Local Learning: Education on the Mountain Around the University of the South, 1880-1971

08 March - 05 August 2022

Exploring the history of primary and secondary education on the Mountain, this exhibition showcases a variety of objects that reveal differing values, morals, goals, and missions among various local schools. Contrasting educational institutions and styles, as well as acknowledging the impact of gender, religion, space, and race, these objects demonstrate the integral role education had in bringing the Sewanee community together. Curated by Introduction to Museum Studies Students, Easter 2020.

Paul Caponigro: Impact & Influence

29 April - 10 December 2021

Photographs by Paul Caponigro, David Dennard, and Predip Malde. Curated by David Dennard. With thanks to the supporters and staff of the Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, Georgia.

Menagerie: Selections from the Tennessee Williams Collections at the University of the South

05 March 2020 - 31 March 2021

The Archives holds two distinct collections related to Tennessee Williams: a collection of personal, manuscript, and household items from his estate and a collection of materials submitted in fulfillment of literary rights agreements. The exhibit features materials from these collections.

As the owner of Tennessee Williams’ literary rights, the University of the South receives posters and playbills documenting Williams’ plays produced around the world. These items help demonstrate the international appeal of Williams’ work. This exhibit features posters from Japan, Germany, and other countries advertising productions such as The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire.

Also on display are items from the Williams’ estate. Manuscript materials and personal items along with artwork and household items from Williams’ Key West house and estate are highlighted in the exhibit. Some of the manuscript materials include his journals, scripts with hand-written notes, and his address book. The household goods range from the personal to the mundane, from a crocheted afghan to a toaster.

Skirts and Gowns: Celebrating the Legacy of Women at Sewanee

09 September 2019 – 28 February 2020

Commemorating the 50^th anniversary of women’s admission to the University of the South, this exhibition presented the history of women in Sewanee and the University. Visitors learned about the contributions and struggles of women as community members, as faculty and staff, and as students. It was a journey through archival treasures that revealed the rich experiences of women in our community. Curated by Introduction to Museum Studies students, Easter 2019.

Sewanee's Historic Houses

04 February - 31 July 2019

“Sewanee’s Historic Houses” exhibit opened with a talk on Thursday, February 7th, 2019 in the Lytle Room in University Archives. Chris Van de Ven, GIS Instructor and Landscape Analysis Lab manager, and Molly Elkins, C’18, presented an interactive map of historic houses in Sewanee, along with an ArcGIS driving tour of the dwellings. Bran and Cindy Potter, Virginia Craighill, and Nancy Gailor Cortner (represented by Leslie Richardson) spoke about their historic homes. The Sewanee Trust for Historic Preservation was a co-sponsor of the event.

Under the Microscope: An Exploration of Sewanee's Scientific Past

21 September 2018 – 22 January 2019

Comprising unique and distinctive archival treasures, this exhibition uncovered Sewanee’s educational and research endeavors pertaining to geology, archaeology, medicine, and more. Visitors learned about various Sewanee science departments and the people who left their mark on science at the University of the South between 1870 and 1987. Curated by Introduction to Museum Studies students, Easter 2018. YSR! Yea, Science is Right!

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Founded to Make Men: Explorations of Masculinity at the University of the South