The Project
Purpose
On the occasion of the 100 year anniversary of the Rutgers University—Camden Campus, this site documents the development of the campus over time through photographs found in the Paul Robeson Library's Special Collections.
A digital archive documenting the development of Rutgers University—Camden serves as both a historical record and a powerful storytelling tool, preserving a century of growth, resilience, and transformation. By compiling photographs from the campus as it has expanded over time, the archive makes history visible and tangible. It allows viewers to witness not just physical changes in buildings and infrastructure, but also the evolving identity of the campus as a center for access, innovation, and community engagement. Seeing this progression over 100 years deepens appreciation for the generations of students, faculty, and leaders who shaped the university, while also highlighting how past investments and values continue to influence its present and future. Ultimately, the archive connects memory to place, showing how Rutgers—Camden has grown over time.
The Methodology
After scanning over 200 photographs and searching through even more, our group created this digital archive of campus photos found in the Library's Special Collections. We carefully sorted through the materials, selecting photographs that best represented key moments in the campus’ development and transformation over time. In many cases, images lacked clear captions or dates, so we analyzed visual details such as architecture, signage, and surrounding landscapes to determine their location and approximate timeframe. The images we could exactly locate are connected to the mapping feature and displayed on the Campus Map page.
By comparing these clues with documented milestones in campus history, we were able to place the photographs within a broader narrative of growth. This method allowed us to curate a cohesive and meaningful archive that not only preserves the images themselves but also contextualizes their significance within the evolution of Rutgers–Camden.
This project was developed in the Digital History graduate course at Rutgers–Camden and is part of the Digital Camden Archive.
Project Creators: Stephanie Lang, Claudia Sozio, and Paige Taylor