Welcome New Students!

Written by Joy Scherry

We, the faculty and staff of DSU, are excited to welcome you, the incoming students, to Delaware State University!  Most of you have completed the New Student Orientation and we hope that your visit to campus has inspired you to be even more excited about joining our community. If you missed the June NSO it’s not too late! Register today for the last session on August 22.

College Orientation is a time-honored tradition for nearly every American college and university, and DSU is no exception. To prove it, I selected a 1957 Freshman Orientation Program booklet from the university archives.  I had recently heard a story from an alumnus who recalled that his parents put him and all his belongings on a public bus bound for Dover.  Apparently at that time in the 1980’s parents played an inactive role in orientation whereas today, many parents choose to accompany their teenager.  I was therefore curious to see how orientation had developed over time.  

Looking through the 1957 orientation program, I realized that orientation was a week-long affair in which students were required to undergo many more examinations than is currently expected.  Such exams included a physical fitness index exam, medical and psychological exams in the on-campus health center, and academic placement exams in English, math, science, and the “Otis Test of Mental Ability.” However, there were also a great deal more social events such as a talent show, a Coke Sip Date Hour (Does anyone know what this is?), pool parties, mixers, movies, teas, and church services.  

In my opinion, the 1957 program makes the 2016 itinerary look like all work and no play.  What do you think? How does the 1957 Freshman Orientation Program differ from your own experience at the 2016 New Student Orientation? 

Dan's Fellowship in Review

Written by Dan DelViscio

I’ve spent a wonderful nine months here at Delaware State University, but my fellowship is unfortunately winding down now. So I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone here at the William C. Jason Library for being such great working colleagues. It was truly a pleasure to meet and work in the same environment as all of you.

I’m happy to say I will be walking away from this job with a better understanding of archives and archival work. I’ve learned that it takes much more than just knowledge of processing collections and organizing them into nice neat document boxes. It’s having the ability to juggle multiple projects. It’s corresponding with colleagues and doing the proper research to ensure all the right information is available to researchers using the collections. And it’s working in an intelligent manner that ensures accountability and integrity.

I didn’t know much about Delaware State University before I came here from Philadelphia, but having immersed myself in the collections and reading about the history of the university I can definitely say I’m better for the experience. My main responsibilities were to process two major collections transferred to the archives by the Office of Public Relations and the Office of Alumni Relations. Both collections are photographic in content and contain depictions of some of DSU’s earliest students, faculty, and presidents. The collections will definitely be integral resources in the DSU archive’s holdings and I’m truly proud to have worked on them.   

I will definitely be using the things I’ve learned here in my next job, but I hope to come back some time and see how everyone is doing, and hopefully to see the new archives space complete with an archival exhibit. I wish Rejoice the best going forward, and hope the archives at DSU continues to grow in its new location on the first floor of the library. Thanks everyone!

Board of Trustees Minutes 1891-1927

Written by Joy Scherry

I am very pleased to announce the recent acquisition of the minutes of the Board of Trustees from 1891-1927 and 1956-1969!  

The university archives has proudly maintained a near-comprehensive run of Board of Trustee minutes from 1968 to current day.  In discussions with university administrators, it had always been assumed that Board of Trustee minutes prior to 1968 were forever lost or perhaps in some cases never recorded. This was a perceived reality that we readily accepted. That is, until last month…

In May I had the honor of meeting President Emeritus William B. DeLauder to discuss the recent improvements of the archive and my plans for its’ future.  Dr. DeLauder surprised me by gifting a number of historic DSU materials he had worked to preserve in his retirement.  They included bound volumes of early Board of Trustee minutes.

In partnership with the “unofficial historians” of the DSU community, I look forward to discerning new information and piecing together a better understanding of the first decades in DSU’s 125 years of service.   The minutes and other items may be viewed at the archives in the William C. Jason Library Monday through Friday from 8:00 -4:00.

"The Trustees of the State College for Colored Students met for organization at the Hotel Richardson at 1:30 o'clock P.M. today, present Charles B. Lore, Daniel M. Ridgely, George W. Marshall, Henry P. Cannon and Henry C. Conrad...

"...The Secretary was directed to advertise for proposals for a suitable site for the [?] college, in the newspapers of the state."

2016 Alumni Luncheon

Written by Joy Scherry

On May 19, 2016 I had a rare and wonderful opportunity to examine DSU history with the people who lived it. As the archivist I have the unique ability to examine primary source documents every day. While I count this as a very great privilege, the records do not provide clear pictures of human emotions or motivations. This level of understanding can only be gained by speaking with the people present at the time.

The 2016 Alumni Luncheon was one such occasion as alumni from as far as Florida convened in Dover for a luncheon where they swapped stories, shared memorabilia, listened to a presentation by Carlos Holmes (DSU’s Unofficial historian), and viewed a display of materials from the DSU archives.

