During the University of Arkansas’ sesquicentennial celebration Come As You Arkansas, the University Libraries hosted an event where campus community members could write what they love about the U of A today on archival paper, to be stored in a time capsule that will open in 2071. Those messages are available for viewing in the University of Arkansas Libraries Special Collections Division, located on Level 1 of Mullins Library, through the remainder of the 2021-22 academic year before being sealed. Special Collections is currently open from 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment.
“Normally at events, we are only able to archive impersonal items, such as flyers and programs,” said Amy Allen, university archivist. “It’s great that people were willing to share personal thoughts at Come As You Arkansas, which we will be able to preserve and share with future Razorbacks.”
Messages in the time capsule are as varied as the people who submitted them, some including text only, while others include drawings. The public is welcome to view these items until May 14, 2022, after which they will be sealed and stored in the University Archives.
The University Archives is the repository for non-current official materials of enduring value that document the institutional memory of the University of Arkansas campus at Fayetteville. The purpose of the University Archives is to document the history of the university and provide source material to administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the community.
Special Collections supports the research, teaching and learning mission of the University of Arkansas by collecting, preserving and providing access to unique and rare materials.