Worcester State University Archives and Special Collections

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Worcester State University Archives and Special Collections

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The Archives and Special Collections repository for the Worcester State University Library.

10/15/2026

The Theatre Arts Department’s (today’s Visual and Performing Arts Department) celebrated its 10th anniversary season with this 1979 production of Edgar Lee Mitchell’s The Spoon River Anthology. These images show the minimalist sets and ensemble of performers that made it a popular production for colleges and other smaller venues. WSU’s production was presented October 17-20 for 1979’s Homecoming weekend. A brief review was published in the October 26th edition of the Student Voice newspaper: https://archive.org/details/studentvoice1979worc/page/n67/mode/1up?q=theater

10/13/2026

Hermes 3000 typewriter, 1962.

Manufactured by the Palliard company, the Hermes 3000 was a European brand known for Swiss engineering and a distinctive sea-foam green color. The rounded corners on this model are characteristic of first-generation machines. Priced at $110 in 1962 ($1200 today) it would have been somewhat costlier than typical portable machines that often sold for under $100. The Hermes 3000 was popular among professional writers and was used by figures such as Jack Kerouac, Sylvia Plath, and Sam Shepard. This model belonged to WSU alumnus Robert E. Mullin (’53, ’56) and includes the original owner’s manual, sales receipt and warranty from Palley Office Supply in Worcester.

10/08/2026

Worcester State garage under construction, spring 2007. 20 years ago, WSU was in the process of building a new garage that would address the long-standing parking woes on campus. The new facility was built into the hillside adjacent to the LRC building and opened in September 2007, with 554 spaces for students, staff, and faculty.

10/06/2026

Royal Model O (Standard Portable) typewriter, ca. 1936. Royal Typewriter Company, Hartford, Connecticut. Serial no. O-496703.

Along with archives and rare books, the WSU archives occasionally acquires vintage technology including business machines like this typewriter. Ubiquitous in offices for much of the 20th century, manual and electric typewriters were also used by students for writing papers. Some university libraries even provided sound proof “typing booths.” This particular model’s history is unknown but, at 90 years old, it remains in pristine condition with fully functioning parts. The sleek black finish was a feature associated with Royal’s Model O line in the 1930s.

09/22/2026

Campus scenes, fall 1999. These images shot on a sparkling fall day 27 years ago were staged for promotional purposes, probably use in the course catalog. The group photo includes WSU President Kalyan Ghosh who served from 1992-2002.

09/17/2026

Ledger Book, c. 1900. This book, found in a campus department, documents the sale of produce to various Worcester-area individuals and businesses from November, 1902 to July, 1903. The provenance (history) of the item is unclear, but it represents a common type of business record from the era before business machines and computers were available. It also shows the types of seasonal produce available, and their costs, from nearly 125 years ago.

09/15/2026

25 years ago in the Fall, of 2001, The WSU Center for Performing Arts (VPA today) presented seven comic one-act plays by playwright, David Ives and directed by Anne Marie Shea. These images show highlights from the piece which was presented at the Fuller Theatre in the Administration Building. To read a review of the play from the 2001 Student Voice, follow this link: https://archive.org/details/sv-01-02complete/page/n75/mode/1up

09/10/2026

Robin Kaplan Memorial Garden. As we observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we remember Worcester State’s Robin Kaplan (’90) who perished aboard one of the hijacked flights. The original 9/11 memorial was adjacent to the former gym building, but was relocated and rededicated in 2016 when the Wellness Center opened. This fall, an exhibit commemorating the anniversary will be on view on the LRC’s 3rd floor. To read about campus reactions after the event, follow the link below to view The Student Voice newspaper from September, 2001. https://archive.org/details/sv-01-02complete/page/n17/mode/1up #9/11

09/08/2026

Students on campus, fall 2006. These images from 20 years ago show the popularity of laptop computers at a time before smartphones. Along with outdoor scenes, these images also show interiors of the student center. Eagle-eyed viewers will see the concrete ashtrays that once stood adjacent to some outdoor seating before WSUs campus went smoke-free.

09/03/2026

School Desk, Chandler Adjustable Chair and Desk Company (Boston), c. 1898. This desk came from the former Rutland Center School, which served the village of Rutland, Worcester County, for more than 65 years. Typical of desks used in schools 120 years ago, it was anchored into the floor but included an adjustable chair and desk permitting use by different ages. The glass ink well in the top would have originally included a tin or glass lid. This desk was donated by an alumnus whose father taught in the former school before it was demolished in 1965.

Address

Learning Resource Center, 486 Chandler Street
Worcester, MA
01602

Website

https://libguides.worcester.edu/archives

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