Wells Hall time capsule grand unveiling: Insights from the women of 1923

Clustered in King Library on Friday afternoon, a crowd of students, administrators and chapter members awaited the grand unveiling of the Wells Hall time capsule. The cohort of students has the unique opportunity to read about what the women of 1923 hoped for Miami University over 100 years later.

The event included a three-person panel led by University Archivist Ani Karagiantis, followed by an up close viewing of the well-preserved documents and refreshments, letter-writing and button-making activities.

Preservation Librarian Eric Harrelson talked about the unearthing of the copper box capsule.

“The three main degradation factors for paper goods are temperature, relative humidity and light exposure … I think what impressed me the most about the material was how well it held up over that full one hundred years.”

While time capsules were usually intended to represent marketable corporate interests or renowned World’s Fair endeavors, the recent uncovering of the Well Hall time capsule this past June was distinct with its touching, familiar records.

“They are very personal,” said Helen Sheumaker, a teaching professor and lead departmental advisor for history. “They are talking directly to the women of the future.”

Ava Owens, president of the Delta Zeta sorority, and Aubrey Crish, Associated Student Government senator and member of the Chi Omega sorority, were also contributors to the panel. They offered commentaries on how generational ties, panhellenic ideals and women’s history are woven into current student culture.

“We all joined because we wanted that sense of community … I would love to know that other girls, other chapter members, anyone found that home and that community that they were looking for,” Owens said, regarding the connection she felt as a sorority member.

The capsule contained multiple letters from sorority leaders.

“One of the things I love about Miami is [that] it is a Greek-dominated campus, but it’s also a place for lots of quirky, wonderful students,” Sheumaker said.

The time capsule is a reminder for students and faculty of the core values that are ingrained in Miami culture. This tradition and academic mission is honored today, as illustrated by Crish’s experience at Miami University.

“We have so many amazing women faculty, admins and student leaders who have been really inspiring to me,” Crish said.

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Mia DiFranco, an art history and linguistics double major and Alpha Delta Pi sorority member, attended the event to see the historic moment.

“I’m always very interested in what the university has to say, and what the people of the past have to say, so this is just a very cool thing,” DiFranco said. “It was nice to see such a sorority turnout.”

The event also interested Alexis Gomes, assistant director of the Wilks Institute for Leadership and Service and Cliff Alexander Office for Fraternity and Student Life.

“I love seeing [the] old letters, the handwriting and also the headlines and ads, even the artwork is really fascinating,” Gomes said. “We made some buttons too from some of the pictures from the old yearbook and the newspaper.”

While the event mainly focused on the past, the panelists also looked towards the future.

“I would hope that the university in 100 years exists largely on the framework of the academics that are represented today, universities are called ‘universities’ because it’s universal knowledge,” Sheumaker said. “[College] can fundamentally change a person’s life what they do intellectually here … I think that is the common thread from the past to the present.”

mcdonokd@miamioh.edu