Special Collections Research Center

Patriot Pop Quiz: A ‘cool’ new campus

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:50:23 +0000

Patriot Pop Quiz: A ‘cool’ new campus Lauren Reuscher Wed, 09/11/2024 - 15:50

Think you know a lot about ��AV? Let’s find out if we can stump you with this Patriot Pop Quiz.

Question:

The Fairfax Campus officially opened 60 years ago on Sept. 14, 1964. It consisted of four small buildings, named North, South, East, and West. What amenity did these buildings offer, unlike any other college in the Washington, D.C., area at the time?

George Mason College, fall 1964. ��AV photograph collection, #R0120, Special Collections Research Center, ��AV Libraries

Answer:

When the Fairfax Campus opened its doors in September 1964, it was the only college in the capital region with buildings that were fully air-conditioned.

Though the temperatures were comfortable inside, some amenities still needed to be added to the campus buildings. Food service was not available at first, but efforts were quickly made to address that. During the first week of classes, vending machines were hastily set up in a study hall. George Mason would later set up a dining hall, the Ordinary, in the South Building (now called Krug Hall). The Ordinary was open until the University Union, now known as Student Union Building I, was built in 1974.

George Mason College students purchasing food items in the Ordinary, fall of 1964. Doug Nelms photograph collection, #R0152, Special Collections Research Center, ��AV Libraries

When the Fairfax Campus first opened, it welcomed 356 registered students, and the faculty included seven full-time and 18 part-time instructors. The first buildings still form the original quad as Finley, Krug, East, and West.

Students walk across a plank placed over a puddle between the East and South (today known as Krug) buildings during the fall of 1964.
Richard Sparks photograph collection, #C0521, Special Collections Research Center, ��AV Libraries

Discover more of the university's history

Topics

Patriot Pop Quiz

Around Mason (E-Files)

Special Collections Research Center

University Libraries

Dean Vinzé cuts ribbon at ��AV’s new Viet Nam exhibition

Greg Johnson — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:06:55 +0000

Dean Vinzé cuts ribbon at ��AV’s new Viet Nam exhibition Greg Johnson Mon, 04/15/2024 - 12:06

To mark the beginning of a broader academic connection between ��AV and leading universities in Viet Nam, the Costello College of Business at ��AV and University Libraries officially opened a special exhibition in partnership with the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and received their donation of rare books to Mason's collection. The exhibition, displayed in Fenwick Library’s Special Collections Research Center through August 15 consists of treasured cultural artifacts.

Costello College Dean Vinzé and special guests cut ribbon at new Viet Nam exhibition on Mason's Fairfax Campus. Photo by Jeffrey Porovich/Costello College of Business

On the morning of Tuesday, March 26, in Fenwick Library’s Reading Room, the ceremony commenced with a dancer performing the traditional lotus dance—the lotus being the national flower of Viet Nam. Following her performance, several women demonstrated the traditional costumes of Viet Nam from various regions and eras.

Attendees toured the Viet Nam exhibit in Mason's
Special Collections and Archives.
Photo by Jeffrey Porovich/Costello College of Business

JK Aier, senior associate dean of academic affairs and global engagement at the Costello College of Business, welcomed the guests to the ceremony. Among the dignitaries from the Viet Nam delegation were Honorable Madam Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, the foreign minister’s spouse; Honorable Madam Nguyen Thuy Hong, deputy chief of mission of Viet Nam Embassy; and Honorable Madam Tran Thi Bich Van, ambassador’s spouse.

Mason leaders in attendance included Ajay Vinzé, dean of the Costello College of Business; Anne Osterman, dean of University Libraries and university librarian; and Krista Uhrig, director of international enrollment partnerships in the Global Education Office. Also attending and instrumental in making the event possible were Anil Sharma, CEO of 22nd Century Technologies Inc; Sean Lam, president of Cross Border Ventures LLC and member of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce; and Cindy Shao, president of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

“I am delighted to be here with you today as it marks the start and acceleration of a strong partnership between ��AV and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam,” said Dean Vinzé, as he thanked the Viet Nam dignitaries for the gift. “The exhibition we will soon officially open, and the wonderful book donation will allow Mason faculty and students to get better acquainted with Viet Nam and strengthen our relationship.”

