University Libraries’ Special Collections invites the University and Hattiesburg communities to an exhibit opening and reception on April 15, from 4 – 5 p.m. in McCain Library and Archives room 305. The event will showcase exhibits curated by three Southern Miss students. 

Honorable Golden Eagles: The History of The University of Southern Mississippi’s Honors College is curated by Jocelyn Revoldt, a junior in the Honors College, majoring in history with a minor in library and information science. The exhibit celebrates the Honors College’s upcoming 50th anniversary by examining how far the Honors College has grown from 1976 to present day. 

Withholding to be Heard, curated by Ashlynn Steiner, a library and information science graduate student, draws heavily on materials from the Emilye Crosby Civil Rights Collection to examine a critical boycott in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement.

Southern Food: Not Just Country Accents and Fried Chicken, curated by Lily Bridges, a history major and a minor in both anthropology and Spanish, explores the influence of immigrant culture on southern cuisine through a collection of cookbooks from Mississippi. I

The Special Collections Student Curator Program offers 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. 

These exhibits will be on display on the third floor of McCain Library and Archives in the Cleanth Brooks Reading Room through March 2027. For more information or questions about the program or the exhibits on display, contact Jennifer.Brannock@usm.edu or 601.266.4347.