Stewart Hall Time Capsule

Reference code

192

Level of description

Collection

Title

Stewart Hall Time Capsule

Date(s)

  • 1947-1992 (Creation)

Extent

0.84 linear feet

Name of creator

(1869-2023+)

Administrative history

St. Cloud State University was established by the state of Minnesota in 1869 as the Third State Normal School.

Scope and content

This collection contains the content of a time capsule placed near the cornerstone of Stewart Hall. The cornerstone ceremony was held in mid-May 1948. The time capsule was placed in a 9 inch by 9 inch lead lined copper box.

Nearly all of the material has been published, including a 1944 college history, two copies of the Chronicle student newspaper, and course catalogs for 1947/48 and summer of 1948. Also included here is a May 1948 letter from Warren Stewart, namesake of the building, and two lists containing the signatures of 47 St. Cloud State faculy members and 994 students from the spring quarter of 1948.

Also included here is a folder containing information about the May 1948 cornerstone ceremony, a 1989 clipping about the missing time capsule, and an October 1992 press release regarding the circumstances of its discovery and return to St. Cloud State.

The copper box is still intact but severely damaged.

System of arrangement

The materials are arranged in alphabetical order.

Records are located at 29D.4b-c.

Conditions governing access

There are no access restrictions.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Permission to publish, quote, and reproduce must be secured from the copyright holder.

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      General note

      During the 1988-1989 exterior and interior renovation of Stewart Hall, the 1948 time capsule could not be located. Contractors knew there was a time capsule and in a general area, but it could not be located.

      In September 1992, the stone that was on Stewart Hall was being crushed by local company Meridian Aggregates. Workers noticed a small metal object on a conveyor belt carrying crushed granite and stopped the machinery to investigate - it was the Stewart Hall time capsule. The company returned the time capsule to St. Cloud State in the fall of 1992 and placed in University Archives.

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      Archivist's note

      Processed by Tom Steman in January 2018.

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