Collegiate Times

specialcollectionsCenter041609

The library's archive division has been collecting materials related to the tragedy since April 2007.

Project planning began shortly after on April 16 with the help of consultants from the Library of Congress.

Tamara Kennelly, university archivist and digital librarian, said the archive consists of condolence materials received by the university after April 16.

"The archive includes banners, posters, books, artwork, textiles and memorabilia of various kinds, photographs, proclamations and resolutions, cranes, poetry and many cards and letters," Kennelly said. "We have physical items, which are available to students and researchers and the public at large through the Special Collections reading room on the first floor of Newman Library."

Aaron Purcell, director of Special Collections, said he has been working with other archivists to learn how to preserve the April 16 items.

"People really revealed things emotionally, and that is evident through the cards and documents," Purcell said. "We have tried our best to preserve the items that people have made to express their condolences."

Purcell added that Special Collections for April 16 totals approximately 300 feet of material.

"We want to have some kind of evidence for people to remember, not scenes from the news and graphic pictures," Purcell said. "We have moved the material back on campus from last year, but we have still not completed the collection."

Kennelly said the archives can be accessed on the Web through the Special Collections library Web site.

"At this time, approximately 2,100 images are available online," Kennelly said. "Eventually, an additional 4,000-plus images will be added to this collection. The university library is in the process of determining what the best system will be for the long-term storage of these images and other digital materials."

Greg Beecher, associate director for administrative services of University Unions and Student Activities, said UUSA has been providing services to Tech students since April 16, 2007.

"University Unions and Student Activities provides programs and services to Tech students that are educational, entertaining and service related," Beecher said. "Many items dealing with April 16 were sent to UUSA as a result of being a student union on campus. Many of the student unions across the United States sent messages to us about the tragedy and how they are handling it. As we began to receive the messages of good will and encouragement, we began posting the April 16 items in the building for everyone from the community to see."

Purcell said he was not here when April 16 occurred, but the archivists at Tech talked to other universities who have gone through similar tragedies.

"My understanding is that within a day or two of the event, archivists here were talking to other archivists, literally, all around the world," Purcell said. "There are other colleges out there, such as Syracuse University and Texas A&M, who have collections related to similar experiences, and it is fortunate that they have experienced things of this nature before so they can help us in what to do. It is just unfortunate that we, along with the other schools, had to go through such a tragedy."

Purcell said he wants to make the collections something people can access in future years.

"There are many people across the world wanting to know the emotional response that came after the events of April 16," Purcell said. "We may, over the course of time, continue to collect items that are sent in, but it would only be related to the anniversaries. The April 16 collection covers many different disciplines, which can give people many points of view when looking back on it."

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