Open January 18 – July 1, 2022

This exhibit celebrates students at the University of Iowa, recognizing student life as the very core of the university. It offers a sampling of historical documents and objects found in the University Archives and the Iowa Women’s Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries.

Popular aspects of the student experience are depicted:

Academics, athletics, activism. Protest, public service, parties.

On display are snippets of student life from throughout the university’s history: the Iowa Memorial Union as a center of activity, the performing arts as a source of vibrancy, and military service and Greek life as time-honored traditions. Decades of student publications and glimpses of social and political activism are seen throughout, demonstrating the diversity of student voices on campus.

While not every student’s experience is recounted in this exhibit, we hope visitors to the Main Library Gallery will find something that speaks to their own time on campus – whether during this past year, or generations ago.

Find historic videos and other exhibit-related resources in our LibGuide.

View the We Are Hawkeyes Exhibit Guide (PDF)

Visit the virtual exhibition!

Curator Highlights

Three students stand on the sunny deck of a schooner in 1893.

A Unique Graduation in 1893

Three graduates on the deck of the Emily E. Johnson, 1893. William Larrabee, Jr. Papers, University Archives.
A typewritten petition featuring a student signature in blood.

Anti-War Blood Petitions

Blood petition signed by student S. Cogswell, 1967. Antiwar Petitions Collection, University Archives.
C. Vivian Stringer and her team smile and cheer after their win, 1993.

Final Four Bound!

Center for Media Production Photographic Service Images Collection, University Archives.
Black and white photo of five men working at the IMU's soda fountain in the 1940s. They all wear white uniforms.

Iowa Memorial Union’s Soda Fountain

Robert Hughes, center, one of the “union boys” employees at the Iowa Memorial Union soda fountain, 1940s. Robert Hughes Papers, University Archives.
Handwritten journal entry in a lined notebook. Transcription available on the main page.

Launch of the Explorer I Satellite

1958 journal, entry describing launch of Explorer I satellite. George Ludwig Papers, University Archives.
The cover of a publication from February 1953. The front says

Magazine X

Magazine X, Vol. 2, No. 4, 1953. Student-Produced Publications and Newsletter Collection, University Archives.
Two women stand in front of the Old Capitol building holding signs. One sign says Where is the Asian Pacific American Cultural House? The other sign says Asian Pacific Americans care about the cultural houses. Many people are in the background participati

Rally at the Pentacrest

Rally at the Pentacrest, 1999. Latino Native American Cultural Center Records, University Archives.
A pair of long red, white, and green argyle-patterned socks with red ribbons at the top of each.

Scottish Highlander Socks

Socks. Scottish Highlanders Collection, University Archives.
A pink sheet of typewritten paper. At the top it says

The Gaily Iowan

The Gaily Iowan, September 1981. Student-Produced Publications and Newsletter Collection, University Archives.

Credits

Exhibition Curation
Denise Anderson, Archives Assistant
Aiden Bettine, Community and Student Life Archivist
David McCartney, University Archivist

Preparation & Conservation
Bill Voss, Conservator Technician & Exhibit Preparator 
Giselle Simón, University Conservator 

Design
Kalmia Strong, Creative Coordinator

Exhibition Coordination 
Sara J. Pinkham, Exhibition and Engagement Coordinator

Installation
Bill Voss, Kalmia Strong, Sara J. Pinkham

Exhibition Technology
Will Brown, IT Consultant (LIB IT) 
Chris Clark, Senior IT Support Consultant (LIB IT) 

Publicity & Website
Sara J. Pinkham 
Ken Clinkenbeard, Web Services Specialist

Virtual Exhibit Assembly & Photography
Sara J. Pinkham

Financial Support
Friends of the University of Iowa Libraries

Special Thanks

  • Tricia Bender, Collections Manager, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
  • Katie Buehner, Director of the Rita Benton Music Library
  • Deborah A. Calkins, Office of the Registrar  
  • Bethany Davis, Digital Processing Coordinator
  • Ethan DeGross, Researcher/Developer, Digital Scholarship & Publishing Studio
  • Rob Durham, Scene Shop Supervisor, UI Theatre Arts
  • Brian Fotsch, Assistant Director of Facilities, University of Iowa Libraries
  • Sarah Harris, Office of the Registrar
  • Anna Holland, Processing Librarian, Iowa Women’s Archives
  • Daniel Johnson, Digital Preservation Librarian
  • Mark Mueller, Communications Infrastructure Engineer, Learning Spaces Technology (ITS)
  • Earl M. Rogers (1938-2017), University Archivist, 1970-1998
  • Noelle Sinclair, Head of Special Collections, University of Iowa Law Library
  • Alyssa Varner, Creative Coordinator, Digital Scholarship & Publishing Studio
  • Janet Weaver, Assistant Curator, Iowa Women’s Archives
  • University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums