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Current Exhibitions

Current Exhibitions

The University of Oklahoma Libraries exhibition program aims to improve awareness of the libraries' collections, strengthen the community's engagement with the library, and foster the intellectual curiosity that stems from interdisciplinary research and scholarship.

Black and white photo of four people outdoors, three young boys in uniform caps and coats, and one older in military attire, with a small, foldable stool in front.

Russia's Romanovs in War, Revolution, and Exile, 1916-2016: Stories from a Family Archive

September 2025-May 2026

The Russian Revolution claimed the lives of Tsar Nicholas II and many members of his immediate family, but other Romanovs (also spelled Romanoffs) managed to escape. They then worked to build new lives in their adopted countries while also trying to preserve their Russian identities and culture. One of these exiles was Prince Nikita Alexandrovich, a nephew of the Tsar; by a strange twist of fate, his descendants donated a substantial portion of their archive to the University of Oklahoma. In this exhibit, we use photos, diaries, and artifacts from the Special Research Collections of OU Libraries to tell their stories. This exhibit was co-curated with Dr. Melissa Stockdale, the Brian and Sandra O’Brien Presidential Professor in the Department of History and co-director of the Romanoff Center for Russian Studies.

Red-hued image of the Gaylord building with white text featuring the name of the exhibition: "An Age of Dreamers & Storytellers" followed by the subtitle: "Media, Mass Communication, and the University of Oklahoma."

An Age of Dreamers and Storytellers: Media, Mass Communication, and the University of Oklahoma

September 2025-March 2026

This exhibit explores the legacy, groundbreaking stories, and transformative role of the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication and the H.H. Herbert School of Journalism. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Gaylord College and 112 years of journalism at OU, this exhibit celebrates the past, present, and future of media. This exhibition was co-curated with the Gaylord College of Journalism.

Top half shows vintage black-and-white archaeological digs with workers; bottom half features a diverse, cheerful group posing outdoors at Spiro Mounds. The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Archeological Survey is at the top of the image.

Digging the Past; Preserving the Future

September 2025-March 2026

This exhibition highlights some of the people, work, and tools, that preceded the formation of Oklahoma Archeologicial Survey and their impact and continuing work to fulfill their mission “To research Oklahoma's archeological record; to work with state and federal agencies, and the citizens of Oklahoma to preserve significant archeological sites; and to disseminate information about Oklahoma's cultural heritage through publications and public presentations.”

Ongoing Exhibitions

The ongoing display of costumes represent a longstanding relationship between University Libraries, the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, and the Helmerich School of Drama. The costumes rotate periodically and through partnership with Professor Lloyd Cracknell showcase the creativity in design and talent in fabrication of the students, faculty, and staff involved in their production. Created here on campus for use in campus productions, these costumes allow us to continue to share the joy of the show even after the final curtain.

In the hallway of Bizzell Memorial Library, two glass cases with mannequins wearing costumes are on display. One costume has a gold and red bodice with feathers; the other, a vintage gown with drapes, pearls.
In the hallway of Bizzell Memorial Library, two glass cases with mannequins dressed in costumes are on display. The left case holds a Renaissance-style dress, while the right features a glittering red gown.
In the hallway of Bizzell Memorial Library, two glass cases with mannequins dressed in costumes are on display. One costume is a red evening gown adorned with decorative elements is displayed on a mannequin inside a glass case.