NOW OPEN

Book by Book: How Kent State Built a Library

Marovitz Gallery, 1st Floor, University Libraries

This new exhibit is now available for viewing in the Marovitz Gallery on the first floor of the University Library Building. The large ledger books on display were used to document book purchases during the earliest years of the Kent State Library’s history. This method was followed from 1913 to 1955, filling thirteen volumes. At first glance, these records may not seem very interesting. But, when we take a closer look, patterns and stories begin to emerge from the pages. This exhibit shares some of these stories. (Curated by Kate Medicus and Gillian Canacci)

NOW OPEN 

More Than a Club: The Legacy of Student Life at Kent State
Borowitz Gallery, 12th Floor, University Libraries. Open to the public 9:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday.

Student life at Kent State University is vibrant and the spectrum of opportunities is broad and encompassing. Along with more than 350 student organizations, the KSU campus is also home to hundreds of activities, programs, and events each year. From athletics to theatre, politics to art, academics to music, this thriving student culture is not a new phenomenon, but rather a legacy that goes back to the University's early years.

This exhibit will take you on a journey from the 1920s to the 2020s to see what students have cared about and participated in throughout the University’s history. While not an exhaustive record of the groups that have existed, the documents and images in this exhibit represent a sample of materials created by KSU student organizations. (Curated by Kristin Silvestro)

Exhibition: Lafayette Tolliver: Visual Footprints in Time

Kent State student photojournalist Lafayette Tolliver (BS '71) documented Black campus life, from 1967-1971. The exhibit provides viewers with an array of subjects he documented and includes selected editorials he wrote in the Daily Kent Stater. The goal is to generate interest in and further exploration of this amazing body of work that Tolliver has shared with Kent State and the world. The physical exhibition has closed, but a digital version of this exhibit is still available. (Curated by Cara Gilgenbach)

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Exhibition: Keeping Kent Open

Immediately following the Kent State shootings, President Robert White ordered that the University close and an injunction was then granted to that effect. However, the faculty voted to complete their courses by any means necessary. This exhibit features legal documents, news clippings, letters, and oral histories surrounding the effort to keep Kent State open. (Curated by Katie Davis)

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 Exhibition: Campus Strike Papers: The Aftermath of May 4, 1970 
 

In the aftermath of the shootings of May 4, 1970, Kent State University Libraries sent letters to colleges and universities across the nation requesting campus strike newspapers and related documents to be archived for future research. This exhibit highlights a selection of the responses that are found in the Campus Strike papers in Special Collections and Archives. The exhibit was on display in the Marovitz Gallery, 1st Floor, University Library from August 2020 - September 2021. A companion virtual exhibit is available to view online by clicking the link below. (Curated by Anita Clary)

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Exhibition:  50 Years: Long Live the Memory: Civil Rights, Black Power, and Anti-War Actions: Orangeburg, Kent, and Jackson, 1960-1967
 

Part of a multi-location suite of exhibits created in 2020 to mark the 50th commemoration of the Kent State and Jackson State shootings. This segment of these inter-related exhibits focuses on civil rights and anti-war actions at Kent State (Kent, OH), Jackson State (Jackson, MS), and South Carolina State (Orangeburg, SC) in the years 1960-1967.  (Curated by Cara Gilgenbach)

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• View the Companion Exhibit: Black Student Movements Orangeburg, Kent and Jackson State 1968-1970, Curated by Professor Idris Kabir Syed, Kent State University Department of Africana Studies

Exhibition: The Truth Demands Justice: A Snapshot History of the May 4th Task Force

This exhibition features posters, flyers, and other items created by the May 4th Task Force, a student-run organization founded in 1975 to raise awareness among students, faculty, administrators, and the general public about the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970. (Curated by Haley Antell)

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Exhibition: Spotlight on Special Collections & Archives at Kent State

Visitors can view interesting examples of books, manuscripts, and archival materials that illustrate the major areas of strength in the collections: American Poets, British & American Literature, Children’s Literature, History of the Book, History of Science & Exploration; Kent State University History, Local History, Performing Arts, and True Crime. New examples will be appear on a regular basis, so visit often! (Curated by Kathleen Siebert Medicus and others from Special Collections & Archives)

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Precise dates of exhibitions are subject to change.

See our Past Events and Exhibitions page for information and links related to past programs.