UCO Museum Studies Features Central History in New Exhibit
Liberal Arts News and Events
April 19, 2024
The University of Central Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts has unveiled its inaugural exhibition in a newly acquired, state-of-the-art display case. Located on the first floor of the UCO Liberal Arts building, this new case will serve as a platform for exhibits based on collections housed at the UCO Laboratory of History Museum (LHM) and showcase exhibits curated by graduate students in the museum studies program.
The inaugural exhibition, “Roll’ing Back the Years: Early Days at UCO,” features several artifacts from UCO’s history, including the first and only football used by the UCO team from 1904-06. The exhibit will be available for viewing through July.
The UCO museum studies program allows students to gain practical experience as museum technicians at the LHM. Under the guidance of the museum’s director, Heidi Vaughn, students are involved in the research, design, fabrication and installation of exhibits.
“The applied practical experience gained by students while creating these exhibits will greatly benefit them as they head into their careers as museum professionals,” Vaughn said.
The exhibit was curated and installed by Taylor Atkins, fall 2023 graduate of the museum studies program from Oklahoma City; Brandy Ball, a museum studies graduate assistant from Midwest City, Oklahoma; Grace Barnes, a museum studies major from Glenpool, Oklahoma; Miranda Cunningham, a museum studies senior from Fairfax, Virginia; Tabitha Gibson, a museum studies junior from Thomas, Oklahoma; and Chris Law, a museum studies graduate student from Newcastle, Oklahoma. New exhibits will be installed at the end of each fall and spring semester.
The display was made possible by the UCO College of Liberal Arts’ Advocacy Council and donors Shane Pate, Kenneth Rees, Heidi Russell and Michelle Schaefer.
The case was designed and installed by Exhibit Concepts, Inc., which has designed exhibits and cases for the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine and the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, among many other museums and cultural centers.
For more information about the UCO Department of History and Geography’s museum studies program, visit uco.edu/hg.
Tabitha Gibson, museum studies junior from Thomas, Oklahoma)
Chris Law, museum studies graduate student from Newcastle, Oklahoma