Aerial View of Campus and Baltimore City, 1981
Aerial photographs of campus have been made periodically throughout UMBC's history. This 1969 view shows various ongoing construction projects, including the first dormitories (slightly above and left of center), the Physical Plant building (now the Public Safety Building) along Hilltop Circle (then called The Loop," which was only half finished), and the beginnings of site preparation where the Administration Building would be built. Along the top of the photograph may be seen I-95 under construction as well as its intersection with Rt. 166 at the top right. Kuhn recognized that having the interchange would be critical for UMBC, so he approached Governor Tawes in 1966 and asked for the interchange to be put into the I-95 plans. When Tawes asked John B. Funk, Chairman of the Maryland State Roads Commission, to make the change, Funk resisted by saying: We're just about done, we don't want any more projects." Tawes replied: You're going to have to put one in to have access to UMBC."
University Photographs
1981
gelatin silver prints; black-and-white photographs
UARC Photos-08-02-1338
Alumni News, UMBC Alumni Association
In 1986, UMBC commissioned alumna Paulette Raye ‘87, philosophy, to create a bronze-cast model of the Retriever for the school’s 20th anniversary. Raye worked in a studio at Towson University, using a Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Nitty Gritty as her model. The 500-pound, life-size statue was unveiled on December 7, 1987, outside of the Field House, now the plaza between the Administration Building and the Retriever Activities Center. Its name, True Grit,” is actually the name of Nitty Gritty’s father. In an interview with UMBC Magazine, Raye said that she wasn’t exactly sure why the mascot received that name [True Grit instead of Nitty Gritty] … other than it sounded bold and strong—like the [school’s] team.”
This edition of the newsletter asked alumni to be a believer in our Retriever” and make donations toward the commissioned statue of UMBC’s mascot.
University Publications
Fall 1986
newsletters; 11 x 8.5 in.
UPUB A3-013
Backstrom/Sadler campaign flier for SGA President and Vice President
The first issue of the student newspaper in 1966 reported that the university would install a Student Government Association that would provide for self-government under the jurisdiction of the university's administrative and faculty personnel." The article set forth that the SGA would create the policies that governed the activities and welfare of students and advise the administration of the student viewpoint on matters affecting student life. The first step in creating the SGA was the formation of a Student Elections Board Committee, selected by the Student Life Office. Doug Gordon was elected by the student body as SGA president, in addition to Ken Walters, vice president; Barry Sugar, treasurer; and Margaret Masse, secretary.
In the April 1987 SGA election, Will Backstrom and Jerry Sadler won with 309 votes, a fifty-three vote margin over the closest runner-up. The Backstrom/Sadler campaign didn't make any promises to students, which was a move that The Retriever Weekly reported was intentional as Sadler believed previous SGA winners often made promises they didn't have the power to keep."
Will Backstrom collection, Collection 209
1987
fliers (printed matter); 4.125 x 5 in.
50UMBC-024
Bartleby (Spring 1984). Cover design by Nancy Guarnera.
Although not UMBC's first literary journal, Bartleby is UMBC's longest running and continues to be one of our most well-known traditions. Originally based out of the English department, Bartleby has been published in several different formats and has, at times, accepted student, faculty, staff, and Baltimore-area submissions of poetry, literature, and artwork. Since 1989 the publication has accepted submissions that are student authored only. Bartleby is now funded by the SGA, managed and edited by UMBC students, and published every spring semester. The first issue carried the celebrated moniker, Bartleby, after a Herman Melville character. The journal has had several other titles, including Soup, Imagine, and Samsdatz, but has been published as Bartleby for the past 14 issues.
Guarnera, Nancy
University Publications
Spring 1984
little magazines;; 6 x 9 in.
