Columbus State University’s Archives & Special Collections has planned a day-long celebration on Thursday, Nov. 6, to mark the end of its year-long series of events celebrating its 50th anniversary. University students and employees, along with patrons and community members, are invited to a daytime open house and evening lecture.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., an open house [map] will feature behind-the-scenes tours led by the Archives & Special Collections team. At the top of every hour, visitors can learn from archival experts while exploring rare and centuries-old manuscripts, vintage photographs and local history collections. Tours will detail how archives are preserved, cataloged and digitized—including a special peek inside the Archives’ vault.

The archival team will also share about educational and research efforts for Columbus State students and community members, family genealogy and other historical topics.

Guests can enjoy cake to celebrate the Archives’ founding during their visit and take home some free commemorative anniversary keepsakes.

At 6 p.m. that same day at the Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center auditorium [map], the Archives will host and celebrate a panel of past Archives leaders, including John Lupold, Callie McGinnis, Merryll Penson and Reagan Grimsley. Each will offer observations of the Archives’ growth over the past half-century. Refreshments will be available starting at 5:30 p.m.

Turning 50

Established in 1975, Columbus State’s Archives has preserved the community’s past and documented the lives and experiences of the people who call this area home. Kicked off in February 2025, monthly programs during the calendar year have focused on its efforts to preserve and document the history of the university, the city of Columbus and the broader Chattahoochee Valley region. The series included monthly lectures and exhibits celebrating the area's local history, including the highly popular 50-foot scrambled dog to celebrate the city’s culinary history in May.

One of its newer collections, the historic Ledger-Enquirer photography collection, debuted in November 2023. With philanthropic support, the university purchased the collection from a private collector who acquired it after the Columbus-based newspaper sold it in 2008. It includes more than 100,000 photos spanning a century of local history and news. 

The Archives made news during its golden anniversary year by expanding its military history collections by adding the personal collection of John O. Marsh, the longest-serving secretary of the Army in U.S. history. The 20-pallet collection of papers and artifacts documents Marsh’s work as a congressman, his tenure as army secretary, and his continued public service in retirement.

In addition to preserving university, community and military history, David Owings, director of the Archives & Special Collections and associate dean of the university’s Libraries, noted that students and scholars can benefit from the Archives’ other collections. These include personal and family papers, newspapers and publications, local business and civic club records, photographs, art, maps, blueprints and much more that detail life in Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley.

“My colleagues and I are proud to have been able to celebrate the Archives’ impact on preserving our rich history, supporting all types of scholarly endeavors, and enriching the lives of our students and others throughout the community,” Owings said. “The year-long celebration has underscored the importance of preserving our past and the rich history for which our region is known.”

Today, the Archives maintains more than 500 distinct collections composed of millions of documents and artifacts. Those are stored in its 5,000-plus cubic feet of climate-controlled facilities on the ground floor of the Simon Schwob Memorial Library. It is open to the public each weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. when the university is open. Some of its collections have been digitized and can be searched online. Limited opportunities exist for volunteers to assist staff with processing, cataloging, digitizing and preserving the Archives’ collections.

Owings noted that much of that work is undergirded by private support through donations to the university. The Archives’ 50th anniversary fundraising campaign has exceeded 82% of its $50,000 fundraising goal. Patrons can make an online gift to support the Archives’ mission and visit the Archives & Special Collections’ website to learn more about its collections and programs.