Power Ranking Raynor Libraries Fall Exhibits
By Aaron Hovind
Okay okay, I’m not going to power rank the libraries exhibits because our staff worked hard on putting these together, but you’re here! Look right above the title, this is a four-minute read. Hear me out. Students, by now you’ve probably tanked all your midterms. And faculty, you probably just finished grading said tanked midterms, so why not give yourselves an excuse/break to visit Club Raynor more often? You both need it. Alumni, I’m sorry, you’re gonna have to find your own way into the library to see these exhibits, but I can assist you for a small fee.
Anyways, here, in no particular order, are the three best fall exhibits Raynor Library is housing right now:
Changing Shape, Enduring Spirit: The Evolution of Marquette’s Built Environment
Located in the main hallway on the third floor of Raynor, (It’s not as scary as you think, I promise) this exhibit covers the history of Marquette’s buildings and spaces since its founding in 1881. The exhibit is broken down into five different areas: Building Spaces, Student Spaces, Athletic Spaces, Academic Spaces, and Spaces for the Formation of Heart and Mind. Each section chronicles the university’s unique hangout spots, study areas, classrooms, dormitories, and much more that gave Marquette its character. From the Avalanche Bar, to McCormick Hall, to the St. Joan of Arc Chapel, and back to Real Chili, check out the progression of Marquette’s campus through the years by photos from our University Archives collections!
The Charles M. Noll Gem and Mineral Collection
Let’s get this straight, these are minerals, not rocks. Next time you head over to the Brew @ the Bridge, why not take a look at these gorgeous and literal gems on display on the 2nd floor of Raynor? Generously donated by proud MU alumnus Charles M. Noll, this collection of minerals features findings from all over the world, including gypsum from Australia, calcite from Missouri, and pyrite from Spain! There are three separate cases housing all sorts of gems. Big & small, sharp & dull, smooth & rough, colorful & meh — you get the idea. Even if its for just a brief moment, take a look at the collection to see just how pleasing to the eye they really are.
Complicated History and Critical (Re)presentations: Native America in Rare Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries
Finally, the last exhibit in this list, located in the Department of Special Collections on the third floor, focuses on the problematic history of texts about Native Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries. Not until European colonization of the Americas and assimilation of its indigenous people had finished, were texts about the history and practices of Native Americans published. The texts on display in the exhibit were written by European colonists, and so are written from their biased perspective, with little to no actual Native American voice to be found. Some of these texts, however, offer beautiful paintings of the indigenous peoples and activities, as well as information of maps and outlines of where many tribes were located. The goal of this exhibit is to put these works in contemporary context, showing their shortcomings as well as their beauty and value to learning, and offer others a chance to view these texts from the 19th and 20th centuries firsthand.
What’s even better about these displays is that they are going to be up all throughout the fall semester and then some, meaning you have so much time to visit each one. I went to check these three killer exhibits out, and now my life has changed for the better. They’re short, they’re sweet, and they’re free.
But seriously, don’t be afraid to go for a walk inside the library and learn yourself something, you’ll be happy you did.
And Alumni, just talk to the kind workers at the visitors desk, and they will help you in, hassle free. :)
