It Only Happens Once Every Hundred Years: Making the Most of the Centennial Opportunity

Clemson University celebrated its centennial in 1988-89, an event that served as the catalyst for transforming the university's archives. The author discusses how the Special Collections department capitalized on centennial-related reference requests, publications and oral history projects, exhibits, and time capsule activities to reach new audiences and win support for program expansion. Important elements in the successful strengthening of this program were the support of key university administrators, start-up funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and the identification of viable, high-visibility projects for its various constituencies.