For the second year in a row, the University Archives kicked off the start of the fall semester with a hands-on activity celebrating student creativity and the vintage banners held in the collection. On Sept. 9, “Hands-On: Pizza & Pennant Making” invited more than 150 attendees into Hunt Library for an afternoon filled with crafting, connection, and pizza.
The event launched last year to kick off the Archives’ 125th Anniversary exhibit, “Room to Imagine.” This year’s installment continues the Libraries’ focus on hands-on activities, giving the CMU community a chance to make something with their hands and connect with CMU’s history at the same time.
“We were so thrilled with how many students joined us last year that we had to run it back!” said Outreach and Engagement Events Manager Erin Swift, who oversees the Hands-On event series. “We're excited to see this event grow and hope it becomes a "back-to-school" tradition for CMU students for years to come.”
For Community Collections Archivist Crystal Johnson, the activity is a chance for students to learn more about those who walked this campus before them, while learning about ways they can add their own experiences to the university’s archival record. “Hopefully, the event is a fun way for students to see themselves as part of CMU’s history and think about the stories they might contribute someday,” she said. “The Archives is a great place for research, but it can also be a place to explore, get inspired, and take a little break from the stress of starting a new semester.”
Coming up on Sept. 17, “Constitution Day 2026: Connect Through Community” offers another chance to get creative by crafting pocket-sized constitutions and postcards encouraging civic participation. After that, the Hands-On series continues with “Mini Painting with the RPG Collection” on Nov. 5. Bring your own character minis or take home one of ours at this opportunity to elevate your latest RPG campaign or simply brush up on your painting skills.
The Archives’ collections are available for use by researchers and other community members throughout the year. Contact the Archives to schedule an appointment, or visit during drop-in hours on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. All levels of curiosity are welcome!
