University Libraries Events and Exhibitions

Recent Events

What's in the Box? Archiving the Debates

Now that the vice presidential debates are over, it’s time to box them up!

Washington University has been asked to host debates in the last five presidential elections—more than any other institution. For each of those, the University Archives has been charged with collecting anything and everything related to the debates and organizing it for posterity’s sake, including correspondence, flyers, signage, T-shirts, campaign swag, and even samples of the debate-floor carpet!

Check out this slideshow and listen to Sonya Rooney, University Archivist, discuss the role of the Libraries in archiving the recent vice presidential debates, and see photos of debate souvenirs from years past. October 6, 2008

Missed the Sambo symposium? Check out the slideshow!

Over 150 people attended "Little Black Sambo: Children's Literature, Race, and Century of Controversy," a special symposium examining Helen Bannerman's controversial children's book, The Story of Little Black Sambo, originally published in 1899. The symposium, which took place Sept. 12-13, was sponsored by the University Libraries and the Center for the Humanities.

Click here to view a slideshow of the event.

If you missed the symposium, there's still time to check out the exhibition. Original artwork, toys, games, and related objects from the Libraries' newly acquired Little Black Sambo Collection will remain on display in the Olin Library Ginkgo Reading Room and Grand Staircase Lobby through October 17. September 25, 2008