Taken For Granted: Examining Structural Prejudice in a Land Grant University's Archives

Abstract

Many are familiar with the term “Land Grant University”, but what does this actually mean and how does that affect how an institution functions? The legacy of what it means to be a Land Grant University has changed over time and continues to evolve. There is a definite financial benefit that comes with a Land Grant designation, but there is more to be understood regarding the social impacts of this designation. There are parallels between events that shaped the changing objectives in Land Grant institutions and the social inequities that have occurred throughout campus histories from the inception of the Morrill Act to today. Based on research and a small solo exhibition entitled “Taken For Granted: The Legacy of a Land Grant University” in the Maryland Room at the University of Maryland College Park’s (UMD) Hornbake Library, this poster presented a recap of my research and exhibition design, discussed my findings related to archival practices and institutional identity, and explains how understanding the social history of an institution can vary from diverse perspectives. The stories of marginalized and underrepresented groups in the University’s history were included to demonstrate generational prejudices up to the present day.