Special Collections: Children’s Museum News

Written by: Emily Cottle

Just a few sample issues of Children’s Museum News.

Though the focus of this blog and our IMLS project is on the university archives and documenting the history of Delaware State University, our special collections do contain some unique items outside of this scope.

One of these items is a run of 55 newsletters dating from 1912-1940 called the Children’s Museum News published by the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.

These newsletters include information about the museum itself, such as hours, admission, and schedules of events or lectures. There are also articles in each issue on a wide array of topics, but animals are a frequent subject.

A complete inventory of available issues can be found here.

Our complete run is available to use in the archives, so please come visit us if you’d like to see them. More information on our location and hours can be found here.

Collection Spotlight: Miss DSC/DSU Photographs

 Written by: Cale McCammon

Miss DSC attendant and her escort, 1979.

It’s that time of the year when DSU students gear up for the annual Miss DSU elections. While Miss DSU hopefuls set up promotional campaign signs around campus, we here at the archives take a look to the past at our collection of Miss Delaware State College/Delaware State University photographs. Our collection dates back to the late 1950s. The photographs demonstrate one of DSU’s many unique traditions honoring student leadership, but they also say quite a bit about the changing themes and fashion of the ceremony.

Contestants at the Miss DSC pageant, March 20, 1980.

From bellbottom pants to traditional formal wear, the Miss DSU tradition has not gone out of style. 

We send our congratulations to the newly elected Mr. and Ms. DSU, James Jones and Jamila Mustafa, and the rest of the Royal Court! Complete election results and a slideshow are available here. 

Honors Day

Written by: Emily Cottle

Last week on April 3, 2014 Delaware State University held its 41^st annual Honors Day program.

The archives have a collection of programs dating back to the third annual honors day program held April 27-28, 1976.

President Luna I. Mishoe speaking at Honors 

Day festivities on April 13, 1983.

The following note from the Honors Council, the sponsors of Honors Day, appears in the aforementioned program from the 1976 event:

Honors Day was established two years ago as an annual event in recognition of academic achievement. In a format which enables students to present original research papers and exhibits, academic excellence at Delaware State College is made visible to all students and faculty. Through lectures or panel discussions the meaning and value of the pursuit of excellence is stressed. In addition, departmental scholars, students in the Honors programs, and students achieving membership in national honor societies are recognized.

Some of the programs from the 1990s even include summaries of student papers and projects.

In addition to these event programs, we have a number of photos documenting honors day activities dating back to the 1980s.

Come visit the archives to view any of these materials and learn more about the history of the Honors Day program.

Middle States Accreditation Self-Study Reports: A History of Self-Reflection

Written by: Cale McCammon

Cover of the 1971-1972 report.

One of the collections that offer a dense look at DSU’s organizational and academic history is our collection of Middle States accreditation self-study reports, which date back to the 1971-1972 academic year. These reports contain information on the university’s organizational structure, philosophy, student body, employment of alumni and finances. For anyone looking for statistical information regarding specific departments or for information on how the university has changed overtime, the reports serve as a convenient aggregation of the information found in some of our other collections. They also demonstrate changes in how the university has seen itself, as in the self-study report for the 1971-1972 academic years:

Delaware State College is a group of scholars actively seeking the truth, creatively teaching the truth, and carefully preserving the truth. The College claims the right, without restraint, to investigate the whole province of knowledge. With this freedom, the College accepts the responsibility of communicating knowledge to all who can make good use of it. (p. 2)

How might this connect to the university’s current mission and vision statement?