Early in the 2004-2005 academic year, the Archives staff devoted much of its time to developing a 75th Anniversary exhibit proposal and presentation for President Kimmich.
Preparation for a potential exhibit began with the staff's preparing a PowerPoint presentation for President Kimmich, outlining their plans. Using digital photography, Photoshop, and Slava Polishchuk's ability to create scale models, they were able to convey the importance of such an exhibit.
The president approved the project and provided $20,000 to underwrite it. Immediately the staff began conducting research, selecting materials, meeting with exhibit fabricators, and working with Publications and Public Relations on related materials. This became an all-consuming effort involving endless meetings and tight deadlines.
The Archives staff was assisted by Joseph LoGuirato (Office of Publications), who created the template and artistic flair for more than 20 enormous double-sided panels which were placed in the Library and around campus. The Carpentry Shop and the Paint Shop built bases for the panels, while the funding from the President allowed us to order three new artifact cases, a computer kiosk, and mannequins and platforms for the costumes.
The exhibit opened on May 10, following the College's 75th anniversary party on the quad. President Kimmich and Barbra Higginbotham spoke, then cut the ribbon.
Life-sized cut-outs of Presidents Kimmich and Boylan placed in front of simulated College gates greeted our guests. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni were amazed by the depth and breadth of the Archives' holdings. AIT staff set up a camera station to take photographs of people posing with the two presidents, while a digitized film of the early campus showing LaGuardia and FDR played on the plasma screen. A beautiful commemorative booklet was produced by campus publications. There are plans to have the exhibit travel once it ends its run at BC in December 2005.
The Archives staff also added a new 75th Anniversary feature to the plasma screens in the Library, a series called "This Week In BC History." As part of the celebration, a calendar of historical events is posted every week, along with a different illustrative historical photo.
