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The University of Georgia Archives presents.....
 

The Case of the Poisoned Capsule ...or...		... The Doleful Digested Documents

  A viewing offered in connection with Buried Treasures, the 2005 Georgia Archives Week

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....Ah - the impulse to bury a time capsule for the future - how human, how irresistible.    We bury our treasures, we cast our bread into the waters of the future, knowing we shall probably not be around to be blamed.  But is it a good idea?  Consider the tragic tale of the 1872 UGA time capsule; it warns us that, in words that may have been spoken by Rameses II,

"Mummification - it seems like a lot of fun until somebody gets a bum wrap."

According to reports of the commencement, recalled by Larry Dendy in the January 15, 1979 issue of Columns, the class of 1872 decided to treat the future by placing a class roster of their signatures, a humor paper called The Cat a newspaper called The Collegian and other items into a time capsule.  The capsule was then sealed into a 700 pound stone with plaster, the stone was set into the ground near Phi Kappa Hall and a water oak sapling was planted nearby.  Time spun merrily along until January of 1979, when the University decided to unbury the treasure after 106 years. 

Please click on the photograph below to join us at the grand opening.....

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