Dean Vinzé welcomed Honorable Madam Vu Thi Bich Ngoc to the stand for her keynote remarks on behalf of the embassy, as she expressed her gratitude and her excitement for the partnership that will empower students to learn more about Viet Nam and its rich history. Mason currently has 114 students enrolled from Viet Nam, with many more students of Vietnamese heritage. The exhibit continues the university’s tradition of celebrating and educating about different cultures within its diverse student body.

After the gift exchange between the embassy guests and deans, the crowd proceeded to the Special Collections Research Center for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. There, they toured the exhibit, viewing and learning about the displayed artifacts. Housed within the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia, the Costello College of Business continues to build new partnerships that have impact spanning across the world.

Topics

Costello College of Business News

Special Collections Research Center

University Libraries

Campus News

Strategic Direction

Learn more about the Special Collections Research Center

Learn more about the Costello College of Business

In This Story

Ajay Vinzé

JK Aier

Nobel laureate James M. Buchanan’s papers are now accessible to scholars

Colleen Rich — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 18:09:33 +0000

Nobel laureate James M. Buchanan’s papers are now accessible to scholars Colleen Rich Wed, 07/12/2023 - 14:09

Located in ��AV’s Special Collections Research Center in Fenwick Library, this collection consists of the papers of the Nobel Prize-winning economist James M. Buchanan and documents his career and research from the mid-20th century through the early 2000s. There are also materials chronicling his time at Mason’s Center for Study of Public Choice.

The work of organizing, describing, and rehousing (i.e., processing) the Buchanan papers was made possible by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant. Helmed by project archivist Rebecca Thayer, she and her students processed the 270 linear foot collection from spring of 2021 through May 2023.

“The SCRC wishes to thank Thayer for her excellent work guiding the project, as well as her student assistants Rachel Barton, Vilma Chicas Garcia, and Colin McDonald,” said SCRC Director Lynn Eaton. “The University Libraries would also like to thank the College of Humanities and Social Sciences for their support.”

We expect strong researcher interest in the collection. The guide to the collection, or finding aid, for the Buchanan collection is found here.

All reference inquiries should be directed to speccoll@gmu.edu. A celebration of the collection’s opening is being planned for Fall 2023.

Topics

Special Collections Research Center

University Libraries

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

National Endowment for the Humanities

Research

The Center for the Arts Offers "The Pirates of Penzance" Audiences an Immersive Journey into the World of Gilbert & Sullivan

Laura Mertens — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 17:48:31 +0000

The Center for the Arts Offers "The Pirates of Penzance" Audiences an Immersive Journey into the World of Gilbert & Sullivan Laura Mertens Tue, 11/01/2022 - 13:48

��AV Libraries Special Collections Research Center

Audience members attending Virginia Opera’s production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance on November 12 or 13 can begin their journey with the opera before the curtain even rises through a November 11-16 exhibit of authentic Gilbert & Sullivan memorabilia and discussions about the operetta.

Sheet Music for The Pirates of Penzance Galop features Richard Temple as the original Pirate King. Courtesy of David and Ann Stone.

The experience will begin as soon as individuals enter the main lobby of the Center for the Arts, where they will encounter an extensive display of authentic Gilbert & Sullivan memorabilia from ��AV Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center. ��AV benefactor David Stone has spent years gathering a treasure trove of items related to the wildly popular duo of English playwright and humorist W.S. Gilbert and English composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, who created 14 comic operettas together. In 2014, Stone and his wife Ann gifted part of their extraordinary collection—including original manuscripts, posters, photographs, letters, and many other items—to ��AV Libraries. The David and Annabelle Stone Gilbert and Sullivan collection, now housed in the in Fenwick Library, currently contains more than 200 items and donations will be ongoing through 2026.

Photograph of Marion Hood in The Pirates of Penzance (1880/1881). Courtesy of David and Ann Stone.

