Cheers to 150 Years!
A display case in the Rolvaag Memorial Library Reference Room features a wide range of cups and mugs, from a complete 1800s tea set to plastic cups from the Lion’s Pause.
One mug shaped like a scientific beaker commemorates the opening of Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Science in 2008. Others highlight the Norwegian origins of St. Olaf College, such as the ceramic pitcher in the shape of Norwegian Prime Minister Christian Michelson’s head and the wooden “drinking vessel” with horse-headed handles.
What do all of these oddities have in common? A particular significance to life on the Hill during the past 150 years, encapsulated in the shape of a cup.
“Cups, mugs, silver sets, and similar things have clearly been a popular way to commemorate students’ time and experiences at the college, and I love that so many of these items have made it back to us so we can learn more about our history through them,” says Lead Archivist Kristell Benson.
This display of cups and cutlery includes donations from Norwegian immigrants, gifts from alumni and former presidents of the college, and various memorabilia related to student life. For Distinctive Collections Engagement Librarian Jillian Sparks, cups became a cheerful medium to tell the story of St. Olaf.
“When I was trying to pick the material, I was looking for what would be a good blend of the early origins of the college while also celebrating our more current history,” Sparks says. “But not everything has to be precious — some of my favorite cups are the ones from the Pause and the beaker from when Regents opened. I really just wanted something light and joyful to celebrate the 150th.”
“So much of the gathering that happens in our community is centered around gathering to celebrate with coffee and cake or tea and cookies. It’s another part of the St. Olaf history that I wanted to highlight.”
— Distinctive Collections Engagement Librarian Jillian Sparks
Benson and Sparks hope to highlight the history of gift giving and community gathering through the displayed cups. Sparks’ favorite item on display is a miniature teacup gifted by Georgina Hegland, the sixth female graduate of the college in 1906, to Dorothy Rand, a Latin professor and spouse to former St. Olaf College President Sidney Rand. This item and other tea sets in the collection highlight the relationships that Oles form with one another while a part of this community on the Hill.
“So much of the gathering that happens in our community is centered around gathering to celebrate with coffee and cake or tea and cookies. It’s another part of the St. Olaf history that I wanted to highlight,” says Sparks.
College Archives hosted a tea party for the Cheers to 150 Years Exhibit on November 6 in the Rolvaag Library Reference Room. After enjoying tea, coffee, and treats, attendees were able to print a souvenir letterpress postcard on the College Archives press.
In addition to the display in the Rolvaag Library reference room, the exhibit is available in a digital display. Thanks to a grant from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society, the St. Olaf Archives have been able to digitally catalog all 1,216 items in the 3D object inventory.
Sparks has also developed a web page that highlights historically relevant archival information for each decade of the last 150 years. This digital timeline was produced in collaboration with Paige Ewert ’26, a current history and art history major at St. Olaf.