Rolling Out the Orange Carpet for Returning Alumni
Goon Squad memorabilia, freshman beanie, photographs, and student newsletters from the University Archives at the April 4 Senior Alumni Pop-Up Exhibition. Photograph by Meara Mosny, Syracuse University Libraries’ Digital & Communications Specialist.
by Vanessa St.Oegger-Menn, Pan Am 103 Archivist and Assistant University Archivist
On April 4, the Special Collections Research Center joined in welcoming alumni returning to campus for their Senior Alumni Reunion, which included members of the classes of 1950 through 1975. This was a particularly special time for graduates of the classes of 1965 and 1975 who were celebrating their 50th and 60th reunions, respectively. During their time on campus, alumni were treated to campus tours, reunion dinners, book talks and the Syracuse University Alumni Awards Ceremony. The University Archives contributed our largest pop-up exhibition, thus far, and welcomed over 80 alumni and their families to a showcase of materials focused on the student experience of the 1960s through the 1970s.
Whenever we curate exhibitions, whether long-term installations or pop-ups like this one, we do our best to select a range of collection items that represent the different ways in which we can understand a historic moment through archival collections. For alumni pop-ups in particular, our goal is to share materials that evoke memories of our visitors’ time on campus as students. We also make an intentional effort reflect the variety of student experiences – from academics, to athletics, to activism – and the diversity of backgrounds and identities that have always comprised Syracuse University’s student body.
For our 1965 through 1975 alumni this took the form of a wide range of memorabilia, publications and photographs spanning the years 1961 to 1975 to encompass the years they were SU students. Everything from a freshman beanie and Goon Squad hat to nostalgic photos of campus and dorm life, to a poster and photo of concerts at The Jabberwocky student night club, to an image of the organized chaos of registration in Archbold Gym were on display to spark conversation. Many alumni also recounted their memories of participating in student protests to advocate for the African American Studies Department, oppose the war in Vietnam or support the Syracuse 8, all of which were represented by photographs and campus newspapers.
And we couldn’t leave out legends from our Orange athletics past. Our returning alumni shared their time on campus with greats like Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, Dave Bing and Jim Boeheim when he started his long career with the men’s basketball team as a player. From photographs to a commemorative football, and even a piece of Archbold Stadium and uniform for the spirit team, we made sure there was plenty to bring back memories of rooting for the home teams.
Alumni were also greeted by tables of yearbooks, student handbooks, and the Orange Aid – better known as the Pig Book – that they could peruse together. Although this was our largest showing yet, the Senior Alumni Reunion pop-up is becoming one of the fixtures of University Archives’ spring calendar. SCRC staff always enjoy these opportunities to hear firsthand stories from those with personal connections to the collections and materials we care for and provide access to.
Alumni engaging with yearbooks and student handbooks from the University Archives at the April 4 Senior Alumni Pop-Up Exhibition. Photograph by Meara Mosny, Syracuse University Libraries’ Digital & Communications Specialist.
Athletics and student life memorabilia and photographs from the University Archives displayed as part of the April 4 Senior Alumni Pop-Up Exhibition. Photograph by Meg Mason, University Archivist.