Engaging with University History: Planting One Seed at a Time

University archives often hold materials related to little-known aspects of university history. At the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), the libraries made use of an archival collection to develop One Seed, a seed giveaway program that told the story of how red sunflowers were originally...

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Main Authors: Abbey Lewis, Sean Babbs
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Marketing Libraries Journal 2025-05-01
Series:Marketing Libraries Journal
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Online Access:https://journal.marketinglibraries.org/spring2025/04_MLJv9i1.pdf
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author Abbey Lewis
Sean Babbs
author_facet Abbey Lewis
Sean Babbs
author_sort Abbey Lewis
collection DOAJ
description University archives often hold materials related to little-known aspects of university history. At the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), the libraries made use of an archival collection to develop One Seed, a seed giveaway program that told the story of how red sunflowers were originally cultivated there over 100 years ago. One Seed has been a popular program among students, university employees, and alumni, drawing attention to a unique part of university history, as well as the remarkable materials within the library archives. This article details the development and first three years of One Seed, showing how CU Boulder libraries used the program as an outreach tool while also forming partnerships across campus. Additionally, the article offers recommendations for replicating the program including considerations for state seed laws and institutional holdings.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
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series Marketing Libraries Journal
spelling doaj-art-462337a8b9594ec49746aa271e297c2a2025-08-20T02:55:52ZengMarketing Libraries JournalMarketing Libraries Journal2475-81162025-05-01914774Engaging with University History: Planting One Seed at a TimeAbbey Lewis 0Sean Babbs1University of Colorado BoulderUniversity of Colorado BoulderUniversity archives often hold materials related to little-known aspects of university history. At the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), the libraries made use of an archival collection to develop One Seed, a seed giveaway program that told the story of how red sunflowers were originally cultivated there over 100 years ago. One Seed has been a popular program among students, university employees, and alumni, drawing attention to a unique part of university history, as well as the remarkable materials within the library archives. This article details the development and first three years of One Seed, showing how CU Boulder libraries used the program as an outreach tool while also forming partnerships across campus. Additionally, the article offers recommendations for replicating the program including considerations for state seed laws and institutional holdings.https://journal.marketinglibraries.org/spring2025/04_MLJv9i1.pdfacademic librariescommunity engagementlibrary outreacharchival collectionspartnershipsevents and programming
spellingShingle Abbey Lewis
Sean Babbs
Engaging with University History: Planting One Seed at a Time
Marketing Libraries Journal
academic libraries
community engagement
library outreach
archival collections
partnerships
events and programming
title Engaging with University History: Planting One Seed at a Time
title_full Engaging with University History: Planting One Seed at a Time
title_fullStr Engaging with University History: Planting One Seed at a Time
title_full_unstemmed Engaging with University History: Planting One Seed at a Time
title_short Engaging with University History: Planting One Seed at a Time
title_sort engaging with university history planting one seed at a time
topic academic libraries
community engagement
library outreach
archival collections
partnerships
events and programming
url https://journal.marketinglibraries.org/spring2025/04_MLJv9i1.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT abbeylewis engagingwithuniversityhistoryplantingoneseedatatime
AT seanbabbs engagingwithuniversityhistoryplantingoneseedatatime