Written by Larrun Maynor (’19) and Katherine Banks
A new exhibit has been installed in the Welshimer Library with items from the Holloway Archives. Larrun Maynor, Class of 2019, has curated the exhibit as part of her archives internship with the Holloway Archives.
Larrun Maynor (’19) with the exhibit.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Wonderful Wednesday. Wonderful Wednesday is a day that most, if not all, Milligan students look forward to in their spring semester. It’s a day shrouded in mystery, however, since only a handful of people know the actual date it will take place and these are sworn to secrecy. This annual tradition began on April 30, 1969. President Jess Johnson made a declaration on the Seeger Chapel steps that there would be no classes for the day and that students instead could “hearken to the opportunities for food, fun, and fellowship.” Activities in the early years included discussion panels, picnics, softball games, and folk dancing. In the later years, activities such as races up and down Sutton Hill, Jell-O wrestling, and tug-of-war over the creek became popular. One tradition that has remained a crowd favorite is the waterslide. The exhibit highlights many of these activities through photos, yearbooks, and other documents.
1984 Wonderful Wednesday activities
When asked about her experience while doing research, Larrun replied, “I truly enjoyed searching through the archives to find the different images and documents that are being displayed in this exhibit. There were so many fun pictures to choose from, especially in the yearbooks.”
Katherine (Katie) Banks, the college archivist and internship supervisor, says, “I hope that Milligan students and faculty alike will drop by to see the history of this surprise holiday. Larrun has picked out some great items to show the day’s history. Visitors might be surprised to see how much the holiday has changed since 1969!”
You can also view parts of the exhibit online through MCStor, Milligan College’s digital repository.
Milligan’s Archive Internship opportunity
Each fall semester, students are invited to apply for one volunteer Archive Internship opportunity at The Holloway Archives at Milligan College. The internship begins the following spring semester. All majors are welcome to apply. Please stay tuned for announcements coming this fall.
Have a Milligan history question? Contact the archivist here.
Find out more about Milligan’s archives here.
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