After a long hiatus, the Holloway Archives at Milligan University has an intern again. Aaron Jones, a junior history and humanities major, is interning with Katherine Banks, the University Archivist, this spring, learning how archives work and what archivists do. As part of that process, Jones has curated two exhibits from Milligan’s history currently on display on the first floor of the Welshimer Library.

Aaron Jones with the Milligan vs. ETSU exhibit

Milligan vs. ETSU: The History of “State Week” delves into the rivalry between Milligan University and the local state university, East Tennessee State University. “Representing the rivalry between ETSU and Milligan was a personal matter for me,” says Jones. “For one, being from around here, I have grown up seeing ETSU sporting events and pride for most of my life. Plenty of people I graduated from high school with now attend the school. Additionally, my younger brother, Hunter, is a sophomore at ETSU. Of course, there is a fun bantering between the two of us about ETSU and Milligan to this day (as I am sure there will always be).” The exhibit explores this decades-old rivalry through the lens of Milligan’s short-lived football program that lasted from 1920 to 1950.

Jones says, “It is interesting to put historical context into silly arguments my brother and I have over the dinner table. Additionally, it was interesting to take a dive into athletics at Milligan from over 70 years ago. As a current student athlete at Milligan, it is cool to get a glimpse into the lives of those similar to me from many decades before.” Jones is a nationally-recognized runner in Milligan’s cross country and track program.

Paul Conkin exhibit

The second exhibit focuses on a completely different topic, Paul Conkin, a Milligan alum. Remembering Paul F. Conkin: One of Milligan’s Brightest explores this Milligan grad’s time at Milligan and his contributions to the field of history. Jones explains why he chose this very different subject for his other exhibit: “I learned of Conkin from my history professor, Tim Dillon. Once I was tasked with creating an exhibit, he seemed like the obvious choice. I was amazed to find out the resume and legacy of Paul Conkin. It makes me proud to be part of the rich history of liberal arts and humanities at Milligan, especially history.” While many Milligan students and alums may have never heard of Conkin, they can now learn about his life and legacy through Jones’s exhibit. Conkin passed away last year, making this an appropriate time to reflect on his legacy. “By sifting through the archives, I felt as if I was following a path backwards in time. I saw it as a mystery to unravel; a personal mission of sorts to bring Paul Conkin to light,” Jones says.

Jones sums up his experience interning in the archives so far quite well: “Digging through the archives and records from the late 1940s to early 1950s has given me perspective on certain aspects of being a student at Milligan. Buildings, street names, and fixtures now have more historical perspective for me.” If you or a student you know would be interested in volunteering or interning in the archives at Milligan, feel free to reach out to Katherine Banks, the University Archivist, for more information.

“No distinction as to sex in studies, examinations, or the giving of Diplomas.” Thus states the Annual of Milligan College for the 1880-1881 Session, when the Buffalo Male and Female Institute became Milligan College. Being a coeducational college was unusual for the time, but it was not surprising due to the college’s original status as a primary/secondary school as well as the influence and ideals of Josephus Hopwood, the first president of Milligan. A new exhibit in the Welshimer Library and online (in Milligan DigitalRepository) examines Milligan as a coeducational institution during the Hopwood era, from 1881-1917, from the beginning of Josephus Hopwood’s first term as college president to the end of his second term.

Willie Godby Tabor’s Shorthand Class (1897)

“I think we often forget that Milligan was unusual in educating men and women together during its early days,” says Katherine Banks, University Archivist. “I hope that this exhibit shines some light on why that was and what that meant for students at Milligan during those early years.”

Thanks to Milligan’s roots as a school run by the local church, Buffalo Creek Church (now Hopwood Memorial Christian Church), that then developed into the Buffalo Male and Female Institute, the ground was already set for the college to be coeducational – educating men and women side by side instead of separately (or sometimes not at all, in the case of women). Josephus Hopwood also brought a passion for coeducation when he became the college’s first president, in part because of his religious background and his own college experience.

This ad from a 1915 edition of the Milligan paper The Light proudly lists being coeducational as one of the college’s merits.

“We have to remember, however, that educating men and women together didn’t mean they were always together all the time and had a completely equal experience,” Banks says. “The exhibit discusses some of the ways that they practiced equality by today’s standards, but also the ways in which they did not.” Women were subjected to more restrictive rules than the men, and some classes were specifically for women. But there were many classes that had both men and women in them, and even the faculty at Milligan was mixed to some degree. Overall, Milligan was making strides as a coeducational institution.

The exhibit “‘No Distinction’: Coeducation in Milligan’s Early Years, 1881-1917” is available to view in person on the first floor of the Welshimer Library for those currently allowed to visit campus under the Milligan Returns Home plan. The exhibit can also be viewed online with a more extensive discussion of coeducation at Milligan.