In celebration of American Archives Month, the Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections is holding a trivia contest open to all MSU faculty, staff, students, alumni and the greater Lansing community. 

The theme of the trivia contest is “MSU in 1969,” which runs throughout October, marks the year the archives was created. The 2009 celebration is special because American Archives Month coincides with the 40th anniversary of the MSU Archives & Historical Collections.
 
Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=EJ48M0YfFp0r3I5CVCDhJg%3d%3d and answer the questions to the best of your ability.  (This link is also available from the UAHC home page:  http://archives.msu.edu) A paper copy of the contest form can also be obtained by contacting the UAHC.

The contest will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30.  Three winners will be chosen at random from among the correct entries and will be notified the following week.  This year’s prize is a 2009 Spartan Trivia Champion T-shirt. 

An archive is a place where people go to find information.  Unlike libraries, you do not gather information from books.  In archives you do research from primary resources, such as:  letters, diaries, memos, photographs, etc.

The University Archives & Historical Collections, or UAHC, preserves the history of the university and makes the historical materials available to anyone interested in learning more about MSU.  The UAHC has materials dating back through all of MSU’s history.  Some of the standout collections include the papers of distinguished MSU individuals including former MSU President John Hannah, botanist William Beal, and forensic scientist Ralph Turner.  The collections also include publications from the beginning of the university, intercollegiate athletics programs and thousands of historical photographs. 

The UAHC also has materials that do not relate to MSU.  These materials include more than 700 manuscript and photograph collections that document all aspects of life in Michigan, including the Civil War, the REO Motor Car Company, and John Harvey Kellogg.

The UAHC is also responsible for managing the University’s inactive records and assisting university departments in the administration and management of official paper and electronic records of the university.  Staff members provide consultation and training on records management, storage, and retrieval.  The UAHC also reaches out to faculty and students through the use of historical materials in classroom instruction.  Many classes send their students to the archives for class projects, and archives staff members currently teach a freshman seminar about the history of student life. 

More events relating to the celebration of the 40th anniversary are planned for spring 2009.  For more information, visit the Web at http://archives.msu.edu.  Questions or comments can be sent to Portia Vescio, public services archivist, at vescio@msu.edu

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