In 2017, the University held a series of events to celebrate the creative genius of Gilbert & Sullivan. With great enthusiasm, the collection was exhibited and appreciated on both the Fairfax and SciTech campuses, and a catalog of the works was also created. Since that time, the collection has not been on view to the public. Now, dozens of items related to The Pirates of Penzance operetta will be on display in the Center for the Arts, presenting a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the lives and works of this Victorian-era team, considered the forefathers of modern musical theater.

In addition to the exhibit, there will also be pre-performance discussions prior to both performances, featuring Virginia Opera Resident Scholar, Joshua Borths, in Monson Grand Tier on the third level of the Center for the Arts. The discussions will commence 45 minutes prior to the start of the performances, exploring insights about the music and production. A post-performance discussion led by Borths and featuring members of the cast and creative team will also follow the November 13 matinee.

The Gilbert & Sullivan exhibit and The Pirates of Penzance discussions are perfect supplements to Virginia Opera’s production, allowing audience members to become completely immersed in the world of Gilbert & Sullivan and fully appreciate the performance.

Topics

Special Collections Research Center

Retro Mason: Komodo dragon hatched 1992

Colleen Rich — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 20:01:50 +0000

Retro Mason: Komodo dragon hatched 1992 Colleen Rich Wed, 08/10/2022 - 16:01

In 1991, ��AV biology professor Geoffrey Birchard was asked to take half of a "clutch" of Komodo dragon eggs from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. In 1992, after incubating for 220 days in Robinson Hall on the Fairfax Campus, the very first Komodo dragon born in captivity outside of Indonesia hatched. Named Kraken, she was on exhibit at the National Zoo until her death in 2004.

Photo credit: Jessie Cohen, Smithsonian's National Zoo

The Mason Gazette, University and Student Publications, #R0128, Special Collections Research Center, ��AV Libraries.

Topics

Special Collections Research Center

Retro Mason: Student Apartments 1977

Colleen Rich — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 18:25:18 +0000

Retro Mason: Student Apartments 1977 Colleen Rich Wed, 07/06/2022 - 14:25

The Student Apartments, ��AV's first on-campus housing, opened in October 1977 and housed 498 students.

The two-, four-, and six-person apartments were originally reserved for exchange students, athletes, and students with physical disabilities. The remaining spaces were open for out-of-state and commuter students.

A student moving into the Student Apartments in 1977 captured by Broadside photographer Kerry Miller.

Construction delays caused the university to house students in Fairfax City hotel rooms and run shuttles to the Fairfax Campus. Five of the nine buildings were opened on October 15, 1977, and those residents were finally able to move in.

The Student Apartments were closed at the end of the spring 2018 semester and razed in July of that year.

You can learn more about the university’s first housing complex on Vault 217, the University Libraries' Special Collections Research center blog.

Photo credit: University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center, ��AV Photograph Collection, 1950s-1999

Did you know...

The land once occupied by Student Apartments now is home to a campus food forest.

Learn more about this new project >

See What Mason Housing Looks Like Now

Retro Mason: Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 1982

Colleen Rich — Tue, 24 May 2022 17:07:41 +0000

Retro Mason: Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 1982 Colleen Rich Tue, 05/24/2022 - 13:07

��AV’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), known as “The Patriot Battalion,” began in 1982 and frequently conducts training with other universities throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Here, ROTC cadets raise their hands inside a classroom during the 1980s.

Photo credit: ��AV Broadside Photograph Collection from the University Libraries’ Special Collection Research Center.

This image is part of the 50th Anniversary exhibit, Past, Present, Future: Mason’s Core Remains Constant, which showcases photos captured by student photographers working for Broadside, Mason's student newspaper from 1969 to 2014. On the lower level of Horizon Hall, the exhibit runs through December 2022.

Topics

Campus News

Retro Mason

Masonat50

Special Collections Research Center

Mason ROTC

New exhibition highlights 50 years of the Mason student experience

Colleen Rich — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 13:58:42 +0000

New exhibition highlights 50 years of the Mason student experience Colleen Rich Thu, 04/28/2022 - 09:58

As a part of ��AV’s 50th Anniversary celebration this year, the University Libraries’ Special Collection Research Center (SCRC) is sharing some documents, artifacts, and photography from the archives in its new exhibition “We Are Mason: A Student History.”

