While Extravaganza 90 will celebrate the first 90 years of TheUniversity of Memphis today, one new addition to the campus willpermanently showcase The University's history.
The new Alumni Heritage Room in the renovated old BristerLibrary will display approximately 170 artifacts in the initialexhibits, Douglas Mayo, U of M alumnus and chair of the HeritageRoom Committee said.
"We have about 300 artifacts in all, but we can't displayeverything at once," said Mayo, who graduated from The Universityin 1939 and is a member of the Association of RetiredEmployees.
The Alumni Heritage Room is still under construction, and theopening date is currently under speculation, Drew Schmitz,communications specialist for Physical Plant and Planning said.
"We are not sure when the building will be open, but therenovations are coming along very well," Schmitz said, referring tothe $10 million restoration of Wilder Tower and BristerLibrary.
However, Mayo said the Heritage Room Committee has arranged tohave about 30 sample displays temporarily set up in the lobby ofthe Mike Rose Theatre today for students, faculty and staff to viewduring the 90th anniversary celebration.
"The fire marshal will not allow us to use the building at all,even temporarily, until it is completely finished," said MartyAlberg, executive assistant to the president.
In the Heritage Room, the artifacts will be grouped into sixcollections, most named for the people who donated them, includingCecil C. Humphreys; R.M. "Bill" Robison; Virginia McBride,secretary to former U of M President Jack Smith; Frank Magoffin,The U of M's first distinguished alumnus; and Andrew Settles.
The last collection is a group of artifacts from a small museumthat was housed in the Administration Building until the 1970s,when the artifacts were placed into storage.
Some of the artifacts include a diploma and pictures of studentswith the faculty from one of the first graduating classes when TheUniversity was a two-year school, a yearbook with leather bindingfrom 1916 and a scrapbook from one of the early fraternities oncampus.
"We have a very excellent collection of annuals," Mayo said.
The artifacts also include a collection of U of M sportsmemorabilia, including the 1938 "undefeated and untied" footballteam, Mayo said.
Alberg said the Alumni Heritage Room will be a welcome additionto The U of M campus.
"Part of what being 90 is about is remembering where we were,"Alberg said.
