2008 Woodie Awards
Union Notables exhibit to open February 8
Daina Amorosano
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
February 8, 2008 will mark the official opening of the first of an ongoing series of Union Notables exhibits sponsored by the President's Office, the Mandeville Gallery and the Union College Notables Committee.
Twice a year, the Committee, chaired by Head Librarian Tom McFadden, will select three distinguished individuals, including alumni, retired faculty and other close affiliates of the College to be featured in the exhibit. On display in the first floor atrium of Schaffer Library, the exhibits will consist of three panels constructed by Rachel Seligman, Curator for the Nott Memorial, and the College's collection of art objects. The panels will contain a photographic image of the distinguished notable and a text about his or her life and accomplishments.
At present, the first exhibit, on display until February 29, is pending its official opening two weeks from now. The reception formally acknowledging its opening will be open to all, and Trustees, the Selection Committee and anyone who has worked on the project will be in attendance.
The very first three Union Notables were a careful selection of prominent alumni: writer Andrea Barrett, '74, physician Baruch Samuel Blumberg, '46, and politician William Henry Seward, class of 1820.
After being exhibited, the panels will receive prominent placement on campus, near the Notable's relevant field of excellence. Future exhibits will rotate every six months, once in the fall and once in the spring.
Part of the initiative for the project came about when Professor James Underwood and a former student taught a seminar on some of the students who attended Union under President Nott and went on to become politically active.
Underwood realized that though not everyone could take this course, there were still ways to teach students about Union's impressive past. Especially with a significant emphasis on the College's history placed in the Strategic Plan, Underwood explains, "This is really an effort on the part of the College to make students, alumni, staff and faculty more aware of the history of the College."
Twice a year, the Committee, chaired by Head Librarian Tom McFadden, will select three distinguished individuals, including alumni, retired faculty and other close affiliates of the College to be featured in the exhibit. On display in the first floor atrium of Schaffer Library, the exhibits will consist of three panels constructed by Rachel Seligman, Curator for the Nott Memorial, and the College's collection of art objects. The panels will contain a photographic image of the distinguished notable and a text about his or her life and accomplishments.
At present, the first exhibit, on display until February 29, is pending its official opening two weeks from now. The reception formally acknowledging its opening will be open to all, and Trustees, the Selection Committee and anyone who has worked on the project will be in attendance.
The very first three Union Notables were a careful selection of prominent alumni: writer Andrea Barrett, '74, physician Baruch Samuel Blumberg, '46, and politician William Henry Seward, class of 1820.
After being exhibited, the panels will receive prominent placement on campus, near the Notable's relevant field of excellence. Future exhibits will rotate every six months, once in the fall and once in the spring.
Part of the initiative for the project came about when Professor James Underwood and a former student taught a seminar on some of the students who attended Union under President Nott and went on to become politically active.
Underwood realized that though not everyone could take this course, there were still ways to teach students about Union's impressive past. Especially with a significant emphasis on the College's history placed in the Strategic Plan, Underwood explains, "This is really an effort on the part of the College to make students, alumni, staff and faculty more aware of the history of the College."
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