College preparing for 50th anniversary.

Director of Library Services Renee Snodgrass (front) and Library Secretary Jeanene Briggs (back) review newly acquired materials in the college archive located in the WSCC’s William M. Anderson Library.

VICTORY TOWNSHIP – West Shore Community College is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2017, and college staff is asking the public for photos and artifacts related to their experiences at West Shore to be used in several upcoming projects, including a book, an exhibit about changing gender roles in the workplace, and the further development of the college archives.

The book will commemorate the land, leadership, student activities, and academic achievements of West Shore since its inception.  It will include dozens of pictures, some of which the college hopes will come from community members. The book is being authored by alumna Sarah Jensen and is expected to be available in mid-2017.

The gender role exhibit is part of a year-long series of events highlighting West Shore’s history. The exhibit will feature artifacts, photos, and stories showing how gender roles in various professions have changed since the first graduating class of 1970.  An example would be a nursing uniform from the first male nurse to earn his degree from the college, or a photo of female criminal justice students in the classroom.

The college is also creating an archive, the goal of which is to gather, organize, preserve, and make accessible materials relating to the founding, organization, and work of the college.  Renee Snodgrass, director of library services, is asking the public to donate their memories of West Shore for inclusion in the archives.

“We’re looking for photos, documents, and physical items that are unique and tell part of the story of our college.  I’m excited to gather all of this history and then share these artifacts and items with the public,” she said.

Digital photos and documents can be emailed to rsnodgrass@westshore.edu, and items can be brought to the William M. Anderson Library during the library’s open hours, which are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. from now until June 3, and then during extended hours for the summer semester.

Due to space limitations, not all items can be accepted. Contact Snodgrass at (231) 843-5869 with questions.