Freshmen hazing was an accepted part of life at Furman University throughout most of the twentieth century. Freshmen, referred to as “rats,” were required to wear “rat caps” like the beanie pictured above. They were sometimes required to wear rat ears and signs around their necks identifying themselves as rats. A ceremony called Rat Court . . .Continue reading Freshmen Hazing at Furman
Category: Special Collections
Discovery by Design
As Chrissy Hicks ’20 clicked play on her laptop, music that has not been heard for centuries filled the quiet study area in Furman’s Special Collections. The product of ten weeks of meticulous study and transcription, Hicks brought these original Medieval music manuscripts back to life. Her project is part of the Special Collections and . . .Continue reading Discovery by Design
Furman Faces
If you’ve walked into the Duke Library recently, you’ve probably seen the new display in the library’s foyer titled “Furman Faces: Pictures from the Bonhomie Yearbook.” This display (and all the foyer displays) was organized and executed by Nancy Sloan, Cataloging and Metadata Librarian. The photographs represent 116 years of student history from Furman’s time . . .Continue reading Furman Faces
Discover Greenville Woman’s College
Greenville Woman’s College (GWC) was founded in 1854 on what is now Heritage Green in downtown Greenville. In 1938, it merged with Furman University, and in 1961 its campus closed down permanently. In the century it existed, GWC celebrated many unique traditions such as an annual May Day festival and pageant, and a rich history . . .Continue reading Discover Greenville Woman’s College
161 Years of Furman Course Catalogs
Have you ever wondered what classes Furman students were taking in 1881, or how much were students paying for tuition in 1852, or what athletic programs were offered in 1929? Now you can find out the answers to these questions and more! 161 years of Furman Course Catalogs (from 1852-2013) have been scanned and are . . .Continue reading 161 Years of Furman Course Catalogs
Furman Concert Choir Online
The Digital Collections Center and the Special Collections and Archives have partnered with the Furman Concert Choir to create a digital collection of the Concert Choir’s albums. The Furman Concert Choir was organized in 1960 as a small, auditioned group which performs choral music from all periods of music history. Under the direction of Dr. . . .Continue reading Furman Concert Choir Online
Exhibition: Collecting History
Collecting History: Coins, Banknotes, and Postage Stamps in Special Collections Exhibition Dates: June – August 2017 Collected by people of all ages and status, coins, banknotes and postage stamps serve a practical function, yet can be considered miniature works of art that reflect the history and culture of their time. Featuring national symbols, notable individuals . . .Continue reading Exhibition: Collecting History
Meet Our Research and Creative Fellows
This year, Special Collections and Archives has two 10-week summer fellowships for Furman undergraduates. These competitive fellowships sponsored by Carolyn ’67 and Joseph ’68 Warden will allow students to perform original research using materials in Special Collections and Archives for a research or creative project of their own design. Chrissy Hicks ’20 is a future . . .Continue reading Meet Our Research and Creative Fellows
Furman University Oral History Project
Furman University Oral History Project This growing collection contains oral histories taken and recorded by history professor Courtney Tollison and her students. Many of the recordings feature Furman’s own rich history and the history of Greenville. Some of the notable interviewees include Max and Trude Heller, Charles Townes, President John E. and Martha Johns, John . . .Continue reading Furman University Oral History Project
The Furman Hornet
Furman University athletes have always worn purple and white. However, the mascots they played under have changed over the years. The earliest teams were referred to as the “Hornets,” a name they shared with the student newspaper. In the 1920s, the football team began to be referred to as the “Purple Hurricane.” The basketball team . . .Continue reading The Furman Hornet