This exhibition, which goes beyond the university’s first 50 years as an independent university to its origins in 1957, uses images and physical objects to illustrate student life throughout the years, as well as show the development of university traditions, growth of the campus, and milestones in our institution’s history.

As the title suggests, Mason students, as both witnesses to and actors in the university's history, are the focus of the exhibition, said SCRC archivist Bob Vay, who curated the exhibition. But Vay is quick to point out it was a team effort.

The We Are Mason exhibition runs through December 2022. Photo courtesy of SCRC

“My colleagues in SCRC and I conceived the idea for this exhibition last fall. We spent a significant amount of time mulling over different angles and ideas,” said Vay, who is also an alum, with two degrees, a BA and MA in history, from Mason. “Our goal with this exhibition was to present more of a grassroots-level interpretation of our history.”

“While the entire staff of SCRC and our GRA Lillian Poole helped shape and finally put this together, we received a lot of help from other library departments, particularly Preservation Services and the Office of the Dean. Other units outside the Libraries, such as Print Services, Creative Services, and University Branding contributed significantly to the finished product.”

The exhibition features manuscript records, university publications, and photographs from three collections in the SCRC holdings:

The Richard Sparks photograph collection, which features 121 images of George Mason College life taken between 1961 and 1965 by then-Mason student Richard Sparks;
the Broadside photograph collection, R0135, contains more than 55,000 images captured by Mason students working for the Broadside student newspaper between 1973 and 2001; and
the ��AV photograph collection, R0120, contains more than 120,000 images taken by Mason's Office of University Relations from the mid-1950s to 2007.

Located in the SCRC Exhibit Space on the second floor of Fenwick Library, "We Are Mason: A Student History" runs through December 2022. The Libraries will host a reception on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 from 4-6 p.m. adjacent to the exhibition.

Topics

Campus News

Masonat50

University Libraries

Special Collections Research Center

Special Collections Research Center

Patriot Pop Quiz: A ‘cool’ new campus

Question:

Answer:

Discover more of the university's history

Related News

Topics

Dean Vinzé cuts ribbon at ��AV’s new Viet Nam exhibition

Topics

Learn more about the Special Collections Research Center

Learn more about the Costello College of Business

More Stories from the Costello College of Business

In This Story

Nobel laureate James M. Buchanan’s papers are now accessible to scholars

Topics

The Center for the Arts Offers "The Pirates of Penzance" Audiences an Immersive Journey into the World of Gilbert & Sullivan

��AV Libraries Special Collections Research Center

Topics

Retro Mason: Komodo dragon hatched 1992

Topics

Retro Mason: Student Apartments 1977

Did you know...

See What Mason Housing Looks Like Now

Related News

See More Retro Mason

More from Mason Spirit Magazine

Retro Mason: Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 1982

Topics

New exhibition highlights 50 years of the Mason student experience

Topics

Special Collections Research Center

Patriot Pop Quiz: A ‘cool’ new campus

Question:

Answer:

Discover more of the university's history

Related News

Topics

Dean Vinzé cuts ribbon at ����AV’s new Viet Nam exhibition

Topics

Learn more about the Special Collections Research Center

Learn more about the Costello College of Business

More Stories from the Costello College of Business

In This Story

Nobel laureate James M. Buchanan’s papers are now accessible to scholars

Topics

The Center for the Arts Offers "The Pirates of Penzance" Audiences an Immersive Journey into the World of Gilbert & Sullivan

����AV Libraries Special Collections Research Center

Topics

Retro Mason: Komodo dragon hatched 1992

Topics

Retro Mason: Student Apartments 1977

Did you know...

See What Mason Housing Looks Like Now

Related News

See More Retro Mason

More from Mason Spirit Magazine

Retro Mason: Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 1982

Topics

New exhibition highlights 50 years of the Mason student experience

Topics

Dean Vinzé cuts ribbon at ��AV’s new Viet Nam exhibition

��AV Libraries Special Collections Research Center