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History Preservation Efforts of Universities in the U.S.
By Kim Han-na, Head Student Editor
The Chonnam National University Press and Broadcasting Center (CNUPBC) dispatched a special overseas coverage team to investigate systems and programs of leading universities in the U.S. to see how they preserve their historical materials and records. The Chonnam Tribune would like to show world class universities’ basic and distinctive strategies for managing their history. – Ed.
Chonnam National University (CNU) will mark the 60th anniversary of its foundation next year. CNU has come along with modern Korean history and led the spirit of democracy in local society by opposing a dictatorship. Therefore, with the welcoming of the 60th anniversary of CNU, we need to look back on our history. We need to understand and preserve it for the future to maintain and develop the school's new history. CNU makes its own history every day. The main agents that create the tradition and history of the university are members of the school. So, they have planned to make various commemorative events. Among them, the most representative event is to build the CNU Museum. Therefore, CNUPBC looked into how MIT and the Ivy League universities in the U.S. managed and exhibited historical documents and how historical documentaries have influenced students.
Basics for Preserving University History: Campus and Archive
When people want to get information about the university, they take a campus tour. The atmosphere of the school and its visible historical remains show the tradition of the university. In the University of Pennsylvania (Upenn), students and visitors can easily make contact with the history of the school. For example, a statue of Benjamin Franklin, who was the founder of Upenn. Mac (Junior, Dept. of History at the University of Pennsylvania) said that “All kinds of buildings lead to remind (us of) Upenn’s history. Our history has been preserved all around the university.” In another case, Princeton University, has built structures in the High Victorian Gothic style, even the new buildings also have to be in harmony with the antique atmosphere for the preservation of school tradition. As mentioned above, all universities, especially in the Ivy League, make the effort to preserve the university's history through protection of campus environment.
There is another common thing that the Ivy League universities share. They preserve and commemorate their history through University Archives. University Archives are usually located in one of the university libraries to classify, store and exhibit the university’s historical documentaries. For example, the University Archives at Brown University give the impression of a European-style history. It is located in the John Hay Library and has three sectors for preservation, classification, and exhibition. Jennifer Betts, Archivist at Brown University, said that “The University Archive has undertaken the role of a historian to write a new history of the university, so we are looking back on the old records and interpreting what they are telling us.” Unfortunately, the materials in the university archives are exposed to the risk of damage, so it is hard to directly use the archives even for students. Therefore, nowadays, most of universities include a Digital Archive page on their website so that users can easily access historical documents or documentaries.
University History Museum: MIT
Unlike the universities mentioned above, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has a particular space for preservation and commemoration of its history. As MIT enters its sesquicentennial year, a wide range of events, exhibitions, symposiums and open houses have been planned to celebrate MIT’s contributions to the world. Especially, the MIT 150 Exhibition at the MIT Museum presents an ongoing series of public programs throughout 2011. Deborah Douglas (Curator, Science & Technology in MIT Museum) explained that “The MIT 150 Exhibition at MIT museum celebrates its anniversary with 150 ideas, inventions and innovators that helped shape our world, with the aid of the "collective intelligence" of the MIT community included Institute leadership, faculty, alumni, staff, and friends”.
With two floors of exhibitions, the MIT Museum presents an array of exhibits and displays with related programs that aim to share the creative energy of MIT. Visitors from around the world can be surprised by the variety and the unique aspects of the MIT Museum.The Museum is displaying 150 evocative objects selected to reveal the extraordinary qualities of the Institute throughout its history per each section up to ten; Academic, Analog/Digital, Artistic, Bionic, Boston, Broadcasting, Entrepreneurial, Pioneering, Problem-solving, and Unique MIT. Through interactive exhibitions, public programs, experimental projects and its renowned collections, the MIT Museum showcases the fascinating world of MIT, and inspires people of all ages about the possibilities and opportunities offered by science and technology.
People get free admission of Museum galleries from 5:00-8:00 p.m. the 2nd Friday of every month and Sundays. This makes the museum more accessible to people. MIT Museum Store appeals to people with unique jewelry, science-themed toys, books and t-shirts. If visitors need more information, they can find out the details about talks, discussions, and demonstrations though the MIT community and get the information of special programs and activities listed on the website.
University Members’ Active Participation
All leading universities in the U.S and also CNU commonly consider the foundation anniversary an event of deep significance. And they planned to make special events for celebrations. However, there are some differences only for the universities in the U.S. First of all, the university has promoted a historical environment by using architecture to remind themselves of their old traditions and history. They made a preservation department and it also encourages the participation of students. It leads students to feel the sense of belonging to their university. At last, they continually succeed in passing their traditions to the next generation based on the sense of belonging and the pride in their university. Even after graduation, students take participation in events through a voluntary donation. School members’ donations are used for supporting and preserving their history. That kind of collaborative process between the university and its members creates a virtuous circle. All school members including students and graduates do their best to preserve university history and participate based on the love of their school and pride.
김한나 기자
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