Celebrating UCI's 40th Anniversary

UCI Welcomes Fifth Chancellor

Gift of Rare Dutch Bible

Libraries Support Undergraduate Research

Librarian Supports Special Collections

Reader Donates Volume

Library Wish List

Library Spring Exhibit: SEAA

UCI Fortieth Anniversary Symposium & Exhibit

Book Signing: Joan Irvine Smith

In Memoriam

UCI's year-long celebration of the campus' fortieth anniversary, centered on the theme "Forty Years of Innovation," formally began at the 2005 Commencement ceremonies, and activities will continue throughout the 2005/2006 academic year. The University Archives, which is housed in the Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives and whose mission is to preserve and provide access to UCI's history, is playing a central role in the celebration and has an array of exciting projects underway.

Head of Special Collections and Archives Jackie Dooley leads our efforts, working with Assistant University Archivist Anne Mar and Project Archivist Rachel Sandoval. Spencer Olin, Professor Emeritus of History and Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professor, was appointed by former Chancellor Ralph Cicerone to work with library staff on the project. Our major activities are:

  • A website titled UCI History Online! will debut in Fall 2005. Text and images from the Archives will reveal the history of the campus's early development, include brief biographies of our Chancellors and other key figures, highlight a variety of aspects of student life, include a searchable database of campus buildings and chronologies of all academic units, and much more.
  • First flag raising at Gateway Plaza with Main Library in the background, September 14, 1965

  • Designing UCI: A Symposium Celebrating Forty Years of Innovation, sponsored by the UCI Libraries, will be held at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on November 3 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Speakers will focus on three aspects of the early planning of UCI: its site on the Irvine Ranch, innovative academic planning, and campus architecture. For more information about this event, please go to Library Events on page 8.
  • Under Construction Indefinitely: Forty Years of Designing UCI, a major exhibit on the evolution of UCI's campus architecture, will debut the evening of the symposium. The exhibit is curated by Professor Olin and archivists Rachel Sandoval and Anne Mar.
  • Designing UCI, an illustrated booklet, will contain essays by Professor Olin and Campus Architect Rebekah Gladson on UCI's architectural planning, as well as the catalog of the exhibit. A copy will be given to all symposium attendees.
  • We are actively collecting the papers of early and distinguished faculty members, as well as key UCI offices. A number of major collections have been added recently, including the records of the Cicerone Chancellorship, papers of founding faculty members, and the records of the Academic Senate.
  • Professor Olin has conducted oral history interviews with three key campus figures: former UC President and UCI Chancellor Jack Peltason, former UCI Chancellor Ralph Cicerone, and Executive Vice Chancellor Michael Gottfredson.

The Libraries' activities for the fortieth anniversary are ambitious, but just wait until the fiftieth ten years from now! For more information about these activities, please contact Jackie Dooley at jmdooley@uci.edu or 949.824.4935.