Stories that Live on Walls: Honoring Women's History at Gibson Hall

In the lobby of Gibson Hall, history now greets every student who walks through the door.

A small but mighty curated collection of archival photos is on display in the oldest all-women's residence hall on campus, offering snapshots of women-centered residential life at the University of Arkansas during days gone past. What began as an idea to simply refresh the Gibson Hall lobby has grown into a bridge between generations of Razorbacks.

When University Housing Hall Director Nicole Muszynski first looked at the lobby walls, she saw artwork in a desert-inspired animal motif, which felt confusing.

"I thought, 'How does this make sense?'" she said. "It didn't. The paintings were lovely, but they didn't align with the character of the space or the building."

Instead, Muszynski envisioned something that reflected the true spirit of Gibson Hall and the young women who have called it home over the decades. Turning to the University of Arkansas Libraries digital collections, she and Gibson's resident assistants (RAs) selected seven photographs that capture everyday life, leadership and belonging among female students in earlier eras.

The images were enlarged, printed on canvas and installed in the lobby in October. Now, the project is entering its second phase: adding historically grounded captions that deepen their educational and emotional impact. RAs helped select the photos, determine placement and shape the themes for each plaque, while Muszynski refined the final wording. Students will craft wooden placards to mount beneath each image, making the display a permanent and intentional part of the hall's identity.

One featured photo shows student Suzanne Newton May in 1953, pausing at a mirror to apply lipstick. Muszynski said the photo reflects the confidence students find during those in-between moments of residence hall life: getting ready side by side, chatting in the hallway - or catching their reflection in the mirror and seeing strength instead of flaws.

Another shows U of A cheerleaders at a 1953 Texas A&M vs. Arkansas football game. The cheerleaders represented a source of pride, leadership and connection for students.

Another photo in the collection shows women gathered in a shared common area of Carnall Hall, the university's first all-women's residence hall, renovated in 1940 with shared spaces where women could connect and support each other beyond the classroom. Today, the historic hall operates as the Inn at Carnall Hall.

"We picked these photos because they show the women who came before us and the traditions they helped build," Muszynski said. "The experiences these young women had and the friendships they made decades ago reflect the same sense of unity and support that's here today."

Gibson Hall carries its own layered history. Built in 1937 as Razorback Hall with funding from the Public Works Administration, it started as one of the campus's most luxurious men's dorms. It housed Army Air Corps trainees and Razorback football players before a 1963 renovation redefined it as the all-women's residence hall it remains today.

Gibson is now one of three all-female residence halls on campus and the oldest continuously operating residence hall at the university.

For Muszynski, the photo collection has become a way to honor the building itself — giving it the same deserved care and recognition as the stories it holds.

"A big part of our motivation was to give this building the recognition it deserves," she said. "The lobby used to be a place for old furniture and stuff people didn't necessarily want. But now that we have this photo collection on display for students and visitors to appreciate and learn from. It's definitely the outcome we hoped for."