School archives serve as more than just storage—they preserve the story of a community. From yearbooks and student publications to board records and everyday artifacts, these materials offer valuable insight into how generations of students and educators experienced historical moments.
At Hawken School in Cleveland, these records play a vital role in education.
“Our archives help students connect with history through the lens of their own school experience,” said Jeffery Biggar, Co-Director for Advancement.
As Hawken School transitioned to smaller class sizes, the need for additional classroom space became a priority. This meant relocating their extensive archive collection into a more compact area—without sacrificing accessibility or preservation.
Recognizing the complexity of the challenge, school leadership partnered with a Cleveland-based storage specialist to design an efficient, space-saving solution.
After an on-site consultation, the team implemented a tailored system that included:
This strategic approach allowed the school to significantly increase storage capacity within a smaller footprint.
Despite moving into a reduced space, the redesigned archive is now easier to navigate and more user-friendly. Students, faculty, alumni, and families can explore over a century of Hawken School history in a streamlined environment.
From historic newspapers to decades-old yearbooks, the collection now supports deeper engagement with the school’s legacy and its connection to broader historical events.
“The new system allows us to showcase more than 100 years of history to our community,” Biggar shared. “The entire experience—from planning to installation—was exceptional. The craftsmanship and professionalism exceeded our expectations.”
