TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER
The Union art and Congressional papers exhibit show and tell the history of the University and the state to the LSU community.
LSU: Building an American Renaissance is the Union art gallery exhibit and features the history of LSU architecture in a celebration of the University’s sesquicentennial, or 150 year anniversary.
The title refers to the use of Italian renaissance architectural references by Theodore Link, the original campus architect.
“Link wanted the architecture of the campus to serve as a teaching tool, exposing Louisiana students to the architectural ideas of the Western traditions,” Dr. Michael Desmond, associate professor of architecture and developer of the project, said.
It tracks the University’s journey through four campuses, from the construction and design process for the Baton Rouge campus to the Renaissance style of the buildings and landscapes over 150 years.
“The exhibit is very informative and gives a rich pictorial history of the evolution of campus through the good and bad times,” dairy science freshman Paul Westerberg said.
The exhibit will run from September 10, 2009 through October 25, 2009 and features wooden models of some Memorial Hill Library, Foster Hall and Atkinson Hall.
“The original plan of this campus was laid out by the Olmsted Brothers of Brookline MA and by Link, of St. Louis,” Desmond said. “These were some of the most talented and recognized architects and landscape architects of their day…The campus they designed displays a rich set of associations and meanings intended to inform and elevate the lives of the students.”
The Office of the Secretary of State is teaming up with LSU to launch a state museum tour in 2010 to celebrate the sesquicentennial.
Two Gentlemen from Louisiana: The Congressional Papers of Senators John B. Breaux and J. Bennett Johnston Jr. is an exhibit of congressional papers, documents and photographs highlighting the political careers and accomplishments of the democratic senators.
The exhibit spanned two floors in the Hill Memorial Library. The Congressional papers were grouped into series based on what kind of legislation they had to do with. Featured topics on the first floor were political, social, and dealings with the House of Representatives for both senators.
“Part of our mission is to document Louisiana and southern Mississippi and we do that by collecting the papers of Louisiana senators and governors,” Tara Laver, curator of manuscripts and associate librarian for Hill Memorial Library, said.
The second floor featured information and memorabilia from Breaux’s and Johnston’s campaigns as well as materials about a few Acts each of the senators worked on as well as political friendships and dealings they had.
“We want to highlight the collection and let students see what’s here so they can think about it, so that when they need something they’ll think of us,” Laver said.
The exhibit will run from September 8, 2009 through January 1, 2010. Senators Breaux and Johnston will attend a reception at Hill Memorial October 9, 2009 and speak at a symposium held by the Manship School of Mass Communication.
Both of these exhibits offer perspectives from the past the LSU community can enjoy and learn from.
