Students Create "UNH: Then and Now" Digital Exhibit from Historic Photo Collection

Students from Professor Melinda White’s English 510: Introduction to Digital Humanities class worked closely with Professor Kai Uchida in Milne Special Collections and University Archives this fall to recreate historic photographs created by landscape architect Bremer W. Pond.

Pond, who conducted a photographic landscape survey of campus during the 1920s and 1930s as part of his work to shape the natural environment of UNH, compiled a scrapbook and set of negatives with nearly 200 images of buildings and natural features. Along with the timeless architectural work of E. T. Huddleston, his landscapes molded the modern footprint of campus. His photographs, along with a selection of blueprints, drawings, and associated letters were published last year in the UNH Library Digital Collections.

Students were tasked with reproducing a selection of photos from Pond’s photo survey with as much accuracy as possible and utilizing the platform JuxtaposeJS to layer photographs from his collection over images they captured of campus during the fall semester. The ten images they created for their project define a set of striking contrasts that depict how campus has changed over time, while also demonstrating the lasting impact of Pond’s landscape and tree planting on the quintessential university campus environment today. These interactive layered images can be compared using the slider on each embedded set of photographs.

Students also wrote about their creative process of reproducing Pond’s photos, conducted archival research in the library’s collections, and distilled their own perspectives on how campus has changed over time. The following are selected images from their project, along with corresponding quotes.
 

Overall, this project has been really fun and exciting because we were able to apply our class concepts in a real, hands-on way and because we are also able to do something that has a historical and kind of sentimental aspect… Learning how to systematically create, gather and organize data through several platforms as well as then eventually displaying it in this “then and now” format is really cool. 

– Denise C.

Before starting this project, I was not familiar with most of the original campus structures or landscapes. Spending time in the library with the Special Projects Team helped me understand the early development of the campus, specifically, Bremer Pond’s vision for landscape design. Hamilton Smith was the easiest building to identify, as it has remained in the same location since 1907, directly across from the President’s House.
– Vicky H.

Bremer’s original photo shows the side of Murkland Hall in 1927. Murkland is one of the few buildings on campus that has kept its traditional architecture throughout the years of numerous construction and renovation projects… From the bushes on the left to the tall tree in the middle, the once barren side of Murkland has grown lush, marking Bremer’s vision of a green campus unfolding.
– Liv M.

It is clear to see the difference between the undeveloped area and the built-up area. The modern area behind the Commons is much more walkable and functional. An interesting note is the construction site visible in the newer photo, indicating that some things haven’t changed.
– Bridget B.

The image showcases the older architecture of the university, with New Hampshire Hall looking more like a castle or fortress than a college building. Main Street is seemingly a simple dirt road, not uncommon for a time when cars were not as prominent.
– Dan S.

Students, faculty, staff, and the public can view the curated collection of Pond's records in the Bremer W. Pond Collection as part of the UNH Library Digital Collections. Other student recreations of Pond’s photos can be found on the ENG 510 course website.