The Friends Texas A&M Sesquicentennial Fund

As of April 30, 2026, we reached our goal of $150,000 committed to the Friends Texas A&M Sesquicentennial Fund!

In 2023, the Friends of Texas A&M University Libraries established the Friends Texas A&M Sesquicentennial Fund in anticipation of supporting the Libraries’ participation in University-wide Sesquicentennial activities through preservation projects, programming, and asset acquisition.  Our goal was to raise $150,000 in three years for this Fund; May 1, 2023 through April 20, 2026. We did it!

Texas A&M University is the state’s first public institution of higher education. The Texas state legislature established the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas on April 17, 1871, and instruction began on 2,416 acres of land in Brazos County in 1876.  In early October 2026, Texas A&M will begin an eight-month celebration of the University’s 150-year history (https://150.tamu.edu/index.html). 

Sesquicentennial Funds raised by the Friends have been committed for:

1. AI-Assisted Digital Curation:  Employing student assistants to utilize AI-assisted transcription and media curation to produce high-quality, accessible digital materials that support teaching, learning, outreach, and celebration.  This project will strengthen the Libraries’ capacity to use AI tools for digital preservation and access, setting a precedent for future collections work. 
2. Archival Research:  Employing a student research assistant to conduct archival research in Cushing Memorial Library & Archives to identify archival collections related to Texas A&M’s historical milestones.  Assist in curating resources for the Texas A&M University’s 150th Anniversary to be featured on a digital platform and other sesquicentennial initiatives.
3. Pictorial Coffee Table Book: Producing a high-quality pictorial book to serve as a timeless memento for all who hold Texas A&M dear.  Through carefully curated archival photographs and artifacts, the book will vividly illustrate 150 years of Aggie history, making the university’s story engaging, accessible, and visually captivating.
4. Innovation Touch Table: Within the Signature Exhibition, telling the story of Texas A&M from its founding in 1876 to the present day, the Library is building an intuitive touch interface on which guests will be able to select major ideas and breakthroughs that emerged from Texas A&M and explore the deeper history behind them.

Thank you to everyone who contributed over the last three years toward the Friends $150,000 fundraising goal for the Friends Texas A&M Sesquicentennial Fund. 

Thank you, in advance, for your membership and generosity as the Friends continue to support the University Libraries’ projects and programs.

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