Special Collections invites the University and Hattiesburg communities to an exhibit opening and reception on April 3, 2025, from 1 – 2 p.m. in McCain Library and Archives room 305. The event will showcase exhibits curated by three Southern Miss students.

The Special Collections’ Student Curator Program offers students a hands-on opportunity to create one-case exhibits using materials from the library’s collections. Through the program, students gain valuable experience in selecting items for display, writing exhibit labels and descriptive text, installing materials and promoting their exhibits to the public.

The Grimmest of the Grim: The Tale of Little Red, curated by Emily Smith, a freshman student of history and English, surveys a history of the revisions of Little Red Riding Hood, with media from the 1800s to 2010s, each harkening back to the question: who's the Grimm-est of them all? 

From Freedom Summer to “Ms.”: A Story of Activism and Identity, curated by Ramsey McManus, a history major and library science minor, explores the life and work of American feminist and civil rights activist Sheila Michaels. 

Through Foreign Eyes: Nepal in the 70s, curated by Nobel Paudel, a freshman majoring in political science and applied economics, uses materials from the Cherry Burns Collection to offer a rare glimpse into Nepal’s landscapes, culture, and daily life as seen through the eyes of an outsider. 

These exhibits will be on display on the third floor of McCain Library and Archives through March 2026. For more information or questions about the program or the exhibits on display, contact Jennifer Brannock at Jennifer.Brannock@usm.edu or 601.266.4347.