ENMU document exhibit moving on

PORTALES -- Eastern New Mexico University has been hosting centuries-old documents since August, but the Remnant Trust exhibit called the "Evolution of Personal Freedom" is moving on after Friday.

The traveling exhibit is a collection of original historic writings with three categories in relation to free thought: The United States government, religion, and philosophy.

Some of the writings include Alexander Hamilton's report on "The Subjects of Manufacturers" from Dec. 5, 1791, a full Torah reproduction of an 18th century Polish binding from 1966 in Hebrew, Latin and French, and Thomas Aquinas' essay "Epistola de modo studeni" from the early 1500s.

The pieces were chosen by ENMU professors for display at the university's Golden Library.

Lucy Martinez, an ENMU student and library circulation worker, said students and professors can request to handle the documents with assistance from an employee who has training with the delicate records.

"It is a big deal for ENMU to get to experience an exhibit that is this hands on," Martinez said. "As a small university, we are grateful for the physicality of history because it brings a lot of weight to our education. These tokens of the past make history feel so close."

Audra Bagwell, an ENMU student who is editor of the ENMU El Portal, said she has used the exhibit for multiple research projects.

"I have reviewed these documents so closely to see animal hair follicles pressed in the pages and water/oil damages from hundreds of years ago," she said. "There is so much you can take in from this plethora of content."

The documents will be returned to the Remnant Trust after Friday. Until then, anyone can view them at the library or by calling 575-562-2486 for a tour.