You know it's around somewhere — maybe tucked back in the closet under the stairs or stuffed into that box in the garage. Somewhere there's a stash of stuff from your days at UNLV. Go dig it up.
The university is collecting memorabilia for a special exhibit on UNLV's history and has put the call out for your collectibles. The exhibit, curated by the Barrick Museum, will open next fall as part of UNLV's yearlong 50th anniversary celebration. "The exhibit will celebrate the people who have been part of the Rebel family during the past 50 years," says Schyler Richards, chair of the anniversary planning committee. "UNLV's history is so much more than the buildings we've built and the programs we've added. We hope the people who have lived UNLV's history will share their memorabilia and, more important, the stories behind the pieces."
The exhibit — the biggest temporary exhibit the museum has hosted — will chronicle the evolution of UNLV since the 1957 opening of its first building, Maude Frazier Hall. Its photos and memorabilia will focus on campus life and the changing makeup of the student body, academic development, and architectural changes.
Barrick Museum curator Aurore Giguet emphasized that items don't need to be old to be significant to the exhibit. "A CSUN flyer from two years ago is as important as an election button from the 1960s," Giguet says. "It may actually be harder for us to find modern-day items. People don't hold on to things as much these days, and they might not see its value yet."
The exhibit will also highlight the university's evolution as it relates to Southern Nevada's growth. "Being such a young university, many of the people who contributed to our development were not students or faculty; they were local leaders who saw the value that a university brings to its community," Richards says. "We hope they will also participate in the exhibit."
Is Your Collectible Notable?
The memorabilia will be matched to historic photos from the UNLV Lied Library's special collections. The university already has some items, like yearbooks, in its archives. Here are some things for you to look for:
Sports and club uniforms, megaphones, freshman beanies, and homecoming sashes
Report cards, acceptance letters, and other university correspondence
Event programs, posters, and tickets · Student government election
paraphernalia
Your own snapshots — "We have a collection of formal photographs
done by campus photographers, but we don't have many candid shots from,
say, the ski club trip," Giguet says.
Lending Process
During homecoming week, Oct. 30-Nov. 3, staff at the museum and in Tam Alumni Center will be available to collect your items. You will be issued a receipt. Museum staff will then catalog the memorabilia. If the piece doesn't fit the exhibit, the curators will contact you to return the item. If your item is selected for the exhibit, you will be sent formal loan forms. After the exhibit, lenders will be contacted to make arrangements for collection or pieces may be donated permanently for future display.
More info: Share your memories and learn more about the exhibit by visiting celebrating50.unlv.edu or call 702-895-5946.
