This exhibition at the West Virginia Folklife Center celebrates the 150-year history of Fairmont State University through artifacts, images, and folklore that illustrate the school's traditions and heritage. It explores Fairmont State's origins as the Fairmont Normal School after the Civil War and traces its evolution into the current university. Symbols in the exhibition represent the three aspects of folklore that have shaped Fairmont State's identity over time: oral traditions like stories, material culture like buildings and objects, and customary rituals and events. The exhibition brings the lore and traditions of the past 150 years to life to help sustain Fairmont State's heritage into the future.

1. ON A HILL
BY A DREAM
FairmontNormalSchool
Lore and traditions that formed Fairmont
State University’s first 150 years
and continue to
sustain its
heritage
FreshmenwearingFSCbeanies
The class extends SINCERE AND SPECIAL THANKS
to all who helped bring this exhibition into being at the
West Virginia Folklife Center:
Tiffany Martin, Christy Thompson,
McKenzie Baskerville, Dena Charkandy, Jacey Mitchell,
Stephanie Blizzard, Jess McIntyre, Katelyn Beckett,
Dr. Gary Winn, Lawson Van Dine, Dr. Beth Newcome,
Amy Pellegrin, Jo Ann Lough, Charley Hively, Katelyn
Beckett, Connor Haberland, Dr. Judy Byers, Porter
Stiles, Clark Riley, Dalene Horner and the
FSU Athletics Department, Bobbi Mohrman,
Dr. Gerald Bacza, Lisa Knutti, Vijay Raol, Dr. Donald
Moroose, Ray and Mary Jo Rutherford, Rocco Muriale,
Dr. Donald Trisel, Dr. Tia Como, Carol Wilburn, and
the West Virginia Folklife Center Archives
FAIRMONT STATE UNIVERSITY
1201 Locust Avenue
Fairmont, West Virginia
Phone: (304) 367-4403
Or (304) 3674286
www.fairmontstate.edu/folklife
This Sesquicentennial Exhibition was created by the
FSU Museum Studies: Exhibit Design
and Construction Class:
Jessica Linger, Chris Dykes,
Dr. Marian Hollinger, Professor Patricia Musick
Patchworkquiltmadeof
discontinuedbanduniforms
1967nationalchampionship;
footballteamphoto,ball,andtrophy
Fairmont State Normal School—Women in Dormitory

2. As Fairmont
State University
celebrates its
sesquicentennial, the
Frank and Jane
Gabor West
Virginia Folklife
Center looks back
over the school’s first
one hundred and fifty
years
through its folklore:
images, places,
events, artifacts, customs, stories.
From its origins as
Fairmont Normal
School at the end of
the Civil War,
through its life as the
State Teachers’
College, Fairmont
State College, to the
present Fairmont
State University,
this exhibition brings
to life the lore and
traditions that
formed and carry
forth our heritage.
FairmontStatejacket
Symbols throughout the
exhibition identify folklore’s three aspects: oral
(stories, verbal lore);
material (artifacts, buildings,
physical objects);
customary (rituals, festivals,
customs).
These symbols
are based on Fairmont
State's various mascots over
its history: Daisy, oral;
Fighting Teacher, material;
and Falcon, customary lore.
Fairmont Normal School journalists
Original historical marker for
Fairmont State Normal School
The title for this exhibition is taken from Louise McNeill's
poem, "Chestnut Orchard" (Paradox Hill: From Appalachia to
Lunar Shore):
"Back through the years beyond time and space,
On a hill — by a dream —we will find that place"
Dr. McNeill, West Virginia's
Poet Laureate, taught
history at Fairmont State.
Dairybarnthatbecame
theFolklifeCenter
Folklore illustration:
Coffin Hollow
Falcon mascot, 1986