150 Years of Tradition at Syracuse University
A selection of photographs, printed materials, and memorabilia documents the numerous traditions of Syracuse University. Whether they are old and long gone or newer, these traditions show us how we have rooted ourselves in our past and pass this heritage forward into the future.
Gimme an S!: A History of the Block Letter "S"
“Gimme and S!” charts the history of the Block "S" logo, which made its debut at Syracuse University in 1893. The birth of the Block “S” began a tradition that would produce one of the most recognizable logos in college sports today.
Changing Women's Fashion: A Look at Coeds' Clothing on SU's Campus from Pre-1900-1950s
This exhibition examines changing fashion trends among Syracuse University co-eds, including changes in hairstyles and accessories, and athletic, casual and formal wear on campus from the founding of the University (1870) until the close of the 1950s.
From the Waltz to the Jitterbug: Dances at Syracuse University, 1900-1960
Dances were a significant part of student life at Syracuse University in the first half of the twentieth century. This exhibition illustrates how dances affirmed campus and social traditions as well as unified classes, sororities, fraternities, and the SU student body as a whole.
SUNY ESF and SU: 100 Years of Collaboration
The University Archives offers a glimpse into the history of the partnership between Syracuse University and SUNY ESF with photographs, documents and other materials that highlight the symbiotic relationship that has endured for over 100 years.
Tip It, Frosh!: The First-Year Student through SU's History
The first-year experience at Syracuse University has been not only one of orientation and excitement but also steeped in history and tradition. This exhibition illustrates how beanies, dances, class rivalries, Freshman Weekend and other experiences all served to help the first-year student integrate into campus life.
Handle with Care: Glass Plate Negative and Lantern Slide Collections at the SU Archives
The glass plate negatives and lantern slides in the University Archives’ collections provide remarkable glimpses into our University and local history. View a variety of images, including the city of Syracuse, soldiers training on campus during World War I, and University buildings, and learn how glass plate negatives and lantern slides represent a moment in the history of photography itself.
50 For 50 Years!
In 1959 the Syracuse University Archives was founded with the hiring of the first University Archivist. Over the years, the Archives has grown to include a wide variety of collections that capture the different eras of the University since its founding in 1870. To celebrate the University Archives’ 50th anniversary, 50 notable items from these collections have been presented online.
HOODOO! The Syracuse/Colgate Football Rivalry
From 1891 to 1961 there existed an intense rivalry between Syracuse and Colgate. The wide array of photographs, memorabilia, printed materials and papers presented here document the traditions of Colgate Weekend, the legend of the “HOODOO,” and, at the time, the most anticipated football game of the season at Syracuse.
Ivan Mestrovic's Legacy at SU
Ivan Mestrovic (1883-1962) was sculptor-in-residence and professor of sculpture at Syracuse University from 1947 to 1955. This exhibition highlights Mestrovic's connection to campus: the pieces created and on display here; studios where he worked; Mestrovic exhibitions; his impact on students; and books published by SU Press.
The Art of the Onondagan
Each new volume of Syracuse University’s yearbook - the Onondagan - reflects the student experience of a particular time at the University. The artistry of each year’s book is also of its time. This exhibition explores some of the unique Onondagan artwork from yearbooks published between 1878 and 1970.
Dancing on Cobblestones: The Photography of Gerda Peterich
Gerda Peterich (1906-1974) was a lecturer in art history and director of the Photographic Archives at Syracuse University from 1964 to 1968. She was well known as a photographer of architecture, especially cobblestone structures, as well as dances and dancers. This online exhibition includes a sampling of her photographs, which make up part of the Gerda Peterich Papers at the University Archives.
Mind, Heart and Hand: A Tribute to Nursing at Syracuse University
Mind, Heart and Hand offers a retrospective on the history of nursing education at Syracuse University, upon the occasion of the closing of the University’s School of Nursing at the end of the spring 2006 semester.
Equal to All Persons: Minorities in SU's History
Since its founding in 1870, Syracuse University has endeavored to uphold the values of diversity and access to educational opportunities for all students, as outlined by Jesse T. Peck, the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees, in his first inaugural address to faculty. Equal to All Persons highlights the wealth of information on the history of diversity at Syracuse found in the University Archives’ collections.
Co-ed from the Start: Women Students at Syracuse University in the 19th Century
At the 1870 inauguration of Syracuse University, Rev. Jesse Peck stated “the conditions of admission shall be equal to all persons... there shall be no invidious discrimination here against woman.... brains and heart shall have a fair chance.” This exhibition looks at the experience of some of the first women students at Syracuse, a University proud to be co-ed from the start.
50 Years Gone: Yates Castle Remembered
This exhibition traces the history of Yates Castle from its construction in 1852 as the private residence of Cornelius T. Longstreet, through the acquisition of the Castle by Syracuse University in 1905, to its final role as the home of the School of Journalism (1934-1953) and the Castle’s eventual demolition in 1954.
150 SU Commencements
This exhibition celebrates the pomp and tradition of graduation ceremonies at Syracuse University since it graduated its first nineteen students in 1872. Photographs, programs and other materials illustrate the growing class size, changing venues, and notable honorary degree recipients over the University’s history.
The 100th Anniversary of the Daily Orange
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Daily Orange in 2003, this exhibition includes photographs, printed materials, and documents that trace the beginnings and changes of the University’s student newspaper.
From Fraternity to Alumni: 100 Years of the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center
What we now know as the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center was originally built as the first fraternity house of Delta Kappa Epsilon, Syracuse’s very first fraternity chapter. This exhibition traces the history of the building from fraternity house to Alumni and Faculty Center.
Remembering the GI Bulge
This exhibition explores the dramatic impact of the GI Bill and the subsequent influx of veterans on the Syracuse University campus following World War II (1945-1950). From the University Archives, the materials on view document this critical period in the University’s history and the associated changes to the campus landscape, social and cultural life, and academic programs.
