A Letter to the U of A Trustees

A Letter to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees

Dear Trustees:

This letter contains a proposal that I believe would greatly enhance the educational facilities of the University of Arkansas. The University has the largest collection of Arkansas geological, archeological, and historical specimens in the world, an overall collection estimated at 7,000,000 pieces. That’s a fact. But don’t make plans to visit the University Of Arkansas Museum Of Natural History Exhibit Hall, because the majority of these specimens are locked away in a storage facility that is not regularly open or suitable for viewing. Just consider that for a minute, and I think you will agree the time has come to build an on-campus exhibit hall, which would adequately house the collections.      

In the late 1950s and early 60s I was a student and graduate student at the University.  I held several part time jobs while working on my bachelors and master’s degree in geology. When I was a senior and a graduate student, I was the Student Manager of Brough Commons, the dining hall, a University Bookstore student employee, and a student worker at the University Museum…all at the same time.  During the time I was in school the Museum was located on the top floor of Old Main, and my job was to monitor the students who wandered in, dust the exhibits, and help move and store the exhibits has they were changed out. Of all the jobs I held, as I worked to pay my way through college, the very best was working at the University Museum. One summer, I worked on a museum dig where Beaver Lake is now located, and my museum work and field work in those years gave me an appreciation of the collection that has never left my mind.

Believe me, the University collection is huge. The first time I walked back into the large storage area on the fourth floor of Old Main, I was overwhelmed by the vast number of absolutely breathtaking items that were neatly stacked on storage shelves. The back store rooms were adjacent to the displayed items and there was shelf after shelf of Pre-Colombian pottery as well as the collection of other pioneer items including those from the Civil War to more recent items all neatly catalogued and stacked on storage shelves. Of course, I understood why they weren’t displayed. The display area on the top floor of Old Main was large, but with the items in the storage area and display area it wasn’t even close to being big enough to adequately display the collection.

When I was attending the University, the fourth floor of Old Main held a small percentage of the collection, and it was of course available to be viewed. Later, part of the collection that could be viewed was moved to the old Barnhill Fieldhouse and after a few years, the University moved the entire collection to a storage building north of the University. The collection is crammed into the storage building, some of it on racks and shelves without any visible identification. Schools and other interested folks can view the part of the collection that is not packed away, by appointment only, but most of the collection is without any identification or explanation. Most of the vast collection is not visible.

This should never have happened without a plant to build an exhibit hall on campus. I know there has been a lot of discussion about building a permeant display center for the collection, but it is past time for discussing the need. It is time for action.

 We pride ourselves on having great sport facilities, and I sure don’t want to disparage quality facilities. However, the University is an educational facility. It’s not a prep camp for the NBA or any other professional team. I’m all for million dollar coaches’ salaries, adding seats in the end zone, and if the money is there, I’m all for a domed stadium. . But let’s match those facilities in the field of education.

I think, quite frankly, that if we can spend $158,000,000 on extra end zone seats, (and I am not against that expenditure) we should be able to fund an on campus exhibit hall. I’m not a building contractor, but I think a fraction of what we spent on new end zone seats would build an impressive exhibit hall. 

An exhibit hall would be an outstanding educational aid, not only to U of A students, but to countless young elementary and high school Arkansas boys and girls who would visit the exhibit hall. That experience would strengthen the already strong attachment pre-college students have for the University, and it would be a strong recruitment item for the University. The extensive collection of Arkansas historical specimens could be the backbone of the educational experience the University offers, and the commitment to build a permanent building for the collection would strengthen the emphasis that the University should always have, as its primary concern, enhancing the educational experience of its students and the state of Arkansas.  

Of course, a first step would be for the Board of Trustees to authorize the University’s outstanding Architectural Department to do a feasibility study with a cost estimate and architectural sketch of the exhibit hall. Make it a contest with a $10,000 for the best design, and I will donate or raise the prize money. I’m sure, when the proposed project is made public, it will receive strong statewide support. In addition there are a lot of potential donors of historic and geologic items that would consider donating to the University’s collection if it were housed in the permanent exhibit hall. It’s obvious that someone with a collection of historic maps or pre-Columbian artifacts would be very hesitant to donate them to the University knowing they would be put in storage.

            I did a quick check of major colleges around the country, and in my research, I could not find a single one that didn’t have some permeant exhibit building to house the historic collections in their state. Of course, there are literally hundreds of museums in numerous colleges across the country, and as an example check out the University Of Alabama Museum Of Natural History? Of course, they have a gorgeous main facility along with several other display areas on campus. Google it up and take a look, and then wonder why we don’t have something that will match it.

            And as I close this letter, let me refer to a good friend and former trustee, Senator David Pryor. Back when David was serving his last year as a board member we worked closely together to work up a plan to present an exhibit hall proposal to the board of Trustees. Because of a variety of reasons we were not able to present a proposal to the Board of Trustees while David was still on the board.  However, I encourage you to reach out to David and take his counsel in this matter.

            The on-campus exhibit hall is a sorely needed addition to our wonderful University, and I hope you share mine and David’s enthusiasm for building it.