What’s in the box? Estabrook Time Capsule to Be Opened


A bit of history will soon see the light of day, as a time capsule from Estabrook Hall has been extracted from the building and will be opened on Facebook Live.

The capsule was placed in the northwest cornerstone as part of Estabrook Hall’s expansion and dedication in 1906.

With the building being taken down to make way for a new engineering complex, the University Libraries Office of Special Collections has taken possession of it and will carefully reveal the contents of the 112-year-old lead box, which was soldered shut.

Contents of the box are said to include mementos from the time period, including illustrations of the university and buildings, letters, newspapers, and course guides.

University archivist and assistant professor Alesha Shumar will guide the reveal.

Find out more information about the new engineering complex.


Photo Gallery

During a ceremony in the Hodges Library Special Collections area on Friday, July 6, 2018, preservation technician Amanda Richards, university archivist and assistant professor Alesha Shumar, and senior lecturer in the department of history Bob Hutton, opened a time capsule that was placed in the northwest cornerstone as part of Estabrook Hall’s expansion and dedication in 1906. Contents of the box included the remains of mementos from the time period, including illustrations of the university and buildings, letters, newspapers, photographs, and course guides.

Photo of John Estabrook from the University Archive (Adam Brimer / University of Tennessee)
Photo of Estabrook Hall from the University Archive (Adam Brimer / University of Tennessee)
Photo of Estabrook Hall from the University Archive (Adam Brimer / University of Tennessee)
Copy of University Day Program from the University Archive (Adam Brimer / University of Tennessee)
Contents of Time Capsule with Archive Examples (Adam Brimer / University of Tennessee)
Map of Estabrook Hall with Location of Time Capsule (Adam Brimer / University of Tennessee)
Tools Used to Open Time Capsule (Adam Brimer / University of Tennessee)
Contents of Estabrook Hall Time Capsule (Adam Brimer / University of Tennessee)

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