About Exhibitions and Displays
The Special Collections & University Archives department encourages engagement and critical thinking when using our collections. One of the many ways that this department encourages this type of interaction between the collections and patrons is through thoughtfully curated displays and exhibitions using materials from the University of San Francisco's collections. Displays and exhibitions are often curated with subjects including upcoming holidays, current events, cultural milestones, and a variety of other topics.
Below is further information about the displays and exhibitions that we curate, as well as information about who can curate an exhibit.
Where can I find Special Collections & University Archives exhibitions and displays?
There are several locations on the University of San Francisco campus where Special Collections & University Archives curate displays.
The majority of our display locations are in Gleeson Library, though we do maintain one permanent display in the Heritage Room of Lone Mountain. Please refer to the University of San Francisco campus map to help you locate the Heritage Room inside of Lone Mountain: Main.
Display locations in Gleeson Library include:
- the display case in front of G12 (on the lower level of the Building Directory)
- the display case outside of the Donohue Rare Book Room ("1" on the third floor of the Building Directory)
- long-term exhibitions are displayed inside the Donohue Rare Book Room ("1" on the third floor of the Building Directory)
- pop-up exhibitions are displayed for a few hours at a time inside the Donohue Rare Book Room ("1" on the third floor of the Building Directory)
For directions to these locations, please see the Gleeson Library Building Directory.
All Special Collections & University Archives displays and exhibitions are also made available in the form of virtual exhibitions. When they are ready to view, they are available on this guide.
Who can curate an exhibition or display?
Students and faculty are encouraged to apply to curate a display in collaboration with the Special Collections & University Archives department!
All displays curated in Special Collections & University Archives spaces, or using Special Collections & University Archives materials, are collaborative efforts. By submitting a proposal for a display, the submitter is committing themselves to the time and research required to curate an exhibition or display. Submitting a proposal does not guarantee approval. Display approval is contingent on Special Collections & University Archives department availability. Special Collections & University Archives staff will contact the proposal submitter to confirm approval.
Although the Donohue Rare Book Room is accessible to anyone, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, appointments are required to work on an exhibition or a display. Guest curators are never allowed into the collections alone or unsupervised.
What kind of materials do Special Collections & University Archives display?
All Special Collections & University Archives displays and exhibitions are curated using materials from the University of San Francisco collections. These materials can range from student ephemera to art books and broadside prints. Materials are selected for display depending on their relevance to the subject of the display.
For more information about the types of materials in Special Collections & University Archives, please visit the Special Collections & University Archives webpage.
Types of Exhibitions & Displays
Pop-up exhibitions, which are only on display for one day and for a few hours at a time, typically feature materials from our collection that reflect or accompany holidays. These pop-ups are excellent opportunities to feature materials from Special Collections & University Archives that aren't often viewed, like holiday cards and broadside prints. Pop-up exhibition days are posted on the Gleeson Library Events, Displays, and Exhibits calendar. They are also posted on the Gleeson Library Instagram page.
Single-case displays, located outside of the University Archives office and the Donohue Rare Book Room, feature materials from the office that they are displayed closest to. The Special Collections & University Archives department encourage students workers to curate these cases, and to use materials from recent research requests or that are of particular interest to them.
Donohue Rare Book Room display cases are used for long-term exhibitions. These cases are either curated by Special Collections & University Archives staff, Museum Studies students, or are curated by guest curators in collaboration with Special Collections & University Archives faculty and staff.
When are exhibitions and displays installed?
Exhibitions curated by the Special Collections & University Archives department are inspired by current events, upcoming holidays, and by end-of-the-year classwork. There is no regular turn-over schedule for Special Collections & University Archives exhibitions and displays. To be remain up-to-date on upcoming exhibitions, events, and displays, please follow the Gleeson Library Events, Displays, Exhibits calendar.