This spring students in AU’s Public History Program updated and expanded our online exhibit, Eagelore.  The students added new sections on American University’s Chancellors and Presidents, the AU Arboretum, the Kennedy Political Union, and campus fraternities and sororities.

Did you know that AU is celebrating a big anniversary this year?  On May 27, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson and other dignitaries spoke at the official opening ceremony for AU.  Come learn about AU’s first ten years and the development of its graduate program. AU Archives is pleased to announce its newest exhibit, Pro Dea et Patria: Graduate Education at American University (1914-1924).  The exhibit will be on display on the first floor of the Library through the middle of July.

Are you curious about the history of American University? Have you ever wondered which U.S. Presidents have connections to our campus? Or what issues rallied students to protest for change?
All of those questions can be answered in a new digital exhibit.  The AU Archives and Special Collections recently unveiled an online exhibit exploring American University’s history.  The exhibit uses images from the collection to illustrate the University’s unique history.  Included in the exhibit is information about the physical campus, political protests, student activities, and AU in war time.
Although a great place to start learning about American University’s past, the digital exhibit is far from complete.  Instead, the exhibit will continue to evolve as new images and interpretation are added in the future about campus.
By checking out the exhibit, you’ll gain an understanding of American University’s history while also learning about resources available in the University Archives.

Are you curious about the people for whom campus buildings are named?  Ten key figures in American University’s history are featured in a new exhibit on the first floor of the library.  Find out about their backgrounds and their role at AU. The exhibit will be up through the end of the fall semester.

If you haven’t already done so, check out Archives and Special Collections spring exhibits.  They will be up through the end of May.

The Peace Corps Experience in the 1960s: Colombia and Nigeria
Featured in this exhibit are two volunteers who taught in Nigeria in the early 1960s and four health and community development volunteers in Colombia who served as an instructor in a school of practical nursing; provided architectural services; worked with community leaders; provided health education information; set up libraries; and distributed food. The exhibit is on display on the third floor of the Library.

To Foster College Spirit and Promote the Common Welfare: Student Government @ AU
In honor of the upcoming elections for Student Government officers this spring, the University Archives is featuring documents, flyers and photographs that provide a glimpse into student governance at American University and highlight some of the key functions of the first Student Council and its successors.  This exhibit is on display on the first floor.

Did you know that AU students participated in campus clean-up activities as far back as the 1930s?  Are you curious about AU history? Check out the library’s newest exhibit, Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle: The Campus Scene 1925-2000.  Through photographs and publications from the University Archives, you can get a taste of undergraduate life at AU over the years.  You will discover AU’s artistic and literary accomplishments as well as learn about freshman rules and other traditions including homecoming and orientation. The exhibit will be on display on the first floor of the Library through the end of the semester.

Basketball: An AU Tradition

AU’s men’s basketball team is the oldest on campus.  The first intercollegiate game was played in 1926.    The women’s team debuted in 1966.  Both AU’s men’s and women’s teams have been to the NIT.   The media guides, photographs, and programs on display showcase some of the milestones in both teams’ histories.  The exhibit is on the first floor of the library and will run through the end of the semester.

Ukioy-e Landscape Prints from the Charles Nelson Spinks Collection

To celebrate the 2012 Centennial National Cherry Blossom Festival, American University Library is featuring its Charles Nelson Spinks Collection.  The Ukiyo-e prints in the collection depict actors, famous places, geisha, landscapes, and nature scenes.  On display are landscapes by Hiroshige, Hokusai, and other artists.  The exhibit is on the third floor of the library and will run through the end of the semester.

Highlights of the William F. Causey Collection

In honor of the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Dickens on February 7, 2012, American University Library has installed a display of works by and about Dickens from the William F. Causey Collection.  Also on view from the Causey Collection are examples of award winning American fiction.  This is the first installment of a series of exhibits featuring titles from the Causey Collection. The exhibit is on the second floor of the library and will run through the end of the semester.