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The Southern Accent
Update of the Week page 3 New locked door policy put in place for residence halls
Pressing Issue page 2 Southern loses DHSI grant amid national shift
The Student Voice Since 1926
Volume 81 Issue 04
October 1, 2025
Collegedale, Tennessee
Inside the Vault: Southern's collection of historical documents
Inside the many shelves of the McKee Library Vault. September 18, 2025. (Photo by Christian Bass)
Maddie Schmidt Contributor In the basement of McKee Library, tucked away from the view of most visitors, worn books and faded paper line the shelves, preserving works from the late 18th to early 20th centuries Commonly referred to as “The Vault,” the area is more accurately an archive spread across a few rooms that holds many important historical documents, posters, books, postcards and other written materials from Southern’s history. Bethany Howard, public services librarian at McKee Library, explained that one of the goals of the Vault is to preserve the historical books and documents that are relevant to the history of Southern and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. These documents include archived issues of the Southern Accent, Columns and Legacy publications with the latest document going back to 1902. Much of the collection in the Vault
Books inside the Vault. September 18, 2025 (Photo by Christian Bass)
focuses on the 19th century, during the period when the Adventist church came to be. There are many historical documents and books from the early Adventist church that give context to its emergence in relation to society and other historical events occurring at the time, such as the Civil War. “It’s important to remember our past, whether it was good or bad, so that we don’t repeat our mistakes in the future,” said Howard. Howard shared that one of her favorite items from the Vault is a check signed by Abraham Lincoln, which is displayed alongside other memorabilia related to Lincoln in an exhibit on the main floor of the library. Several exhibits in various parts of the library showcase items from the archives. Some are on permanent display, while others are rotated in and out regularly. Many of the items are accessible on See The Vault on page 2
Abraham Lincoln memorabilia. September 18, 2025 (Photo by Christian Bass)
“ We now are the most documented era, but in the future, we could be the least documented era ever.” - Steven Cottrell