It was hidden 50 years ago, between red bricks and cement, inside the fireplace outside the Union: a time capsule that would preserve memories from the U for future generations.
The copper chest was placed there by then-U-President A. Ray Olpin as part of the Founder’s Day celebration in 1957, and was meant to be opened during “the next decade,” Olpin wrote in his presidential journal.
Seven months ago, however, when the current Union board was scheduling the Union’s 50th birthday celebration and planned to open the capsule as part of the festivities, they realized they couldn’t find it.
Luckily, with the help of historians, the local media and U students from the ’50s generation, they were able to locate the small but priceless item.
It was opened Wednesday during the scheduled birthday celebration in front of a crowd of current U students, faculty and staff. However, the people who were most enthralled to view the precious package were the ones who decided what to put in it 50 years earlier.
To Ila Anderson-Bishop, witnessing the opening of the capsule was a “magical moment,” because her work had been inside the box the entire time.
Anderson-Bishop was the 1957 editor of the Utonian, the U’s yearbook, which was one of the 31 items concealed in the capsule.
“It’s really fun to see your work after all these years,” she said. “It’s really satisfying to know that your work is ongoing and feel like it will never cease.”
Carefully wrapped inside the capsule alongside the yearbook were vintage photographs of the Union board, a U class schedule and copies of The Daily Utah Chronicle from that year.
Also in the capsule was a “State of the Campus” address given by then-ASUU President Robert Bennett (Now Senator Bob Bennett, R-Utah) and programs from plays opening at the U.
Playing at the U theater program in 1957: Time Limit, The Nutcracker Ballet and The Chalk Garden.
All these, and the many more items in the time capsule, will be on display in the Union.
However, the tale of the time capsule doesn’t stop there. The Union board will be placing a new capsule to take the place of the old one.
Some of the items in it include a Union hat, a 50th anniversary pin and a canister of hair from Union Programming Council members with a note to future staff saying, “Clone me.”
Branden Dalley, associate director of operations, said the “cloning hair” reflects the attitude of students from the current generation.
“It’s a tongue-in-cheek statement– more like social commentary,” Dalley said. “It also brings light to the fact that we’re a research school.”
Also in the capsule are a Union logo ruler, Crimson Nights Staff passes and a “Cream of Cougar Soup” label from rival week.
“Hopefully the things we put in it will help people in the future understand our current mindset,” said Whit Hollis, Union director.
The new time capsule will be hidden in the Union fireplace on Feb. 28. However, suggestions regarding what will be in it are still being taken by Branden Dalley at [email protected].
Lennie MahlerThe recently opened time capsule from 1957 included items such as the 1957 Utonian, issues of The Daily Utah Chronicle and vintage photographs. Union officials will hide a new time capsule on Feb. 28, hoping to include items that will give future generations a look into the current world at the U.