Dr. Shae Smith Cox and her HIST 303 (History and Memory) course collaborated with the Cushing Memorial Library and the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center to create a physical exhibit, Remembering and Honoring the Aggie Experience. The semester-long project involved tireless research of material culture, lore, and archival material, culminating in a student-led exhibit at Cushing Memorial Library. Remembering and Honoring the Aggie Experience showcases the rich and complex story of Texas A&M through the many uniforms and accessories worn by generations of Aggie students.
Students analyzed time-honored traditions such as Bonfire, Midnight Yell, and Silver Taps. They also combed through yearbooks and newspapers, studying everything from our oldest and largest student organization, the Corps of Cadets, to athletics, to Miss Rev’s uniform blanket, to the Aggie ring, and how donning these uniforms symbolized belonging to the university and its subcultures.
Telling the story of Texas A&M University through these objects, Remembering and Honoring the Aggie Experience pays homage to the Aggies who came before, unites Aggies through shared culture, and acknowledges how the institution's complex character has kept its core values but evolved to incorporate each new generation of Aggies.