on
campus

Remembering Agnes:
50 Years Later

Many members of the Wilkes community still remember vividly that day in June of 1972 when Hurricane Agnes, the worst natural disaster in Pennsylvania’s history, devastated the Wyoming Valley. Now everyone will be able to hear the stories—from those who experienced it—with the “Remembering Agnes: 50 Years Later,” a walking tour and multimedia retrospective online.

The walking tour exhibit was designed to provide visitors with a brief history of some of Wilkes University’s historic buildings that were most affected by Hurricane Agnes. The tour consisted of 12 designated campus stops, showing how the campus community came together to recover and rebuild our Wilkes after Agnes.

The installation was curated by the archivists of the E.S. Farley Library with the help of many other departments on campus, and launched on the anniversary of the storm. The library also had Hurricane Agnes artifacts on display, and the website features audio interviews with those who were there and lived through the aftermath: alumni, faculty and then-president Francis J. Michelini all share their remembrances of “Operation Snapback.”

The popular historical retrospective, launched in June of 2022, is still available to visitors. “I’m very pleased with how the Agnes installation went; it was a collaborative research effort with multiple academic departments and it reveals the solidarity and fortitude of our campus community during a natural disaster,” said Suzanna Calev, Farley Library archivist and public services librarian. “These buildings are still standing and have been updated to reflect the growing needs of our students and that is in large part due to the dedication and commitment of our Wilkes community during Agnes. I hope that people will listen to these oral histories for years to come and look back on Wilkes history with a sense of pride.”

Outside Weckesser Hall with large sign “Remembering Agnes: 50 Years Later,” a walking tour
The installation was curated by the archivists of the E.S. Farley Library with the help of many other departments on campus, and launched on the anniversary of the storm.
Large sign on side of building that says 'Main Street' with more information about “Remembering Agnes: 50 Years Later,” a walking tour