USU brings history to life with Year of Water exhibit
The Merrill-Cazier Library at Utah State University made a contribution to the Year of Water by putting on an exhibit showcasing the history of USU’s water involvement.
“The exhibit was put on to point out the history of how USU has been involved in water and research since the founding of the institution,” said Robert Parson, the University Archivist.
This is USU’s 50th anniversary of its water lab’s founding, and this was what started the idea of the Year of Water. Different colleges at the university then broadened the idea by putting together research from each different department on the study of water.
Daniel Davis, the curator of Special Collections, said that every department banded together to make 2015 the Year of Water. He said that it ranges from the engineering department to the Caine College of the Arts and that every department has its own unique way it researches and uses water.
Parson and Davis pulled pictures, videos and documents out of USU’s archives and special collections to use for the exhibit.
“With this exhibit we were able to highlight our collections as they relate to the history of USU,” Davis said.
When asked if Davis found anything interesting while digging up USU’s water history, he brought up one of USU’s old graduates, Ardeshir Zahedi. Zahedi was an important Iranian diplomat and served as our country’s foreign minister and ambassador in the 1960s and 1970s. Zahedi studied agricultural science and water research at USU before returning to Iran.
“USU was bringing in international students to study water, agriculture and irrigation,” Davis said. “Zahedi was one of the students who came here.”
The exhibit also provided a learning experience for students wanting to present historical information in the future. This particular exhibit was used as an example for an archive class on how to create an actual physical exhibit using archives.
“I am hoping that someday I can do research and work in an archive so this will give me a little more background on what to look for and which archives to use,” said Emily Crumpton, a history major at USU.
The Year of Water Exhibit at the library was only a small portion of what USU has planned. There will be other events that will showcase 2015 as the Year of Water.
“The overall goal of the Year of Water is to highlight the importance of the research into water and how water is the lifeblood of Utah,” Davis said. “The more we research and study water policy and irrigation, the better choices we will make down the road.”
For more information on USU’s Year of Water, visit http://www.usu.edu/yearofwater/.
—jillian.mccarthy@aggiemail.usu.edu