Remembering and Honoring the Aggie Experience,

Cushing Memorial Library

During the Spring 2025 semester, 45 students in the HIST 303 (History and Memory) course, directed by Professor Shae Smith Cox, embarked on a journey to learn about the creation of memory and how groups and societies could forget aspects of their past.

The semester-long project involved tireless research of material culture, lore, and archival material, culminating in a student-led exhibit held at Cushing Memorial Library.

They focused on how various uniforms made someone an Aggie, specifically looking at both the positive and the darker side of history.

Since 1876…

Texas A&M University has educated hundreds of thousands of Aggies, many of whom have gone on to successful careers, served their country, and started businesses. Begun as a military school, the strong culture and adherence to tradition built over the last century and a half creates a strong bond between Aggies, both past and present. Remembering and Honoring the Aggie Experience is a student-led exhibit that showcases the many uniforms worn by generations of Aggies. Through the analysis of these objects, we wish to create a greater appreciation and understanding of the institution’s rich history and traditions, including Bonfire, Midnight Yell, and Silver Taps. These uniforms tell a portion of the story of Texas A&M and its students. From our many athletic programs to our oldest and largest student organization, the Corps of Cadets, students at Texas A&M donned a variety of uniforms and accessories symbolizing their belonging to the university and its diverse subcultures. 

Despite Texas A&M’s love of traditions, the university and its more than 1300 student organizations changed and evolved. This exhibit highlights these changes within Texas A&M, including those occurring alongside the broader cultural changes, such as the inclusion of women and racial minorities and the addition of new university organizations. Exploring the evolution of Aggie uniforms allows us to see what remained constant and what was added to or altered.

Telling the story of Texas A&M University through these objects, Remembering and Honoring the Aggie Experience pays homage to the Aggies who came before, unites Aggies through shared culture, and acknowledges how the institution's complex character has kept its core values but evolved to incorporate each new generation of Aggies.