PRESS RELEASE
June 26, 2002
Dazzling Collection of Turtles
On Display at University of MD
Come to the University of Maryland, College Park, and join the original Testudo and over 160 of his companions in the Maryland Room Gallery on the first floor of Hornbake Library for the "Testudo and Friends" exhibit. Nearly 100 faculty, staff administrators, alumni, graduate and undergraduate students and friends of the campus have contributed a dazzling array of 159 turtles and terrapins to the show, including pieces from more than 20 different countries.
Testudo is the centerpiece of the UM campus, and the act
of rubbing his nose for good luck is a most-enduring tradition. The original
statue, which now stands in front of
McKeldin Library, was the gift of the Class of 1933 whose
members felt it was high time that the University of Maryland had an official
mascot.
Among the highlights of the exhibit are a taxidermied diamondback terrapin that was the model for the statue of Testudo and information on the many kidnappings of the statue of Testudo.
Contributors to the exhibit include University President and Mrs. C. D. Mote, Jr.; Incoming University System of Maryland Chancellor and Mrs. William Kirwan; Gary Williams, Men’s Basketball Coach; Debbie Yow, Director of Athletics; Dean of Libraries Charles Lowry; Dru Bagwell, Retired Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs; Barbara Hornbake Angier, daughter of the late University Vice President Lee Hornbake for whom the library is named; Brodie Remington, Vice President for University Relations; and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Robert Hampton.
The exhibit runs through August 23, 2002. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday, 12 Noon to 5 PM.
For more information, contact University Archivist Anne
Turkos at (301) 405-9060.
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