The first 30 years of New Mexico State University’s history, when the school was still the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, was featured at a museum exhibit this past fall.

The exhibit, which ran July through December, included bits and pieces of the original Hadley Hall, student clothing and souvenirs, and Hiram Hadley’s letter case as well as numerous pieces of football, basketball and school memorabilia.

“It was important for current students to see this exhibit,” says Terry Reynolds, curator of collections and exhibits for the museum. “If you don’t know where you’ve been, you don’t know where you are going.”

Reynolds says she thinks that was the feeling of all of the alumni who donated the various pieces.

“They wanted people to understand what it was like when the graduating class only had six people and everyone knew everyone,” Reynolds says.

She adds that when NMSU began there were no trees, no grass and no buildings.

“We’ve come a long way and still have a long way to go,” she says.

The exhibit was put together and researched by students, volunteers and interns of the museum.

“Looking back at our history as a school gives us an identity as Aggies,” Reynolds says.