I love alumni gatherings for a number of reasons but primarily because there are tidbits of information that cannot be captured on paper and are instead passed on through oral tradition.  Did you know that Dr. Maurice Thomasson, sociology professor and two-time acting-president, was fondly called Dr. Ether?  Like the drug, Dr. Thomasson’s lectures put students to sleep.  

By far, my favorite part of the day was a discussion of the 1968 student unrest. In case you’re not familiar with this event, the gist of it is that students wanted to name the first student center after Martin Luther King Jr. but because administrators didn’t reply to their request, the students interrupted the building’s dedication ceremony in order to so name the building. The circumstances of event have always been cloudy, but yesterday there were individuals present to offer three distinct perspectives – that of President Mishoe’s secretary representing the voice of administrators, the viewpoint of students present for the unrest, and lastly an individual who was a member of the Delaware National Guard that was dispatched to quell the demonstration.  Perhaps for the first time, contemporaries were able to reconcile their perceptions and gain a better understanding of the opposing viewpoint.  Because of the candid and chance nature of the conversation I doubt that this is an experience that can be duplicated.  I’m grateful that I was present to witness it.

Each time I attend alumni gatherings I am always truly inspired by the friendship and joy shared by the people present. Watching the DSU family reminds me that even though experiences can be shared, every life is unique and has immeasurable value.  

While listening to Mr. Holmes' presentation, Pauline Walker Wilkes, seated fourth from the left, had a special moment when she realized she was looking at a picture (below) of her younger self.  Additionally pictured here is the oldest living alumni, Mrs. Stevenson, age 102 (seated fifth from the left). 

Pauline Walker Wilkes, pictured in the center

Happy Birthday DSU!

Happy 125^th Birthday Delaware State University! Here’s to wishing you many happy returns!

 Today, May 15, 2016,  we salute the 125 years of service DSU has dedicated to positively impacting the community, state, nation, world, and Mars! …Okay so we haven’t actually reached our neighboring planet yet, but the Optical Science program is doing its best. Thank you to the administrators, faculty, staff and more than 20,000 graduates who shaped this university.

Coming Soon!

Written by Joy Scherry

Surprise! The archives is getting a new and improved home!

Formerly, the archive was located on the second floor of the William C. Jason Library in a converted conference room and office suite.  Last summer, however, the athletic advising department, also located on the second floor, received a $500,000 grant to renovate the entire floor in order to create a more inviting space for athlete study halls.  The hope is that by enhancing student-athletes’ access to academic resources and advisers, retention rates will improve.  

On May 9, 2016 construction began! The first phase of the project centered around preparations for the future site of the archives including demolition followed by framing, electrical wiring, and drywall.  Once the walls were in place, work on the second floor began.  All traces of the former spaces have since been obliterated as walls were knocked out, lights removed, and wiring exposed.

Dan and I have been busy, busy, busy, relocating the archives into temporary storage and well out of the path of fast-moving guys with hammers.  The current status of the archives is chaos due to the archival materials being dispersed throughout study rooms and classrooms on first and fourth floors of the library (no need to hit the gym after work), but we’re hoping the end results are well worth the effort.  Time will tell!   

Former Second Floor Archives Suite

Future Home of the Archives

Former Second Floor layout.  The Archives entrance was located
in the back corner - second door from the left in this picture.

Same view as the picture above. The Archives door is
 next to the orange ladder. 

Alternative view of the Second floor. 

One of five rooms that is temporarily housing archival materials. 

Vice President Who?!

Written by Joy Scherry

The entire DSU campus community is buzzing with excitement as preparations are made for Vice President Joe Biden’s visit for tomorrow’s commencement.  Facilities staff members are working overtime to complete campus improvements, campus safety officers are canvassing the area with secret service, and I’m confident the commencement committee has been meeting daily.

As a small, niche department tucked in the corner of the library I never expected the archives to be called upon.  Aside from a few reference requests in the prior weeks for photographic materials to support visual presentations at the ceremony, I fully expected my work to continue business as usual which, for the record, doesn’t include a call from the White House.

Scene: It’s 10:00 am on Friday April 29, 2016 and I’m counting the hours until the weekend.  The phone rings.

Caller: “Hello Joy! I’m calling from the Office of the Vice President, and we’re trying to locate speeches from former DSU presidents.” 

Me (in my head): Errr…. DSU doesn’t have a Vice President.  Wait…It’s a 240 area code….VP Of the United States? As in Biden?!

Just like that, this phone call was the start of a week-long partnership with White House interns. Many daily if not hourly phone calls later, I have provided the speech writers and staff in the office of the Vice President of the United States with much primary source research.

Today, on the eve of commencement, I continue to be amazed that even the smallest of archives can play such a large role in shaping and impacting communities  -  and from the sidelines no less!  Tomorrow, you and I may be the only ones to know that the DSU archives assisted White House staffers, but nevertheless, the resources this tiny, mostly unprocessed archives provided will assist the Vice President of the United States as he imparts advice to 700 graduates embarking on new journeys.

