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The collection includes the copper time capsule and the published materials that composed its contents, which were sealed inside the 1969 Central Michigan University Park Library building cornerstone until they were extracted during the 1999-2001 building renovation.

The collection includes the copper time capsule and the published materials that composed its contents, which were sealed inside the 1969 Central Michigan University Park Library building cornerstone until they were extracted during the 1999-2001 building renovation. These publications mainly document the history of the Park, Mr. Charles V. Park, for whom the library building is named, sources of the library’s collection development activities, CMU courses, CMU President William B. Boyd, student protests against the Vietnam War, both on campus and nationally, international relations, and President Richard M. Nixon. Except for the newspapers, which are quite acidic, the collection is in very good condition. Materials are organized by size and format, alphabetically and chronologically. Published items in the collection are under copyright.

Researchers may be interested in other Clarke collections documenting the CMU Libraries, President William Boyd, Mr. Park, and student protests against the Vietnam War.

The collection documents the reconstruction and new addition of the CMU Park Library building and temporary redesign of Finch Fieldhouse. There is also one set of blue-line drawings of the old Park building.

Architectural materials collection, 1966, 1997-2001, 2005. The collection includes blue-line prints, Dec. 1966, by Roger Allen and Associates of Grand Rapids (Mich.) for the original Park Library. Architectural drawings for the renovation and addition to the Park Library include: a milestone schedule, concept drawings, site layout plans, an artist's renderings of interior and exterior views of the new building, a presentation drawing, composite floor plans for four floors, and a vendor sample board of office furniture for staff, 1997-2001, by Greiner and Associates of Grand Rapids. Some of the drawings are mounted on foamcor board. The collection documents various stages of the planning process for the new building, as well as the furniture, shelving, signage, and electricity plans for it, and the landscaping and planting around it. Lighting fixture drawings were created by H.M. Brandston and Partners, Inc., 1999. Custom furniture designs by Blanton and Moore, LLC are for maple study carrels, 2001, and exhibit cases, 2005. Also included is a three-dimensional model of the new building with a wooden base and clear plastic cover. The model measures 28x35x8 inches and includes the building, people, cars, trees, sidewalks, and Preston Street. The model is composed of carboard and plastic in red, white, blue, green, brown, and black. The collection is organized by format, size, and chronologically.

Researchers may also be interested in additional architectural materials documenting the addition which are found in the CMU. Park Library New library collection, 1996-2008, which is also housed in the Clarke Historical Library. This collection includes final drawings, which came to the archivist after re/construction was completed. The collection also documents the open house events and other events held in the new building. Collections documenting the history and functions of the library are also housed in the Clarke.

The collection documents the reconstruction and new addition of the CMU Park Library building, as well as ongoing life in the new building.

This collection documents the reconstruction and new addition of the CMU Park Library building, as well as ongoing life in the new building, located on the corner of Preston and Franklin Streets in Mount Pleasant, through photographs, webpages, clippings (copies), publications, and other materials. This collection was kept separate from prior Park Library collection due to its timely nature and for ease of retrieval, as requested by the Dean of Libraries.

Included here are various publications of exhibits and events, news articles, website pages, and brochures generated since 2002 documenting ongoing events in the building. Of particular note is Library needs of faculty in a changing environment: report of findings, a report based on a survey, written by Professor Mary A. Senter, December 2006. Also included are two CD-Roms, one of the library’s opening, January 9, 2002, and another of the 50th anniversary of the library’s federal depository program, January 24, 2008.

Later additions to the collection from the Dean’s Office include materials used to plan the new building, 3 CD-Roms of photographs of the construction and dedication. The collection is ongoing. A 2023 addition from the Libraries Business Services legacy files includes photographs of the interior construction and completed building exterior, and a Michigan Construction journal featuring the new building, and a questionnaire asking for construction details which were included in the article (see Box 1 Exhibits/Events Brochures folder).

Reference Point, the Park’s newsletter, is separately cataloged and housed as a periodical in the Clarke’s collections.

For additional information about the Park, see other, related collections documenting the history of the Park Library in the Clarke Historical Library.