Since at least 1906, South Asian students have attended the University of Illinois. In a talk scheduled for March 21 at 5 p.m. at Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, archivist Salvatore V. De Sando will highlight some of the first South Asian students, early South Asian student-organized events on campus and early South Asian student organizations. This presentation is based on original archival research, and historic campus photos will be featured to bring the story to life.
De Sando is a graduate student in the College of Education at Illinois and a trained archivist. For the past three years, he has searched the University Archives to find the origins and legacies of different cultural groups on campus, from immigrants to international students. He is writing a series of bibliographic guides called “Illini Everywhere,” which can be found on the University Archives’ Student Life and Culture program website.
This event is part of Spurlock’s Third Thursday Series highlighting people, places and events in University of Illinois history. Admission is free. The museum is located at 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana. To request accessibility accommodations, call 217-333-2360.