Olympic souvenirs - opening and closing ceremonies and pins, 1996

This collection contains the professional items from Jeffrey Durbin's career, such as historic preservation publications, surveys, reports, project binders, training resources, manuals, guides, and educational materials regarding historical landmarks, monuments, and buildings. A large portion of this collection is made up of "articles and research," which were used as cultural resources and references by Durbin throughout his career. These files can be used as "subject files" to research several aspects of historic preservation and roadside architecture, particularly in the 20th century.

Roadside architecture, highways, roads, and auto trails are central themes throughout this collection, as Durbin studied such topics during his time at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and working for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). In box 89 you will find a copy of his thesis, "Survey Techniques for Roadside Architecture: The Gas Station, Murfreesboro, Tennessee as a Case Study."

Publications include guides to the NYC 1964 World's fair, 1962 Seattle World's Fair, various magazines covering topics such as highways, roads, travel, 9/11, and historic preservation.

Of special interest are historic maps, a large postcard collection, and travel trinkets and souvenirs, such as business cards, pictures, stickers, cups, magnets, lanyards, old ID cards, and clothing.

During his career Durbin worked with FEMA and disaster relief organizations. Because of this, there is clothing, photos, and research relating to such disasters. In box 63 and 64 there are mens polos that he wore and a bag that he used on these trips. For example, there is clothing from the National Park Service, URS Corp, FEMA, 9/11 and Katrina, an Olympic straw hat, an Olympic volunteer uniform, and tee shirts. In box 161, there are marble pieces from Suntrust Tower renovation. There are also several photos of the 9/11 aftermath at ground zero, the pentagon, and Hurricane Katrina.

Other photos in this collection include historic buildings, bridges, landmarks, and stereographs of "1892 The Merry Pickers" by B.W. Kilburn of Littleton, New Hampshire, as well as some industrial factory images.

Under "Audio/Visual and digital files" in the inventory, there are slides featuring Howard Finster's Paradise Gardens and other historic preservation projects. They have been digitized and are available in the library's digital repository.