Time Capsule

1973 cornerstone at Marple campus Jerry Parker sitting with Michael McElroy at a table discussing the items found in the time capsule. 听 Jerry Parker and Michael McElroy both holding the time capsule.

Back on November 10, 1974, this iconic photo was taken of Professor Emeritus John Cronin at the dedication of the Marple Campus.听He was a faculty representative at the time who was accompanied in the ceremony by Michael McElroy, president of student government, and Donald Jones, chairman of the Board of Trustees.听Presiding over the ceremony was Dr. Douglas Libby, the College鈥檚 first president.

Watch of this historic event.听

What is interesting about this 1974 event is the 1973 date on the cornerstone.听Because of litigation with Marple Township over zoning, the opening of the campus was delayed.听The correct cornerstone was inserted days later without ceremony.听

The other interesting thing, evident from the video, is that a time capsule was inserted behind the cornerstone during the dedication.听Over time, it seems to have been forgotten, even by John Cronin.听A student writing for the Communitarian in the November 15, 1974 issue mentioned a 鈥減redicted packet of memorabilia听sealed up in a cornerstone and placed for who-knows-how-long-an-eternity in a masonry wall.鈥澨齏e didn鈥檛 have to wait an eternity.听Fortunately, Nancy Brooks, an early staff member, now retired, assured the College that there was a time capsule behind the cornerstone when there was no written evidence of it, except for the above reference in an archived publication.听Based on Nancy鈥檚 assurance, Tony DeLuca authorized his staff to break into the wall behind the cornerstone.听Indeed, there was a time capsule waiting to be uncovered.听

In February, we invited John Cronin to return to campus and assist Dr. Jerry Parker in a staged retrieval of the time capsule (see photos above).听Upon opening, the contents were revealed:

Video cartridge of the dedication event 鈥� !
Flyer with schedule of events and exhibits for Dedication Week, November 7-10, 1974
Dedication bookletNovember 10, 1974 issue of The Sunday Bulletin, the date of dedication.
Six College Bulletins 鈥� 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73 and 1974-75
1974 issue of Pegasus
Campus Directory (map)
Separate brochures on careers in arts and entertainment, science, business, business management, technology and service.
1974-75 Student Handbook
Class schedules for fall 1974 for Marple, Ridley H.S., Upper Darby H.S. and Garnet Valley H.S. Campuses.
1974-75 Speaker鈥檚 Bureau brochure
1974-75 Program and Course Guide
Marketing brochure, 鈥淔ind Yourself鈥�
General brochure, 鈥淎 College for the People鈥�
October 8, 1974 issue of Communitarian
8 x 10 Photograph of the Main House on the property, also known as the Stull House
8 x 10 Photograph of the Dante Campus
Commemorative newspaper, 大发六合彩鈥 College on the Move
October 1974 issue of News and Notes, a monthly publication of the 大发六合彩 Association of Higher Education, PSEA, NEA.听Editor, Al deProspero
Spring 1974, Genesis Magazine, a new publication that replaced Collage, the only yearbooks produced in 1969, 1970 and 1971.听Genesis was a collection of personal essays by students who could 鈥渟ay something worth saying,鈥� rather than the 鈥減hotographic portraits and ill-conceived and executed art work鈥� of yearbooks.听Al DeProspero, faculty advisor.听

Now, it鈥檚 your turn.听What would you put in the time capsule to be buried on September 23, 2017 at the College鈥檚 Homecoming event?听Please submit your ideas here.听听