FSU Artifacts Sought for Sesquicentennial Exhibit

In celebration of Fairmont State University’s Sesquicentennial, the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center plans to create an exhibit featuring FSU history and traditions this spring.

“The Folklife Center is proud to celebrate the history, traditions and culture of this great University through a special exhibit. We need assistance from the Falcon family to identify artifacts that would help share the stories and lore of the past 150 years,” said Dr. Judy P. Byers, Executive Director of the Folklife Center.

Students, alumni, employees and community members are invited to submit by March 1 information about FSU artifacts that they would like to loan to be included as part of the historic display at the Folklife Center. For example, a Fairmont State College beanie cap has been donated by the family of an alumnus to represent that prominent tradition from the 1940s through 1970s.

Students in the “Folk Arts” class taught by guest faculty member Patricia Musick and students in the “Introduction to Museum Studies” course taught by Dr. Marian Hollinger, Professor Emerita for the School of Fine Arts and long-time curator of the Brooks Gallery on campus, will help develop and curate the exhibit, along with Byers. From the information submitted through the FSU web site, they will select items to be used in the exhibit and will contact those who wish to loan the items. (Due to space limitations, it may not be possible to use all suggested items.) For more information, call (304) 367-4403.

Founded in 1865 as the state’s first private normal school in West Virginia, FSU celebrates its Sesquicentennial in 2015. Commemorative events throughout the year are planned, culminating in the dedication of a time capsule during Homecoming 2015.

SesquicentennialFolklife CenterJudy P. ByersPatricia MusickMarian Hollinger