University History Council (UHC) Minutes, September 30, 2010
Present: Jay Gaidmore (chair), Bob Anthony, Susan Ballinger, John Blythe, Kat Butler, Abir Chatterjee, Jill
Coleman, Anne Douglas, Stephen Fletcher, Missy Julian-Fox, Elizabeth Hull, Linda Jacobson, Tim
McMillan, Cecelia Moore, Peggy Myers, Judy Panitch, Natasha Smith, Jason Tomberlin. Not present:
David Brown, Speed Hallman, Wendy Hillis, Eileen McGrath, Rich Szary, Tim West.
I.
Introductions
ll. New Members : Jay introduced the new members of the group who were present: Jill Coleman of
Facilities Planning, Anne Douglas of Historic Properties, and Cecelia Moore of the Chancellor’s
Office.
lll. UHC website: Jay has spoken with Andy Jackson and Tim Shearer about an online site for placing
minutes and other information for committee members and others looking for information about
the work of the UHC.
IV. Taskforces and Subcommittees:
1. University History Portal – This group (Jason, Jay, Elizabeth, and Jill Sexton) is still working to
make University-related materials in all collections available through one portal. Elizabeth is
working on this project as part of a SILS class she is taking. We need to think about a name for
the portal. The one at NC State is “Historical State.” Ours is currently named “History on the
Hill.”
2. Online Campus Walking Tours – Jay asked for volunteers to start discussing this and creating
content (photographs and information) for the mobile walking tours/web site. A lot of content
is already available in the Virtual Museum, which features an interactive map and provides a
good starting place. Natasha asked about the workflow for this project as there is currently no
staff devoted to it. The group will need to discuss how this project will be coordinated between
DocSouth and those providing content. Elizabeth mentioned that she believes Nick Graham (NC
Digital Heritage Center) was working with NC State to develop the programming behind the site.
John commented that it was his understanding that we would make a web site first, later
moving the content to be accessible to mobile devices later.
In addition to buildings, other features of the tour/web site could include a graveyard tour. Tim
McMillan volunteered to work on this group and to solicit help from students for
programming /content.
V. Exhibits
1. “Homefront on the Hill: Chapel Hill and the University during the Civil War” – Susan reported
on the work of this committee (Jay, Susan, Linda, Jason, Holly, Biff). This exhibition, a
collaboration between the NCC, UA, and SHC, will open on January 13. Historian LeeAnn Whites
will speak at the March program. Frank Fee, who specializes in the history of media in the
JOMC, has his class working with the exhibit group to study how people in Chapel Hill received
their news during the war. They will provide content for one exhibition case.
2. Student Organizations Exhibit: Linda reported about the upcoming exhibition “From Di-Phis
to Loreleis: Two Centuries of Student Organizations at UNC.” This is a collaborative project
between the UA and the NCC. Kevin Cherry will deliver the the Gladys Coates University
History Lecture on April 7, which will focus on the Di-Phis.
Suggestions for the exhibit committee (Linda, Jay, John) from the rest of the UHC included
contacting Erika Lindemann for information about nineteenth century organizations, and using
the first footage of now-famous actor Billy Crudup on STV (“Off the Cuff,” General College,
1986) in the exhibition. The exhibition will go online soon after the hiring of an assistant
keeper/digital projects librarian for the Gallery.
VI. Digital Projects
1. "Picturizing the University": Stephen explained that “Picturizing the University” is an
umbrella phrase for the effort to get our university-related photos on the web. The
Photographic Archives is now putting finding aids online for P4, UNC photos; P13, Collier Cobb
turn of the century photos; and Jock Lauterer’s collection of photos taken as DTH photographer
in the 1960s.
Patrick Cullom is processing the University Photo Lab photos which will soon be included.
Biff H., Stephen, and Systems staff are still investigating how we might use OMEKA for creating
web pages.
Responding to a question about how many old maps Facilities holds, Jill reported that Facilities
has been transferring old maps and landscapes to the Library when they find them. Most maps
currently in their possession are not old and are still in use. Natasha mentioned that we have a
contemporary interactive map and it would be nice to layer it with an older map. Jill added that
UNC has a lack of exterior maps—maps traditionally have been associated with buildings rather
than landscapes.
2. Carolina Story: Virtual Museum
a. Speaker Ban – there is an intern from NC State working on this topic in the expectation that
this information will be included in a web site. There are primary and secondary materials and
hearings on tape available. Jan Paris of the Conservation Lab agreed to use preservation money
to convert some of these tapes.
Cecelia reported about the Chancellor’s plan for a monument on McCorkle Place to students
who fought the Speaker Ban law. This will hopefully happen in 2013. Bob is helping with the
content, shape and form of that project.
b. University Day -- Jay discussed his wish to create an online exhibition to mark this day,
although having it in time for this year is out of the question. Natasha reminded the group
of the idea from a couple of years ago about an exhibition about UNC-Duke collaboration.
Peggy mentioned that funding may be available through the Robertson Scholars program.
Other ideas – University sports, development of athletics on campus, going back to the
beginning of the University. Old photos are available in the Battle Album. The Athletic
Department could be approached about this. Susan rescued scrapbooks from Woolen Gym.
There is a ton of material in NCCPA on intramurals.
c. Other – Black Student Movement project should be ready to go up next month. Includes
material from the Yackety-Yack and Black Ink.
VII. Public Programming
1. Gridiron Glory, October 2 and 30, 2010 – will take place October 2 and October 30. This
event will feature clips from historic football games with narration by Woody Durham. There is
also a display of football-related memorabilia in Pleasants on those days. This is similar to the
activities Wilson sponsors on graduation weekend – slide shows of photographs and displays
of ephemera related to reunion classes.
2. Family Weekend 2010 – Jay and Jason also worked with Tim, Steve, and Claudia to prepare
displays for this event.
VIIl. Other Items
Order of the Bell Tower: Kat Butler and Abir Chatterjee introduced a publication by the Order
of the Bell Tower “True Blue,” which highlights UNC traditions, encouraging students to paste
photos of themselves taking part in the traditions inside the book. Kat and Abir reported that
the challenge now is to spread the word about the book and raise money to produce it each
year. Missy suggested having a poster component as a keepsake and a “picture day” with
photographers available for taking students photos while completing the traditions.
The books are now available online and in the pit on Seniors’ Day. At convocation freshmen
and transfers received a free copy.
Stephen stressed the difficulty of acquiring current photos of student life. Perhaps there could
be a web site component where students could upload their photos and NCCPA could have a
copy?
Missy stated that we need a calendar to remind people of what’s going on. The Visitor’s
Center needs to be aware of events so that they can pass the information on to visitors.
Jason asked Kat if the Order of the Bell Tower group would visit Wilson this year. Kat
answered that it was one of the highlights of their yearly activities.
VII. Topics for discussion at future meetings
Kat reported that the Yack is facing dire funding issues. The Alumni Association will see what
they can do to help. The Library has digitized the Yack to 1978 or 1979 when copyright issues
preclude further digitization.
We should talk about priorities for the scribe at the next meeting. One option for digitization
would be to look at speeches and lectures that prominent visitors gave on campus. These have
catalog records and are ready to go.
The meeting adjourned at 3:05 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Linda Jacobson, October 22, 2010