The Osmond D. Putnam photographs (ARL-081) provide a glimpse into the close of the 19th century as the Adirondacks moved from an isolated wilderness to a permanently settled part of the state.
The Osmond D. Putnam photographs (ARL-081) provide a glimpse into the close of the 19th century as the Adirondacks moved from an isolated wilderness to a permanently settled part of the state.
The Osmond D. Putnam photographs (ARL-081) provide a glimpse into the close of the 19th century as the Adirondacks moved from an isolated wilderness to a permanently settled part of the state.
John Bigelow (November 25, 1817 - December 19, 1911), Union College class of 1835, lived a dynamic life during a period where there was rapid social and industrial change. During his long life, he was fortunate enough to have traveled extensively around the world for leisure and for business. This digital exhibit aims to delight audiences by showcasing various trips Bigelow and his family made between 1850 and 1873. Through his letters and other collection materials from the John Bigelow papers (SCA-0022), visitors can accompany Bigelow around Europe and the Caribbean to learn more about global travel during the nineteenth century.
Curated from rare books found in the department of Special Collections and Archives, "Sex, Religion, and Politics: The Heterogeneous Library of John Bigelow" is a single case exhibit that presents a diverse assortment of books from the personal library of John Bigelow (1817-1911, UC 1835). The books on display range from 1700 to 1903, showcase eight different languages, and tell a story about how his personal and professional reading choices were partly responsible for shaping his open-mindedness and forward-thinking decision making.
Union College and Schenectady have played host to countless stories over the campus’s centuries-long history. Since the invention of photography, members of the campus community have documented this history and their stories visually. Many such photographs are housed in the Picture File (SCA-1206), a collection of thousands of images preserved in the Special Collections and Archives department.
The James Joyce collection at Union College is housed in Schaffer Library's Special Collections and Archives. A small, yet rich collection of rare materials, the collection offers researchers access to unique items related to international Bloomsday events, first and rare book editions, ephemera, and pamphlets from American and European libraries.
This exhibit features selections from John James Audubon’s Birds of America, a collection of 435 life-size watercolors reproduced from hand-engraved plates and printed between 1827 and 1838. Eliphalet Nott acquired Union College’s copy of Birds of America directly from Audubon himself in 1844.
Night of the Living Radio: WRUC Past and Present celebrates the 101st anniversary of WRUC. The exhibit showcases materials from the WRUC collection and includes vinyl records, radio equipment, ephemera, and recordings of broadcasts that visitors may listen to on their phones.
The Radio Workshop was formed in 1939. With the advent of carrier current, a broadcasting technique which uses low-power transmissions over a select geographic range, David Borst helped establish the first broadcast on September 22, 1941. This became known as the Union Broadcasting System which sent broadcasts via an electrical power line running from the Electrical Engineering Building to North College.(18) The success of the broadcast helped unify all the radio groups on campus and in March 1942, they were combined to form the Union College Radio Society (UCRS).(19)
On October 14, 1920, a radio broadcast came from Union College via “wireless telephone,” as reported in the Schenectady Gazette. This was the first broadcast for public entertainment in the United States.(1) The development of radio at Union College can be attributed to many individuals, many of whom worked for General Electric and cooperated with students and faculty on campus. As it developed, it encountered frequent interruptions and changes.
By the 1960s, the station sorely needed a technical overhaul. WRUC hoped to become an FM station, however, such a system required the approval of both the FCC and Union’s Board of Trustees. In 1963, the Board of Trustees denied the station’s proposal to become an FM station.(24)
The first broadcasts of the Radio Club consisted of sending transmissions in Morse code and streaming phonograph records, and soon after it began broadcasting campus events such as athletic games and dances. Call letters were changed to W2XBN for a few years and changed to W2GSB in 1932.(11) The Radio Club engaged in famous historic events, such as, on May 6, 1921, a live broadcast from an antenna rigged up to a baby carriage and wheeled through downtown Schenectady. This was quite possibly the world’s first portable broadcast receiver.(12)
To celebrate the 101st anniversary of WRUC, we offer this exhibit highlighting the importance of Union College’s radio history. This was the first radio station in New York State and one of the earliest in the nation. We hope you are inspired to tune in at 89.7 FM.
This exhibit was inspired by the 50 year anniversary of coeducation and celebrates the impact women have made throughout the course of Union's history. Women have long been involved in the history of this institution, influencing its structure through contributions to areas such as labor, finances, and educational developments, among others. These contributions have not always been at the forefront of the historical record, but they have been instrumental, visible or not.
Union was the first liberal arts college to offer engineering in the United States. To celebrate 175 years of engineering education, the Special Collections and Archives Department of Schaffer Library has put together a digital exhibition which explores how the discipline of engineering influenced and shaped the College’s reputation as a partner in modern science and technology - from the 19th century to the present day. In addition, engineering alumni will be able to share their personal experiences to be kept for posterity.
The goal of the exhibit is to recognize the sisterhood of students whose accomplishments have helped shaped Union’s success. With courage and commitment, these women and others, alongside students of color, helped build the foundation for a more diverse student body, faculty and leadership at Union College. Today, women represent 47 percent of enrolled students.
13 March 1954:
The Viet Minh, a group formed by Ho Chi Minh to fight for Vietnam's independence from France, begin their siege on the French Garrison at Dien Bien Phu. By early May, the Viet Minh take control of the base.
