Time Capsule Items on Display

TIME CAPSULE ITEMS ON DISPLAY AT LIBRARY

COLUMBUS -- A bow tie from President E. Gordon Gee, 
university ID cards, and a telephone receiver containing fiber 
optic wires and information about today's telephones are among
the items on display in the lobby of the Main Library at The Ohio 
State University through Nov. 30 during regular library hours.

These things will become part of a time capsule created to 
celebrate the 125th anniversary of the university.  The capsule 
is scheduled to be opened in 2070, the 200th anniversary of Ohio 
State.

A committee responsible for planning the university's 
anniversary events came up with the time capsule idea.  John 
Kleberg, assistant vice president for business and 
administration, began the process.

"We were looking for some special way to commemorate the 
125th anniversary of the university," said Raimund Goerler, 
university archivist and one of those who selected the time 
capsule items.  Other selectors were Kleberg and Jennifer Nelson, 
vice president of Undergraduate Student Government.

Goerler researched construction methods for time capsules.
The final plan came from an idea suggested by the archivist at 
the College of William and Mary.  "Her idea was to put it in a 
wall rather than burying it in the ground and waiting for a 
sidewalk to be built over it," Goerler said.

The time capsule will be placed in a pillar near the 
circulation desk and a plaque will serve as a constant reminder 
of its location and its intended date of opening.

"Fundamental considerations for the selection of items were 
that they be small enough for the small space, avoid duplicating 
printed materials that are kept in the archives, and that they 
could be obsolete in 75 years," Kleberg said.  "We needed 
everything to be characteristic of the university today."

Other items for the time capsule are a room key, various 
pins and patches, and musical CDs.  Possibly the most 
characteristic of today's students is a book backpack.

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Contact: Raimund Goerler, (614) 292-2409
         or John Kleberg, (614) 292-7970.

Written by Alanea Bowser.


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Tue, 21 Nov 1995 14:44:22 -0500]
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