“Scarlet and Gray: The Student Experience” will open Saturday at Thompson Library in Room 125 displaying pieces representing student life throughout the years. Credit: Ashley Kimmel | Assistant Arts & Life Editor
At a university that lives and breathes tradition, nothing ever gets thrown away. An old Brutus costume, student clothing from over 100 years ago and the first edition of The Lantern will join dozens of other artifacts Saturday at a new exhibition in Thompson Library.
To celebrate the upcoming 150th anniversary of Ohio State’s 1870 establishment, University Archives is presenting “Scarlet and Gray: The Student Experience,” an exhibition that features artifacts representing student life through the years.
Tamar Chute, an exhibit curator and university archivist, curated the exhibition along with archivists Kevlin Haire and Tyler Osborne. Chute said the exhibition showcases what being a student at the university means.
Chute said early student organizations, dorm life, sororities, fraternities and student publications are all represented in the exhibition.
Though University Archives often collects paper items, Chute said the exhibition also includes mannequins dressed in fashion ranging from the 1870s to today, including past cheerleading and football uniforms.
“When you’re putting an exhibit together, you really want things that are eye-catching and three-dimensional to mix it up,” Chute said.
Chute added that people often think of archives in terms of research, but she’s excited to share her work with the public.
“The ability to reach out to anyone who walks through Thompson Library at any time throughout the entire semester is really exciting to me,” Chute said.
University Archives will present “Scarlet and Gray: The Student Experience” to celebrate Ohio State’s 150th anniversary. Credit: Amal Saeed | Photo Editor
Ken Aschliman, an exhibitions coordinator, said the exhibition ties together past life and traditions with current student life.
“I think that it’s going to really be accessible and interesting for lots of today’s students to see how life was different in the past,” Aschliman said.
In addition to working alongside Tamar to place and fit items in cases, Aschliman said the two also designed videos and music for the exhibition.
“I want to see how people interact with some of the rare items that we have from over a hundred years ago,” Aschliman said.
While the exhibition is only on display for the fall semester, it will be replaced in the spring by another exhibition curated by Chute, continuing to celebrate 150 years of Ohio State.
Chute said the new exhibit will focus on a “university then and now” and will look at how things have changed over time.
“Scarlet and Gray: The Student Experience” will open Saturday at Thompson Library in Room 125. The exhibition will be open until Jan. 19. The exhibition is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free for all.
