The 100th Anniversary Time Capsule

You may have noticed that the uniquely shaped artifact that has been located next to the Access Service desk for the last several years is no longer there! It has been moved to the second floor lobby next to the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives – an appropriate place as it is part of the University Archives Artifact Collection.

If you have not taken a close look at the item, you may not know that it is actually a time capsule. A time capsule typically contains commemorative material for access at a future date. This particular capsule was created in 1992, the 100th anniversary of the opening of the State Normal and Industrial School (now UNCG), to be opened in October of 2042 during the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the college.

There was a campus-wide competition held to decide who would create the 100th Anniversary Time Capsule – it was won by Robert E. (Trey) Sharp III, a senior form Winston-Salem, North Carolina, majoring in sculpture and religious studies. Sharp created a spherical ceramic container on a branch-like bronze stand that could be sealed with a bead of wax. The capsule is filled with speeches and artifacts associated with the centennial; campus photographs; and university programs and publications. Additionally, it holds material that reflected national and international events such as a piece of the Berlin Wall. After it was completed, it was moved to Jackson Library and it will reside here until it is opened in 2042.

*In January, there will be a three-part blog regarding campus time capsules in Spartan Stories.