On Friday, September 18, history came to life inside King Library as students, faculty, and alumni gathered for Unboxing a Legacy: A Look at the Wells Hall Time Capsule. The special event commemorated the official opening of the historic capsule and gave attendees a chance to preserve their own legacies for the future.
An important core of the event was a curated display showcasing original items from inside the recently discovered Wells Hall capsule. Attendees had the opportunity to inspect the handwritten letters—many of them written in cursive—and archival documents preserved from the 1920s. Though they were written over 100 years ago, many of the messages spoke directly to the students at Miami today.
A panel discussion highlighted the transformation of student life, focusing on the similarities and differences between students in 1923, when the capsule was sealed, and today. The conversation touched on major shifts in technology, communication, and campus culture while emphasizing the underlying values that unite Miamians across generations.
One of the most popular activities gave the attendees the opportunity to contribute to a time capsule of their own. Participants were encouraged to write a note that will be sealed in the Walter Havighurst Special Collections and University Archives for 100 years, ensuring that today’s campus leaves a lasting message for future Miamians.