It wasn’t Dr. Williams or the commencement committee that asked me for help.  It was the staff of the White House! Tomorrow, when Vice President Biden speaks I will be listening for the nuggets of information that I, the lone university archivist, provided.  I’m pretty sure librarians silently rule the world.  Just saying. 

Class of 1966

The Delaware State University Archives would like to welcome the Class of 1966 back to campus! Congratulations on your 50^th anniversary!  We wish you many happy returns!  Here's your senior year in review:

Delaware State College in 1966:

            College President: Dr. Luna I. Mishoe

            Number of Faculty: 66

            Student Enrollment: Approx. 900

Number of Student Organizations: 20 clubs, 7 Greek organizations

Tuition: Approx.  $1,125.00 including room and board

            Number of Academic Departments: 17

 

Popular Culture in 1966:

Top songs:

We Can Work It Out by The Beatles

Ballad of the Green Beret by Sgt. Barry Sadler

Monday, Monday by The Mamas & The Papas

Top TV Series:

Bonanza

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

The Lucy Show

Major International events that occurred during your senior year:

September 6, 1965 – India invades West Pakistan marking the official beginning of the Indo-Pakistani War

November 11, 1965 –  The Unilateral Declaration of Independence is signed in Rhodesia. The UN deemed the government behind the declaration an “illegal racist minority regime,” and enforces an arms embargo - a first for the UN Security Council.

February 3, 1966 –215,000 US soldiers were present in Vietnam

March 2, 1966 – First soft landing on the moon is achieved by Soviet Luna 9.

Earth Day

John Boykin Aiken

Written by Dan DelViscio 

Happy Earth Day! Throughout its history, Delaware State University has cultivated a strong appreciation for the natural environment. After all, a core component of the 1890 Morrill Act, under which this university was founded, was to establish agricultural courses of study.  Consequently, through these doors have passed many green-thumbed individuals.

John Boykin Aiken was an early graduate of the State College for Colored Students, and he remained at the college following graduation to serve as an agricultural instructor from 1898 to 1906, and as Farm Manager in 1923. In 1937, he was appointed by Governor Richard C. McMullen to the college’s Board of Trustees.

Dr. Ulysses S. Washinton

Pictured here is the esteemed Dr. Ulysses S. Washington conducting an agriculture class in 1970. From 1949 until his retirement in 1991, Dr. Washington served the university faithfully as, first, an assistant professor of agriculture and farm mechanics, and later, as the chair of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Although he no longer actively teaches classes, today Dr. Washington continues to enrich the campus community through his unwavering support and presence on campus.  To learn more about Dr. Washington’s achievements, check out this interview. 

 

The tradition continues! Earlier this spring DSU announced the work of Janet Cordero, a graduate student of Plant Science, and her advisor Dr. Sathya Elavarthi, who developed a free app called “DSU Urban Forest.” Funded by the McIntire Stennis Forestry Grant, the app provides users with information about the 25 most abundant trees on the DSU campus including Common Crapemyrtle, Eastern White Pine, Honeylocust, and many more! Using the app, you can learn about the ecological and energy saving contributions that these trees make to the college. Please check out the app here or explore The DSU Urban Forest Facebook page.

This Earth Day we commend these individuals. Thank you for promoting our beautiful campus and enhancing our knowledge of the local environment. 

 

Photographic Collections Update

Written by Dan DelViscio

Since I began working at Delaware State University, my primary project has been the processing of the Public Relations and Alumni Affairs Photograph Collections. Both collections depict people, places, and events at DSU in a variety of formats including photographs, negatives, slides, and proof sheets. It has been my task to catalog, house, and preserve these records so that researchers may have access to DSU’s visual history.

Both collections were presented to me in half processed states with some of the materials already housed and cataloged in archival boxes and the rest in largely unorganized banker’s boxes. My task was to rehouse the materials in more favorable conditions. This entailed placing them in polyester sleeves (see picture to the left), organizing them into acid free folders, and finally relegating them to acid free archival document boxes.

I also surveyed the existing collection to make sure the folders inside were properly spaced. Unfortunately, the collection needed a great deal of reorganizing and rehousing. Many of the photographs were not placed in protective sleeves and in many of the boxes the folders had slouched to create planar distortion (see example to the right). This phenomenon can result when there are not enough folders in a box to support each other and the contents begin to sag and curl over time.

In addition to rehousing all of the records I updated the existing finding aid for the collection. A finding aid is a tool record custodians create to inform researchers about the contents, provenance, and size of the collection. They tell researchers where the collection came from, what kind of materials are in the collection, and provide an inventory of each box to help researchers locate specific records.

It’s been a long tedious process to organize all these photographs, but through that process I’ve gained a better understanding of DSU’s history and a better insight into the trials and triumphs of the institution.