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When freshmen arrived on campus for orientation on Wednesday, August 22, they received backpacks full of information and goodies – coupons, fliers and a new student magazine. Among the items was a booklet, Building Legacies, which features names and background information on all campus buildings.
“Millersville has such a rich history; the buildings on campus are named after those people for a reason. They are the legacy of this University,” said Rich Frerichs ’64, an avid volunteer for his alma mater, who gives campus tours to all student orientation leaders.
Two years ago, Frerichs stumbled across a smaller version of a booklet created back in the 1980s as part of a class research assignment in a course taught by Fay Kramer, educational foundations. His original idea was to update this booklet as background information for orientation leaders to use when giving campus tours.
“We want to bring the past traditions of Millersville University back to students of today,” said Frerichs, who reached out to Michelle Perez, student affairs, Diane Black, University communications and marketing, and Janet Dotterer, University library, to get this project off the ground.
The possibilities for such a piece quickly grew – that’s where the idea of handing this booklet out to all incoming freshmen came from. “Students should know the history and the namesake when they walk into a building on campus,” Frerichs added.
Additional copies of Building Legacies were also requested by popular demand for the president’s office, alumni office, as well as other offices around campus.
The inscription on the second page of the book reads: “There are few ways to better experience Millersville University’s rich history and traditions than by touring our campus. We invite you to enjoy this pictorial tour of the campus and are delighted to share the preserved images of our architectural history.”
Inspired to learn more about Millersville’s rich history? Visit the library’s Archives and Special Collections website.
