Nothing sparks an interest in tradition the way swordsdo. More specifically, swords carried by the companycommanders who used to be responsible for universitystudents.

The Corps of Cadets exhibit in the Maryland Room atHornbake Library displays exactly this sort ofmemorabilia. Set to run through the end of July, thecollection celebrates the university’s 150thanniversary by showing how student life has changedsince the school was founded.

Originally called the Maryland Agricultural College,the university was an all-male school where studentswere required to wear uniforms and company commanderscarried swords.

But few students realize Maryland used to have amilitary aspect, said University Archivist AnneTurkos, who created the exhibit.

“We wanted to do something special to honor theuniversity’s 150th anniversary,” Turkos said.

The uniforms, which students were required to weareverywhere on the campus, are part of a display thatalso includes a record book of Maryland studentsdating back as far as 1859.

Along with artifacts from the university’s past,photographs from the past century and a half documentaspects of student life such as dorm room photos goingback as far as the 1900s.

And then there are the little tidbits of juicyinformation the tour guides don’t mention duringorientation-such as the university-operated pub on thecampus in the 1970s that was capable of tapping 200kegs of beer at once.

The exhibit also features displays about the athletichistory, the history of students’ extracurricularactivities, a history of clashes between students andadministration, female pioneers who went to Marylandand various codes of conduct from the past 150 years.

In the athletics collection, students can see variousteam photos from as far back as 1892 as well ashistoric sports memorabilia. If students venture alittle farther they’ll discover the 1920s through1960s tug-of-war tradition that pitted freshmen – whohad to wear small beanies – against sophomores in theannual spring event.

From May Day celebrations to Testudo’s historic lifeas the university’s mascot, the Corps of Cadetsdetails traditions that died long ago and those thatstill live on.

“I’ve heard a lot of students talk about how there’slack of tradition and history,” Turkos said, addingshe hoped this exhibit would show students a richhistory they didn’t know existed.

Contact reporter Andrew Vitali at newdesk@dbk.umd.edu.