Calling All Hogs: A Razorback Mascot History on Display

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Some of the ephemera shown as part of the exhibit Calling All Hogs: A Razorback Mascot History.

The new exhibit Calling All Hogs: A Razorback Mascot History will be available for viewing on the lobby level of Mullins Library through the end of the fall 2018 semester. Members of the campus community are encouraged to stop by and view Razorback ephemera from the past hundred years. 

The exhibit explores the history of the beloved Razorback mascot, although the Razorback was not the first U of A mascot. Originally, the mascot was loosely the Cardinal, which resulted from the choice of the university colors of cardinal and white. However, the mascot changed more than a hundred years ago as Arkansas became known for its razorback hogs and football coach Hugo Bezdek popularized the term, reportedly saying that the team had played "like a wild band of razorback hogs." Soon after, the Razorback became the official mascot for the University of Arkansas, evolving into the icon that it is today.

The display features a variety of materials from the Special Collections' archives, including yearbooks, postcards, buttons and photographs, chronicling the evolution of the Razorback. One of the highlights of the display is the 1916 University of Arkansas yearbook. This yearbook is special because it was the first to be named the Razorback instead of the Cardinal. Another fun artifact includes photographs from athletic events throughout the year. 

The exhibit was curated by University Libraries staff: Special Collections reading room assistant Misha Gardner, university archivist Amy Allen, and preservation and conservation coordinator Mary Leverance.

"In working on this exhibit, Amy, Mary, and I were conscious of finding photographs and memorabilia from each decade," said Gardner. "We also wanted to include a variety of fans from all walks of life." 

Calling All Hogs: A Razorback History is open to the public and located on the second floor of Mullins Library, between the computer lab and research commons. Feel free to stop by any time Mullins is open to check it out.

For further inquiry about the history of the Razorback, visit the Special Collections department, located on the first floor of Mullins Library. Special Collections is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.