This exhibition tells some of the many stories of the university’s exciting beginning and continuing development through items selected from UMBC’s University Archives, including photographs, documents, objects, books and ephemera.

Tour and reception: Monday, September 19, 3:00 p.m.
Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery
The curators of “Sharing the Past, Building the Future: UMBC at 50” will give a tour and answer questions about the Library Gallery exhibition celebrating UMBC. The half hour tour will be offered at 3pm and 3:30pm.

Gallery hours:
Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursdays until 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 12 – 5 p.m.

Three years after UMBC first opened, students and faculty expressed their interest in creating a coat of arms for the developing school. One student, Arthur L. Kahn, wrote to Chancellor Albin O. Kuhn and offered him his own design which included the Maryland coat of arms, the UMBC retriever, and the year in which UMBC was founded (see image above). In his letter to Chancellor Kuhn, Kahn expressed his belief that creating an emblem or coat of arms for UMBC would "serve as a symbol in the college community, helping to display UMBC's individuality among other U of M branches in particular." Unfortunately, UMBC never developed a coat of arms but it has had, and continues to have, official logos and seals that represent the school.  

-History of UMBC Research Guide 

-University Archives Webpage

View All: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts?tag=archives-gold

The first dorms on the UMBC campus opened in March of 1970. Each dorm initially housed 150 students and were co-ed, with women on the top two floors and men on the bottom floor. These early dorms were given numbers as their names- Dorm I, Dorm II, and Dorm III- until 1979 when the university, after popular support of the students, decided to change their names. Similar in style to the dorms of University of Maryland, College Park which were named after Maryland counties and cities, the UMBC dorms were renamed after Maryland bodies of water (Susquehanna, Chesapeake, Patapsco, and Potomac Hall).  

Learn More: 

-History of UMBC Research Guide 

-University Archives Webpage 

-Article in The Retriever (Volume 4, Number 12) entitled "Dorms to Open March 1" 

-UMBC Magazine: Histories and Mysteries: Dorms 

View All: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts?tag=archives-gold

The first Stress Free Zone was implemented at UMBC by the SGA in the spring of 2005 to provide an anxiety free space during final exam week. The event provided students with games, activities, music, and food, but more importantly, the SGA intended for the event to serve as a declaration of UMBC students' ability to work together and provide an active space for fun and community. This first Stress Free Zone was an outstanding success, starting an ongoing tradition of a Stress Free Zone each exam period at UMBC.  

Learn More: 

-History of UMBC Research Guide 

-University Archives Webpage 

-UMBC Co-Create Blog "Secrets of the Stress Free Zone" 

View All: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts?tag=archives-gold

UMBC's first Quadmania happened in 1981. Over 600 people gathered together on the Quad to listen to various local bands. The event was meant to be a step towards bringing concerts to UMBC and it proved successful. Quadmania continued to be celebrated on the Quad until it was moved to the RAC where it is now held currently. Performers at UMBC's Quadmania over the years have included Kanye West (2004), Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (2013), Snoop Dogg (2011), and most recently, Fetty Wap. 

Learn More: 

-History of UMBC Research Guide 

-University Archives Webpage 

-Article in The Retriever (Volume 16, Number 4) on UMBC's First Quadmania 

-SEB Quadmania Webpage 

View All: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/library/posts?tag=archives-gold