Throughout these 100 years of Homecomings, while some OHIO traditions have come and stayed or come and gone, one constant has remained: alumni returning to campus to reminisce about their time as students and to share these memories with their families and fellow graduates.
For that reason, several years ago, the Ohio University Archives and Alden Library began hosting a hands-on, 19-table Homecoming display of original primary sources that documented the rich and unique culture and history of student life at OHIO.
“The items in the display were intended to provide something for everyone; a context, a backdrop or a catalyst for memories to be remembered and stories to be told and retold,” says University Archivist Bill Kimok.
For Kimok, the most enjoyable part of the Homecoming display experience has been watching alumni focus on their favorite parts of the display, “and then listening to them tell their stories to their friends, to their partners, to their kids, or to anyone else who happens to be there.”
With plans for a virtual Homecoming 2020, Kimok and his colleagues are debuting a new take on the annual Homecoming display.
“We wanted to give the alumni and the students access to all of the same sorts of materials that they have seen at past Homecomings. We already have so many of these materials digitized—the newspapers, the yearbooks, the photographs, and so much more,” Kimok explains, noting that much of OHIO’s past is available to the public 24/7 through University Libraries’ Digital Archives.
To emphasize this virtual availability of University history, Kimok and fellow staff at University Libraries are creating an interactive online map of the Athens Campus that will allow alumni and students to share memories of their time at OHIO by “pinning” images and stories to corresponding locations on the map.
“Map visitors will have an opportunity to share their special campus memories by either posting their personal photos to the map or exploring the University’s digital archives to uncover images that represent their OHIO experience,” says Erin Wilson, digital imaging specialist.
Links on the webpage will point to a treasure trove of other materials that are stored in OHIO’s digital archives collections, further aiding alumni in remembering their special times on campus. And, along the way, space will be provided for graduates and students to share their stories.
To access “Mapping Memories: OHIO Bobcats Share Their Stories,” click here. The map and opportunity to contribute to it will remain available beyond Homecoming Week.
Adding to this year’s virtual Homecoming experience, on Monday, Oct. 5, University Libraries will release on its YouTube channel a recording of a presentation by Bill Kimok highlighting the history of student expression at Ohio University. All are invited to watch that presentation at their leisure and then join University Libraries staff at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, for a short highlight of the presentation, followed by an introduction of the “Mapping Memories” experience and a live question-and-answer session with Kimok and Erin Wilson. This online event is free and open to all. Registration is required and available by clicking here. Once registered, attendees will receive an email with a link to the event, which will be held via Microsoft Teams.
Feature image: The 2020 University Archives Homecoming Display is going virtual and will feature an interactive online map of the Athens Campus, inviting individuals to share their OHIO memories by “pinning” images and stories to locations on the map.
