Join the Libraries for the thesis presentation, "The OHIO Bobcats: An Archival Journey”
Libraries is pleased to be titled, "The OHIO Bobcats: An Archival Journey," by Darayus Sethna, a senior studying journalism, on Wednesday, April 16. From 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. in Alden Library’s Friends of the Library room 319 on the third floor. Join us to learn more about Sethna's research focusing on significant teams and individuals in 's history of athletics. The event is free and open to all.
Sethna is a student in both the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and Honors Tutorial College. Using University Archives, he has conducted extensive research for his thesis and will be showcasing his , some of the stories he uncovered and provide insight into his research process. His thesis specifically examines some of the most notable teams, players and events in the history of OHIO Bobcat sports through the usage of newspaper articles and photographs from University Archives as his primary source too.
Sethna mentioned that one of the key themes of his research and presentation is to demonstrate the importance of archival research.
“In a world where so many things are happening online, social media, etc., I wanted to show how archives are something more than just old pictures,” Sethna said. “They also can be a gateway into the past to help us understand how society has changed — for better or worse and tell stories that stand the test of time.”
Bill Kimok, University archivist and records manager, worked closely with Sethna throughout the research process. Kimok mentioned that when Sethna first came to University Archives about his project, he already had a sharp sense that the Libraries could be full of information and stories related to the history of athletics at .
During the span of several months, Sethna was showing up in the Mahn Center at least once a week, where Kimok and him would talk about where he was with his thesis and where he expected to go next.
“Darayus [Sethna] has been one of my favorite researchers of all time,” Kimok said. “He already had plenty of knowledge about his subject matter and where he wanted to take the project, which gave me the liberty and the enthusiasm to make suggestions about materials from our collections that might enhance his work rather than having to come up with ideas myself.”
Sethna added that he wanted the project to reinforce the resources students at have on campus and shed light on the potential research opportunities available.
“I had a fantastic experience working with University Archives,” Sethna said. “Bill Kimok assisted me through the entire process. I was constantly asking him if he had sources on a specific subject and he would always have something to share. If he didn't have it, he'd point me in the right direction. Bill made this a very smooth process. It was awesome to see just how much information the University Archives has for students to explore.”
Miriam Intrator, head of Archives & Special Collections and Rare Book librarian, hopes that Sethna’s presentation will help others learn more about the history of athletics at OHIO, including the history of women’s athletics.
“We [the Libraries] hope attendees will learn more about University Archives in general and that some may be inspired to consider what other stories and histories remain to be told within Archives & Special Collections,” Intrator said. “We are excited to hear about this history from a student’s perspective and are thrilled to have University Archives and University history centered in this way.”
Intrator mentioned that the event will demonstrate how students can use the Libraries’ resources to advance their research too.
“We [the Libraries] are always happy to work with students, faculty, staff and members of the public who are looking for research topics or just want to learn more about the possibilities,” Intrator said. “We hope that many from the Libraries and the University and Athens communities will join us to learn from and support Sethna.”
Kimok expressed his hope for future students to follow in Sethna’s footsteps when it comes to utilizing the many resources that the Libraries’ offer.
“Darayus’s project is an excellent example of the possibilities for student researchers to find and make use of primary source materials in the Mahn that will help them to move their work along, and often at the same time to enlighten others regarding things they may not have known before,” Kimok said. “I am confident that anyone who attends this event will come away from it with an appreciative perspective on the possibilities for students doing research in their fields in the Mahn Center.”
For more information, contact Bill Kimok kimok@ohio.edu or Miriam Intrator intrator@ohio.edu.