Have you seen the two new display cases with UM memorabilia in the Ashe lobby? They were placed in early September to welcome guests to the University. It was a colleague in the Office of the President, who kindly gave us the opportunity. All she asked was to fill them with memorabilia that depict the history and tradition of the “U.”
Below please see the description I wrote for the exhibit on the left.
“Mrs. Wilna Koch, the author of the essay, and her husband, A. W. Koch, the Director of Housing and Bureau, were in charge of student housing at the university in the early years. In 1927, they took over an eight-unit apartment on Santander Avenue and turned it into the first women’s dormitory. In 1939, Mom Koch moved on to manage San Sebastian Women’s Dormitory.
The students adored them and affectionately called them “Mom and Pop Koch” because they treated the students as their own children. The 24-page essay is a fascinating testimony on the development of student housing at the University of Miami from the 1920s to 1950s under the leadership of the first two presidents, Bowman Foster Ashe and Jay F.W. Pearson.”
FYI, this essay is available in Richter’s general collection as well as in the University Archives’ permanent collection. Please contact me for a PDF copy of the publication.
Also, here is the description I wrote for the second exhibit on the right.
“Wearing a dink was a popular campus tradition around the United States until the mid-20th century. A dink usually refers to a beanie cap, often in green, worn by freshmen to distinguish them from upperclassmen. The tradition was also embraced at the University of Miami from the beginning. The HandBook 1928-1929, published in the third academic year, clearly states that “Freshmen shall wear the green caps designated by the Sophomore Vigilance Committee at all times except in attendance at formal affairs.”
According to the images found in several historical publications, the design of the dink changed from the green cap to the white brim hat displayed in the case during five decades of growth and transformation of the University. Dr. William Butler, former Vice President for Student Affairs from the 1960s to 1990s, wrote in his epoch 2008 publication “Embracing the World: The University of Miami from Cardboard College to International Acclaim” that “freshman dinks were discontinued in 1970,” because it lost the original appeal to the students of the 1960s.”
How long and how many library staff does it take to fill two small cases? I think there are 10 colleagues in three library departments involved and it took us three months to install the exhibits! Given the dimension of the cases, selection of the two items and writing the labels were not so difficult. But, it was my colleagues in Preservation and Conservation who took the time to ensure a safe environment for the exhibits and to provide the museum-quality display. The Creative Services colleagues worked even harder to have locks put on the cases, as well as designed and installed the attractive signage for the exhibits.
I am grateful for the exposure and the talented colleagues who make us possible to offer exhibitions in the library. Go ‘Canes!
University of Miami Archives -- Let's Archive It 