Propaganda, the Red Cross and Black Greeks: Exhibits in the Guerrieri Academic Commons Spring 2021

One of the pleasures of the Guerrieri Academic Commons (GAC) is that we have space in which to exhibit our collections, highlight history and culture, and partner with others. This spring, the Nabb Center staff treated us to excellent exhibits, "Decoding Political Propaganda," "The Power of Humanity: The Red Cross on Delmarva" and "First Not Last: Black Greek Life at Salisbury University."

"Decoding Political Propaganda" is on the first floor of the GAC through July 18. An online version is available. This exhibit promotes critical thinking through the examination of propaganda materials from not just the U.S. but from around the world, including Soviet Russia, China, Japan, Cuba and elsewhere. It explores the use of fear and demonization tactics, slogans, caricatures, appeals to racism and prejudice, and more. Many of the images in the exhibit come from the Nabb Center’s collections. Melinda McPeek, the Nabb Center’s curator of exhibits and engagement, curated the exhibit.

"The Power of Humanity: The Red Cross on Delmarva" is in the Thompson Gallery on the fourth floor of the GAC through July 18. An online version is available. The exhibit explores the activities of Delmarva’s Red Cross chapters from their founding during World War I to the present-day COVID pandemic, using historic artifacts, documents and photographs from the collections of the Nabb Center. The curators for the exhibit were McPeek; Ian Post, local history archivist; and Jen Piegols, University archivist and special collections librarian.

Also check out "First Not Last: Black Greek Life at Salisbury University," which is now in the Niemann Gallery on the fourth floor of the GAC. An online version is available. This exhibit, created by the SU Libraries Diversity and Inclusion Committee in honor of National African American History Month, celebrates two historically Black Greek letter organizations at SU, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority chapter, chartered in 1979, and the Omega Psi Phi fraternity chapter, chartered in 1976. The exhibit features photographs, documents and objects from the University Archives.

The SU Libraries extend our gratitude to Lori Pauling, graphic artist in SU’s Publications Office. She does much of the design work for our exhibits, garnering recognition as SU’s Employee of the Month for December 2020. In nominating Pauling, McPeek wrote: "[Lori’s] exquisite designs help bring these exhibitions to life. ... Even when faced with an impossible deadline, multiple rewrites, and last-minute changes, she delivers a stellar product every time." Thanks, Lori!