(By Chris Timasonravichkit ’28, staff writer)
The Bishop Library’s special collections room is home to numerous artifacts, and this year, archives technicians are working to highlight one of LVC’s most notable alumni: former Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett class of ’71.
The project is directed by archive technician Thomas Sciscento and student archival assistant intern Alexis McCarney who together are responsible for organizing and digitizing Governor Corbett’s donated papers and chronicling his life from his time at LVC all the way to his governorship from 2011 to 2015.
“It is very exciting to be able to chronicle Governor Corbett’s life,” Sciscento said. “As an archivist, it makes me feel that I am helping to tell that individual’s story by making the materials accessible to others.”
Much of the information on Governor Corbett’s career comes from his personal papers, which he donated in 2017.
Sciscento and McCarney have categorized Governor Corbett’s greetings and proclamations, framed photographs and even explored his correspondence with notable individuals ranging from Pope Francis to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
The special collections room also contains important photographs, sports films and records dating back to the beginning of LVC’s more than 150 years of history.
“I hope that the archives will be a resource for current [and] future LVC students to learn more about the campus’s rich history,” McCarney said. “The experiences that I have gained in the archives will help me be a strong organizer, communicator and analytical employee in my future career.”
Students interested in visiting the special collections room are encouraged to contact Maureen Bentz, director of the Vernon and Doris Bishop Library, at bentz@lvc.edu for more information.