Who Knew WashU? 10.24.17

people look at time capsule in building
University archivist Sonya Rooney, left, gets a closer look at the time capsule in the cornerstone of Francis Gymnasium at the removal event Oct. 25, 2014. (Photo: Joe Angeles/Washington University)

Question: A time capsule was removed from a cornerstone of Francis Gymnasium on Oct. 25, 2014. In what year was the time capsule installed?

Answer: B) In 1902, university leaders inserted a time capsule into a cornerstone of Francis Gymnasium to celebrate its grand opening, offer a snapshot of university life and share anticipation about the upcoming 1904 World’s Fair.

Francis Time Capsule
Artifacts recovered from the 1902 time capsule

Exactly 112 years later, on Oct. 25, 2014, a crew removed the capsule. Although the contents experienced water damage, there were some artifacts to study, including a 1901-02 course catalog indicating tuition then was $150 per year. A new time capsule was installed in the Gary M. Sumers Recreation Center, which opened last year. Read more about the 1902 capsule. and the new one in the Source.

Congrats to this week’s winner, Aaron Reifschneider, a developer at the School of Medicine, who will receive an “I Knew WashU” luggage tag!

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