Tiernan Project Collection

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Tiernan Project collection
Creator: University of Rochester
Call Number: UA24
Dates: 1994-2015
Physical Description: 7.21 linear feet
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: University of Rochester Archives

Table of Contents:

Biographical/Historical Note
Scope and Content
Subject(s)
Processing Information
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Access
Use
Citation
Related Materials
Bibliography
Content List
Collection Overview
Title: Tiernan Project collection
Creator: University of Rochester
Call Number: UA24
Dates: 1994-2015
Physical Description: 7.21 linear feet
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: University of Rochester Archives

Biographical/Historical Note
The Tiernan Project began in 1974 as a two-year experiment with the goal of creating a sense of community within residential halls. The entire Tiernan building on the Residence Quad of River Campus was reserved for Tiernan Project members and their Residential Life Advisors. Members were selected through an application process organized by a committee of students, Residential Life staff, and Student Life office staff. From its base in Tiernan Hall, Tiernan Project organized social activities for students such as coffeehouses, ice cream socials, and a yoga group. It also created opportunities for students to meet with administration and faculty through dinners and presentations.

A key aspect of Tiernan Project was its emphasis on the Rochester community, in addition to the campus community. One of Tiernan Project's community-service events was the Halloween Party, for which the group reached out to community centers and shelters, most of which accommodated families in crisis, to bring children to campus for festive activities. These activities included taking part in Scare Fair at Rush Rhees Library, trick-or-treating at residence halls, and enjoying food and games. This event was often co-sponsored by other groups on campus such as Greek organizations or other residence halls.

In the 2003/2004 academic year, Tiernan Project moved from Tiernan Hall to the second floor of Burton Hall. It remained there until its final year in 2014/2015. Members continued to pursue their passion to serve by ending their last semester with one of their signature events, the Spaghetti Dinner. For this annual event, the group hosted underprivileged children at the campus for a spaghetti dinner, activities, and special performances. Additionally, they hosted Kindness Week with other organizations on campus such as D'Lions, Grassroots, and PAWS (Peers for Animal Wellness and Safety) to celebrate International Week for Random Acts of Kindness.

Scope and Content
The Tiernan Project Collection contains organizational, planning, and other material from 1994 through 2015 relating to the group's service in the Rochester community.

The collection consists predominantly of material rehoused from four binders. Binders 1, 2, and 4 include executive board documents such as agendas, minutes, constitutions, evaluation forms, correspondence, election information, and transition booklets. These binders also include planning information for social events such as the Pot Luck Dinner and Tiernan Brunch, and community-service events such as the Spaghetti Dinner, Tiernan Week, and Halloween Party. Additionally, binders 2 and 4 include several issues of Tiernan Project's newsletter, the Stall Seat Journal (so-called because it was displayed in bathroom stalls), which contained announcements, publicized events, and included hand-drawn comics. Binder 3 consists mainly of information about volunteer opportunities and appears to have been arranged by organizations (e.g., Adopt-a-Highway, the Catholic Family Center, the Cerebral Palsy Association, Rochester Cares, and the United Way) and categories (e.g., Corps Types, Elderly, Families, Food Centers, Shelter Outreach, and Women.) Other material in this binder includes a newspaper, lists of executive board members, and letters requesting donations.

The collection also includes oversize publicity and decorative items created by the Tiernan Project. There are banners for events that were hung in Wilson Commons; an event poster; and an "executive board" (a wooden board with the names of presidents of the group).

Subject(s):
New York (State)--Rochester
Dormitory life
College students--Social life and customs
University of Rochester. Tiernan Project
Processing Information
Contents of binders were removed from their housing and placed in their original order in folders. Several adhesive notes were removed and replaced with notes written on archival paper.Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred by Sarah Pristash and Melissa Holko, April-May 2015.Access
For access to this collection, please contact the University of Rochester Archives (archives@library.rochester.edu) at least two business days prior to your planned visit.

Please note: Some materials may be restricted or require permission for use.

Use
To request reproductions or permission to publish materials from the collection, please contact the University of Rochester Archives (archives@library.rochester.edu). Researchers may be responsible for determining any copyright questions.



Citation
[Item title, item date], Tiernan Project collection, UA24, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of RochesterRelated Materials
Community Service Programs, 1997-2002. University Vertical Files. (The Tiernan Project's annual event "Tiernan Trick or Treats" appears in the "Neighborhood Centers/Agencies" category.)

Residential Life and Dining Services, 1990-1997. University Vertical Files. (Information about the Tiernan Project can be found under special interest housing within Residential Life publications.)

Bibliography
Heidi, Joanne. "Tiernan Project Renewed for Indefinite Period." Campus Times, 29 March 1996, page 1.

Lai, Angela. "Tiernan Project Will Not Renew Special Interest Housing Status." Campus Times 2 April 2015. Accessed 23 May 2018.

Paret, Emily. "Local Kids Get to Trick-or-Treat."Campus Times, 3 November 2005, page 4.

Polenberg, Michael J. "Scary: Explore UR's Hellish Ground." Campus Times, 28 October 1998, page 11.

"Tiernan Project, Living and Serving Together." Campus Times 19 November 2014. Accessed 23 May 2018.

Tiernan Project. Tiernan Project's Kindness Week. Facebook, 9 February 2015. Accessed 23 May 2018.

West, Judy-Ann. "Tiernan Promotes a Community Spirit." Campus Times, 6 April 1997, pages 6, 3.


Administrative Information
Author: Alma Rocha (Class of 2019)
Publisher: University of Rochester Archives
Address: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd.
Rochester, New York 14627-0055
archives@library.rochester.edu

Finding aid publication date: 2018
Content List
Box 1, Folder 1-14Binder 1
Binder was labeled the "Big Binder of Doom."

Box 2, Folder 1-20Binder 2
It appears this binder was used primarily during the 1996/1997 academic year.

Box 2, Folder 21-22Binder 3
Box 3, Folder 1-5Binder 3
Box 3, Folder 6-11Binder 4
Box 4, Object 1-3Wilson Commons banners: Spaghetti Dinner, Halloween Party, and Kindness Week, circa 2010s
Flatfile 1Tiernan Project Kindness Week poster, 2015
Box 5, Object 1Executive board (wooden sign), 1996-2015
On the back of the sign, "Leadership" is written at the top and "Tiernan Project" at the bottom. In between, some presidents of the group appear to have inscribed their names and the years they served (1996/1997-2014/2015). On the front of the sign, "Captain of Industry and able Executive specialist in potentials, policies, trends, and In-Depth Decisions" has been printed.



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