In an effort to utilize the university’s history, Moffett Library’s Special Collections team went out last spring to archive all of the cluttered historical items spread throughout the library. 

The display includes complete copies of The Wichitan, yearbooks, and photographs dating as far back to 1922 when MSU was still a junior college. The monitor shows the viewer a variety of Prezi slides of MSU’s history from past to present.

The high-resolution, touch screen will be presented at 4:30 p.m.  Feb. 9 next to the Special Collections, Room 215 in the library. Snacks and refreshments will be provided as well as a trivia wheel and even a photo booth.

MSU’s special collections team will present the new database and University President Suzanne Shipley will speak about it. “It is a way to celebrate MSU history in a new format,” said Special Collections Assistant Staci Johnson, “It’s bridging the past and future of Midwestern together.”

“Keeping the historical objects throughout the walls of the library had no way of organization, now it is all in chronological order in one single place,” Johnson added. By archiving the artifacts, it will all be able to be accessed online easily from the library section of Midwestern’s website making it more accessible to the public and students having to commute.

After taking down the displays throughout the second floor, members have created new additions to the walls and cases like the original building plans for Bolin Hall and past sports memorabilia. “Scanning and archiving the items did not cost anything, the only expense was for the monitor which was very reasonable,” Johnson said.

Looking back at the history will give the students more school pride by seeing the advancement of Midwestern and the ways it has developed.