Collection Exhibits

There are untold treasures and unsung heroes hidden in Archives & Special Collections. Our exhibit space includes eight vertical glass cases and ten horizontal cases where we display these treasures.

The exhibits are open to the public whenever Archives is open. If you have ideas for an exhibit or a special event, please contact Nicole Willard, at 405-974-2885 or email nwillard@uco.edu

Monthly exhibition events also occur every semester and may include art exhibits, music, films, and expert speaker presentations.

View Past Exhibition Events

Online Exhibits

There are untold treasures and unsung heroes hidden in the Archives & Special Collections. Many secondary sources can be found on a wide variety of subjects. These online exhibits include information on some of the topics you can read about in the Archives & Special Collections.

Find useful information on Will Rogers, Route 66, Wild West Shows, Native American Art, African American Art, Hollywood "B" Movies, and more.

Orphan Train

Archives & Special Collections exhibits a display of artifacts and stories from the Orphan Train Movement, including a doll given to Alice Bullis Ayler, one of the last orphans to ride the rails west in hopes of finding a new and loving home. The exhibit contains artifacts, videos, periodicals, and oral and written histories.

The orphan trains operated between 1853 and 1929, relocating about 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children. (source: Wikipedia)

Newcomers to a New Land

Newcomers to a New Land was originally 26 five-minute radio programs about individuals and episodes in Oklahoma history. The programs were produced as part of the Oklahoma Image Project, a statewide grassroots effort that began in 1979 with the aim of increasing public awareness about Oklahoma's rich and varied multicultural heritage. These recordings broaden Oklahoma history beyond the usual views of "cowboy and Indian, land runs and oil booms, dust bowl and the Great Depression."

UCO's Special Collections on Display

Each floor of the Chambers Library displays art and artifacts from UCO's Special Collections: Melton Legacy Collection, Oklahoma Art Collection, Central and South American Art Collection, African Art Collection, Oceanic Art Collection, and the Bob & Kathy Thomas Collection.

In addition to its own collections, the Chambers Library offers display space to showcase other collections held by the university but managed by other departments: the UCO Natural History Collection from the Department of Biology, Oklahoma Fashion Museum Collection from the College of Education and Professional Studies, and the Laboratory of History Collection form the Department of History and Geography.

Inclusive Metadata Statement

Chambers Library is committed to accurately and respectfully describing materials relating to underrepresented communities. We are actively taking steps to improve access to our library resources, and you can help! Report any problematic language you find using the form below. Learn more about the library's Inclusive Metadata Initiative.

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