In the spring of 1969, Pratt Institute erupted in protest. Students, faculty, workers, and members of the community joined together and forced the school to shut down to address issues of civil rights, neighborhood gentrification, and other social and political concerns. This presentation discusses an exhibition currently on display on the 6th floor that makes use of archival records documenting this turbulent period.
Titled A Touch of Spring after the term President James B. Donovan used to describe the actions of students involved, this exhibition showcases original documents from the Pratt Institute School of Information records, as well as images from the archives at Pratt’s Brooklyn campus. The research that went into this exhibition uncovers the events leading to the unrest, its aftermath, and the role of students who were enrolled in the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences at the time.