The topic I am looking to research for my mid-semester project is public art dealing with the founding of Bucknell. Public art will help show what the university looked like before its modern form today. It will be unique to consciously recognize old buildings that are still standing today. My main question with public art surrounding Bucknell University is: how does the original vision for Bucknell compare to what campus is today? I do not have many sources yet, just this picture of campus from 1913. It looks like the roadways were very different and I do not recognize some of the buildings. I just got moved into this research group, so I will have more sources to come.
A c.1909-1911 tobacco card by Murad Cigarettes.
I am not entirely sure if I will pursue this topic yet, however, I want to research the origin of Bucknell’s colors. I have been told that Bucknell’s colors come from the beautiful sunsets of Lewisburg. However, I also just learned that the students voted on their school colors in the late 1800s. I think learning more about Bucknell’s alma mater will be interesting in seeing how the school developed and what it stands for. There are not many schools out there that have the colors orange and blue (apart from Syracuse, Illinois, Florida, UTSA, Gettysburg, Boise State, etc.). I am wondering why Bucknell chose the colors orange and blue. I only have one source for this question, and there does not seem to be much research about it out there, so I may need to change topics.
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