University Libraries

By Megan Bullard

I have always loved scavenger hunts. My mother often prepared ones for me when I was young for special occasions such as my birthday, Christmas or Easter. The delight of deciphering clues, the rush of racing to the next one and the thrill of the prize at the end brought me undeniable joy. This sparked in me a love of mysteries and perhaps, in some small way, the path that led me to an internship in the University Archives and Special Collections at the University of Dayton.

When I first learned that I would be helping with research inquiries, I made two assumptions, and you know what they say about that. First, I assumed that a person had to have some kind of credentials as a researcher to submit a research inquiry. I had no idea that anyone could request information from the archives and that an archivist would help to find the information if possible. Second, I assumed the researchers would be only looking for pictures or maybe help finding specific items in a large collection. To be fair, there were plenty of those inquiries. However, one inquiry that I helped with was just a bit more unusual.

Until Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, I have no recollection of ever hearing the name of the band Bread. In fact, when Amy Rohmiller, the University’s assistant archivist, first read me the research inquiry, I asked if it was some kind of charity concert to feed the hungry. She quickly clarified that Bread was a hit 1970s soft rock band — and she had never heard of them either. Next, she explained that the research inquiry was from a graduate who attended a Bread concert during their freshman year in 1972 and was trying to find out what band or artist was the opening act. Suddenly it felt less like a research inquiry and more like a scavenger hunt. The alumnus gave us two clues: the date the concert had occurred — Nov. 11, 1972 — and took place on UD’s campus. However, this second clue turned out to be false; Amy discovered the concert had actually occurred at Hara Arena.

With a twinge of disappointment, I felt sure this research inquiry (read scavenger hunt) was going to take no time at all. Surely Google would know the answer, right? Twenty-three results and only one bit of useful information later, we continued the hunt. The next step, according to Amy, was to look through the old microfilms of the Dayton Daily News on the first floor of Roesch Library. After learning how to operate the microfilm machine, I spent over an hour scouring the newspapers from the days before and after the concert occurred. The only clue I found was a brief mention in the entertainment section that the concert was scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. Nov. 11.

Disappointed in my inability to find any additional information about the concert, I told Amy the results. At that point, we concluded that we had done our due diligence in this scavenger hunt, er … research inquiry, and we provided the few crumbs of information to the alumnus. Still, the experience nagged at me, making me frustrated that I was not able to provide the requested information. I will likely remember this question for years to come. After some reflection, I think that is OK. I think it demonstrates the willingness of the archives to serve the UD community and the general community in the search for knowledge. In the meantime, I’ll continue my scavenger hunt and hope for some Bread crumbs to lead me to the answer.

Start your own scavenger hunt

To submit your own research inquiry or to make an appointment, contact the University Archives at 937-229-4256 or email archives@udayton.edu.

Other reflections from my archives internship

• "Resolve: Ensuring Inclusion": The submission of several shelves of scrapbooks, documents, publications and keepsakes to the archives from Black Action Through Unity kindles my commitment to ensuring the inclusion of missing voices in archival collections.
• "In Search of a Pencil": In reading the timeless wit and wisdom of Erma Bombeck, I discover I have something in common with the iconic humorist.

— Megan Bullard graduates with a master's in library and information science (MLIS) at Kent State University in December. She spent the fall semester as an intern in the University Archives and Special Collections. While not previously familiar with the band Bread, she does love listening to most music genres, especially Broadway musicals.