call 717-477-1516 for more information!
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