An Opinion

Panama Canal Collection at Adelphi

Friday, 04 December 2009 00:00

Starting on Dec. 2 and running through January 2010, Adelphi University will have a display entitled “Global Passage: Selections from the Robert R. McMillan Panama Canal Collection.” The materials were collected over the years and a direct result of my serving on the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Commission. The exhibit will be in the Gallery of the Ruth S. Harley University Center.

The Panama Canal Collection offers a historical perspective of Panama, the Panama Canal, and the Panama Canal Commission. It includes documents, books and other items dating back to the initial attempts to build the Canal by the French government in the late 19th century and the success of the United States effort in the early 20th century. There are materials related to the strategic and economic importance of the Canal in today’s global economy. There are essays, articles, and chapters included from my book Global Passage, as well as a selection of manuscripts centering on the Panama Canal, dating from 1989 to 1999. The papers document the transitional period prior to the changeover of control from the United States to the Republic of Panama in 1999. In addition, there is a focus on President Theodore Roosevelt and his success in starting construction of the Canal.

You will also be able to see a video sharing a quick trip through the Canal and be able to view the PowerPoint presentation I use when lecturing about the Canal. It starts with Spanish gold seekers at the French failure in trying to create the Canal. Then, it goes on to Roosevelt’s success through the present effort to double the capacity of ships transiting the Canal.

Transiting the Panama Canal is quite an experience. It is amazing to me how many people have that interest. Hardly a week goes by without someone contacting me about the Panama Canal, because they are going on a cruise ship through the Canal. So, if you are thinking about a cruise through that historic channel, you will find the exhibit worth your time to visit. But, if the time is not right, you can go to the Collection’s website – http://libraries.Adelphi.edu/bar/panama.index.htm

There, you will find a Guide to the Collection; Exhibit; ALICAT Online Catalog; and Other Links.

After donating my Panama Canal Collection, I had no idea what a wonderful job the staff at Adelphi’s University Archives and Special Collections would do in preserving all of the materials. In particular, I would like to thank Eugene Neely, the head of Archives and Special Collections, and Elayne Gardstein, Claudia Lemlich, Pam Griffin and Rubina Siddiqi. Without their total dedication, the Panama Canal Collection at Adelphi University could not have been organized and preserved in such a positive way.