UPUB E3-006_2
Business card for SGA President Will Backstrom
The first issue of the student newspaper in 1966 reported that the university would install a Student Government Association that would provide for self-government under the jurisdiction of the university's administrative and faculty personnel." The article set forth that the SGA would create the policies that governed the activities and welfare of students and advise the administration of the student viewpoint on matters affecting student life. The first step in creating the SGA was the formation of a Student Elections Board Committee, selected by the Student Life Office. Doug Gordon was elected by the student body as SGA president, in addition to Ken Walters, vice president; Barry Sugar, treasurer; and Margaret Masse, secretary.
In the April 1987 SGA election, Will Backstrom and Jerry Sadler won with 309 votes, a fifty-three vote margin over the closest runner-up. The Backstrom/Sadler campaign didn't make any promises to students, which was a move that The Retriever Weekly reported was intentional as Sadler believed previous SGA winners often made promises they didn't have the power to keep."
Will Backstrom collection, Collection 209
1987
business cards; 2 x 3.5 in.
50UMBC-023
Chancellor Michael Hooker at his installation ceremony by Irving H. Phillips, Jr.
All institutions of higher education seek to preserve the past. We are citadels of learning, guardians of culture. We recognize that the past is prologue, and know that those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it. But progressive institutions seek also to read the future, to analyze trends, and to develop alternative scenarios in response. The best institutions do this in order to ensure that the liberal, scholarly traditions influences the shape of the society to come." -Michael Hooker from his installation speech as chancellor October 29, 1986
Phillips, Irving H., Jr.
Baltimore Sun photographs
10/29/1986
color photographs; chromogenic color prints; 8 x 10 in.
P2014-01-0135
Chancellor Michael Hooker speaks at the unveiling ceremony for the True Grit sculpture. Color print from 35mm slide, December 1987. University Photographs, University Archives, UARC 2013-013-04-0161
Chancellor Michael Hooker and Director of Athletics Rick Hartzell hosted the unveiling ceremony for the True Grit statue on December 7, 1987.
University Photographs
12/1987
color slides; color photographs
UARC 2013-013-04-0161
Dr. Koh with First Graduating Class of Engineers by Patrick Sander
The Maryland State Board of Higher Education approved engineering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs at UMBC in 1984, though not without heated competition from Morgan State University. Previously, pre-engineering classes were offered at UMBC, but students had to transfer to University of Maryland, College Park to complete their degrees. Both Morgan and UMBC desired an engineering program, but ultimately, the decision was made that each school would receive half of a full engineering program; electrical, civil, and industrial engineering were given to Morgan and chemical, biological, and mechanical engineering programs were given to UMBC. The first UMBC class of engineers in 1986 were awarded eight bachelor's degrees and one master's degree. Engineering student organizations ASME, AIChE and the Council of Majors were also established that in 1986. Dr. Severino Koh was a founder of the program and served as associate dean of the College of Engineering until 1991, and he taught as a mechanical engineering professor until he retired in 2002.
Sander, Patrick
Baltimore Sun Photographs
6/6/1986
gelatin silver prints; black-and-white photographs; 8 x 10 in.
P2014-01-0079
Faculty Senate minutes, April 12, 1988. Minutes, 4 pages, April 12, 1988
In 1988, Governor William Donald Schaefer signed a bill that would completely change the way Maryland divided the state’s academic budget and programs. The newly created University System of Maryland (USM) would bring together the five University of Maryland campuses and six other public colleges. The bill also created a Cabinet-level Secretary of Education and a USM chancellor, responsible for 95% of USM’s state funding and overseen by a Board of Regents. The first chancellor was University of Maryland President John S. Toll. At this time the title of the administrative leader of the individual campuses changed from chancellor to president.
University Senates records, Collection 52
4/12/1988
minutes (administrative records); 8.5 x 11 in.
50UMBC-022
Fieldhouse floorboard
The first phase of the Retriever Activities Center renovations included the replacement of the locker rooms and training rooms. The master plan for the RAC was scheduled to take place over the next three years and would renovate the entire building as well as the athletic fields.
Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation records, Collection 60
Fall 1988
flooring; wood board; 2 3/8 x 6/8 x 8 in.
50UMBC-046b