Turf, Tickets, Traditions: A Look Into Sewanee Sports History

15 April - 02 August 2024

Athletics at Sewanee have a long, deep history that reaches beyond our wins and losses. This exhibition uncovers forgotten stories in Sewanee athletics such as the former synchronized swimming team, a proposed ski hill, and a plane crash at the golf course, but also touches upon our greatest sporting moments on and off the field. In spite of many changes, the fans remain constant. Sewanee sports bring together generations of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members, who all agree: Yea, Sewanee’s Right! Curated by the Introduction to Museum Studies students, Easter 2022.

Title IX: Fifty Years of Sewanee Women's Athletics

The passage of Title IX in June of 1972 guaranteed all people the right to equal treatment in educational settings, regardless of sex. This decision came only three years after the first class of women was admitted to Sewanee.  When Title IX was passed, only one varsity sport was available to women at Sewanee. Within a decade, Sewanee women's athletics went from an informal and limited program to a robust assortment of varsity, club, and intramural sports informed by the interest of women students. Curated by Lillian Eels, C'22.

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.