As University of Bridgeport approaches its Centennial, a major effort is underway to discover, preserve, and reimagine its historical archives. Led by Associate Professor of English and Director of Publications Eric Lehman, this ambitious project has evolved into a campus-wide initiative that incorporates historical preservation, engages both students and alumni in a long-term vision for the institution, and preserves the legacy of this important institution.
The seeds of this archival transformation were planted in spring 2024, when Professor Lehman was informed that the University would be renovating and reorganizing the eighth floor of Wahlstrom Library, as well as several other rooms that housed materials relocated from Cortright Hall. That building, which was a longstanding repository of UB’s institutional memory, was being cleared in preparation for potential restoration.
Recognizing the importance of this moment, Lehman assumed leadership of the archive work as part of his responsibilities as Chair of the Centennial Committee. Working closely with UB’s facilities staff, including Vice President of Facilities John Carserino and Senior Vice President of Facilities, IT, and Security Bryant Harrell, as well as library team members Dale Outhouse and Anthony Battaglia, he began the meticulous process of evaluating and preserving decades of University records.
Summer 2024: Excavating the past
During the summer of 2024, Lehman worked in two primary archive spaces. On the fourth floor, he collaborated with librarian Dale Outhouse, who had begun cataloging materials before transferring the remaining contents to the eighth floor. There, those cabinets and boxes were added to another fifteen file cabinets containing documents from Advancement and Publications, mostly dating from the 1990s onward.
The larger room on the eighth floor presented an even greater challenge: approximately 100 file cabinets and 50 yards of boxes. Throughout the summer, Professor Lehman, volunteers, and student workers focused on identifying key items, marking boxes for shredding, and organizing piles of discarded materials for removal.
This undertaking was further sustained with the support of Centennial Committee members, Yvrose Romulus, Julie Demers, and Susan Ferency, as well as alums like Dennis Brotherton (’86) and E.J. Cohen (’75), who helped in the process of organizing and filing photos, letters, and documents of notable UB alums like Manute Bol, and notable guests including Eleanor Roosevelt, Malcolm X, Gloria Steinem, Ralph Bunche, Richard Rogers and many others.
By Fall 2024, roughly 55 file cabinets and 75 boxes remained, containing the most historically significant materials. These included gray archival boxes, likely cataloged by librarians in the 1970s, filled with newsletters, presidential correspondence, and rare documents.
Among the treasures discovered were letters from UB presidents to notable figures such as Coretta Scott King and Aaron Copland, inviting them to speak at campus events and receive honorary degrees. A large file of correspondence between UB president James Halsey and UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson was just one of many treasures.
Spring 2025: A collaborative effort
During the spring semester, Lehman was joined by two dedicated interns, psychology major Sofia Martin and English major Yemarah Dallas. Yemarah undertook a dual internship, assisting with both physical sorting and digital scanning for the library. Sophia focused on organizing newsletters, Scribe issues, photographs, and other materials, bringing structure and clarity to the growing collection.
The physical relocation of large portions of the existing archives was a collaborative effort. In 2024, hundreds of yearbooks were transferred to Bates Hall and other campus locations. Librarian Dale
Outhouse and student worker Muni Balaji Ambiti reorganized, cleaned, and moved dissertations, while the UB gymnastics team, women’s soccer team, and staff members — including coach Tania Armellino — transported materials across the eighth floor to library shelving units. Artwork was also relocated from the seventh floor to a newly designated art room, where it was reviewed, reorganized, and prepared for display throughout campus.
Looking ahead: Digitization and the Centennial
When the end of the first stage of sorting and collecting neared completion in summer 2025, library technician Anthony Battaglia joined the crew. Anthony has had archival training and provided invaluable insights into the archival collections.
Efforts have also begun to consolidate the Library Archives, including the extensive sheet music collection currently housed in the Arnold Bernhard Center for the Arts and Humanities. This collection will complement UB’s holdings in Lincoln studies, Southeast Asian materials, and travel literature. Anthony and Dale have begun to create a representative display of the University’s archives on the 1st floor of the Wahlstrom building.
The facilities team plans to enclose both archives in a large climate-controlled room that will be available for visitors by appointment. The existing archive room — home to dissertations, theses, and the well-organized Arnold College records — will soon be joined by a fully reconstituted, accessible, and digitized collection that reflects the full breadth of UB’s history.
Celebrating UB’s legacy
During the 2025–2026 academic year, organization and digitization will become the project’s primary focus. Lehman hopes to bring in more interns to support this effort, ensuring that UB’s archival treasures are preserved and accessible for future generations. Battaglia and Outhouse also spent the summer of 2025 planning a display area on the first floor of Wahlstrom Library to showcase some of the interesting finds to the students and community. Many of the materials have already been featured on social media and documentary videos, which are being released in preparation for the 2027 Centennial Celebration.
From forgotten newsletters to presidential letters, dusty file cabinets to digital preservation, this project is more than just a collections update — it’s a celebration of UB’s legacy and a gift to its future.
By the time the Centennial arrives, University of Bridgeport will boast a fully reconstituted archive — organized, accessible, and ready to showcase the institution’s rich history. “I’m very proud to have been part of this process,” said Lehman. “What began as a focused archival project has grown into a campus-wide effort to preserve and celebrate UB’s legacy.”
