Promoting the Archives

Written by: Emily R. Cottle

In addition to promoting the Archives to our fine blog readers, during this past spring, I also attended two conferences to get the word out about our young repository. 

At the end of April, I presented as part of a panel at the Mid Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) spring meeting in Rochester, NY featuring individuals charged as the first professional archivists in their institution’s history. This session focused on the challenges of building an archive from scratch and the ongoing challenges that young repositories face.

Poster from the MLA/DLA conference.

In May, I presented a poster at the joint conference of the Maryland and Delaware Library Associations in Ocean City, MD. Here the focus was on the ways that the Archives has had to work to fit into the existing library structure and highlighting some of the similarities and differences between the Archives and the rest of the library. 

It’s always fun to get out and talk about our repository and spread the word about all the exciting work we’re doing here.

Fashion Tips from The Hornet

From The Hornet, May 29, 1955.

Written by: Cale McCammon

With the cold weather finally letting up and commencement celebrations underway, it’s time to consider what you should be wearing if you want to be fashionable this summer. The May 29, 1955, issue of The Hornet suggests a “dainty off-the-shoulders blouse with the pin pleated skirt.” For colors, consider the following: “blue sky, sun white, sandalwood red, avocado, sun pink, butterpale, shrimp, pinkviolet, tangerine, shell p[i]nk, goldenrod, and mauve.”

Our collection of The Hornet extends from 1950 to the present. You can find many recurring columns like this one which offer interesting glimpses into student life back in the day, and you might even walk away from them with a better fashion sense.

Come visit the Archives to browse past issues of The Hornet.

Campus events: Commencement

Written by: Emily Cottle

A few sample commencement programs available in the Archives.

This past Sunday, Delaware State University held its spring commencement ceremony. The keynote speaker was Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., prominent legal theorist, civil rights attorney, mentor to President Barack Obama and author. Photos taken at the event are available here.

As we celebrate this newest class of DSU alumni, it can be fun to look back down memory lane at commencements past. The University Archives holds collections of commencement programs, containing lists of graduates and speakers. We also have a wonderful photograph collection documenting these important campus events. A sampling of these photos are available online at the Delaware Heritage Collection, but come visit the archives in person to see the many more that we have available.

Congratulations to all the 2014 graduates from the University Archives!

History: The Delaware State Ceremonial Mace

Written by: Emily Cottle 

 Introduced during the tenure of Delaware State’s seventh president, Dr. Luna I. Mishoe, the ceremonial mace was designed to be a “permanent emblem of the authority of the Office of the President and will be used at commencement exercises and at other College affairs of special significance.”

Pages from a pamphlet housed in the Archives giving
information on the history of DSU's ceremonial mace.

The preceding quote was taken from a publication on the ceremonial mace, the cover of which is pictured here. It described how the mace was designed and constructed by Mr. John McCollough, an assistant professor of Art Education at Delaware State College, in spring 1963. It is constructed with sterling silver alongside ebony from Africa, rosewood from Africa and India, lace wood from Australia, mahogany from the Philippines, pear wood from Switzerland, lignum vitae from South America, and walnut wood from North America. Its symbolism is derived from the incorporation of silver with the wood from different continents.

The mace is 48 inches long and weighs over 6 pounds.

Yearbooks Now Housed in the Archives

Written by: Cale McCammon

The yearbooks in their new home.

The DSU yearbooks have been moved from the Delaware Room to the Archives (Room 227) so that they can be kept in perpetuity along with all the other materials that are central to the university’s history. But don’t worry, this won’t impact their accessibility. Extra copies will be on reserve at the circulation desk, and the archival collection will be available from 8am to 5pm. 

The collection runs from 1960 to 2007, so feel free to check out faculty and student fashion trends or what Mom and Dad looked like in their glory days.