NDSU history busts from the shelves
The Institute for Regional Studies allows for interactive exploration
Beyond history books, unique NDSU history can be found busting from the seams of boxes at the Institute for Regional Studies.
Michael Robinson, an archivist at the Institute for Regional Studies, collects history at NDSU in order to keep traditions alive and timely events preserved.
NDSU’s dynamic history exists within a maze of gray and blue boxes located in the Institute for Regional Studies at 1305 19th Ave. N. in Fargo.
During the day, Robinson spends his time looking through documents and examining artifacts that will be preserved in the boxes.
The historical papers and objects he accepts are added to the extensive collection of information that already exists at the institute.
“ The archive gives people a better sense for history, (because it’s) tangible,” Robinson said.
The information can be any form of media, such as photographs, video or sound recordings and letters and documents deemed important enough for permanent safekeeping. Archivists decide what pieces of history to save for their particular institution.
A person can become an archivist by earning a degree in archival science or obtaining certification in the archival field.
Robinson chose to pursue the latter after his job became monotonous as the director of his own career planning and placement firm.
Interest in archival administration stemmed from his undergraduate studies in history.
Robinson finds the uncertainty of what will be in the next box more exciting than guiding someone through writing a résumé.
Old typewriters, bowling pins, war diaries, minutes from the first NDSU faculty meeting and an old mixer from a former home economics class are among his unusual finds.
The minutes from the first NDSU faculty meeting, held on Oct. 22, 1890, is one of Robinson’s favorite pieces.
The writings are interesting to him because they are the roots of the university, he said. The school employed only four professors that day.
Robinson and the institute have a mission to promote the use of the collection.
“ We want to get this information out,” Robinson said. “We try to be proactive.”
The Institute of Regional Studies is available to all students to explore the wealth of information that it provides, although nothing can be checked out.
The hours for the institute are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Hours are extended until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The Institute of Regional Studies also has a Web page at http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndirs/