Monmouth University’s fall 2018 Museum and Archives Management Basics class has partnered with the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University to create an installation highlighting the life and times of “The Boss.” The student-curated exhibit, “Bruce Springsteen: The Journey” will be featured in six display cases in the Guggenheim Memorial Library beginning with an informal opening reception on Dec. 4 at 6 p.m.
Melissa Ziobro, a public history professor who teaches the class, said the students studied the basics of museum and archive management and researched the chosen theme before beginning work on the exhibit. Students read Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography, watched documentaries, and worked with The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for the American Music at the University to lay the groundwork for “Bruce Springsteen: The Journey.” Ziobro said the Bruce archives were like a “laboratory” for her students and provided a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in the field.
The Department of History and Anthropology offers the museum and archives class. It is a requirement for the public history minor, but is open to all students in any major wishing to gain knowledge in the art of archiving and museum operations. “Bruce Springsteen: The Journey” is the second exhibit put together by the museum and archives class. Students curated the first exhibit, a WWI centennial display, in the spring of 2017. The class will be offered again in the fall of 2020.
The Dec. 4 opening reception will begin in Library 101 for brief remarks and light refreshments, followed by a tour of the exhibit. Guests will have the opportunity to hear directly from the student curators. This event is free and open to all.
For more information, contact Melissa Ziobro at mziobro@monmouth.edu.
