The goal of the library exhibition program is to provide a space for student work and campus research to be shared with the community and that our exhibition program provides an opportunity to present stories, voices, and work that otherwise may not be able to be shared.
  • Close-up of a traditional white blouse displayed on a mannequin inside a glass exhibit case. The blouse features colorful floral embroidery and sequined embellishments across the yoke and sleeves, including large red, blue, and pink flowers with green vines and leaves. A decorative embroidered panel with a red flower hangs from the center front. Red stitching outlines the neckline, sleeves, and panel, creating a vibrant contrast against the white fabric.
  • Museum display case featuring two traditional garments. On the left, a cape or shawl with a green satin collar and a red knitted tie is densely covered in multicolored sequins forming elaborate floral and geometric patterns. On the right, a white embroidered blouse is displayed on a mannequin, decorated with bright floral motifs in red, blue, green, and pink. Both garments illustrate intricate decorative needlework and textile artistry.
  • Exhibit case showcasing photographs, textiles, and a scrapbook documenting traditional clothing and cultural performances. An open photo album sits at the center, surrounded by several printed photographs depicting individuals wearing embroidered garments and participating in group events. White lace fabric, red and green textiles, and fringed shawls are arranged around the display, highlighting the preservation of cultural dress and community traditions.
  • Close-up of a museum display featuring photographs of dancers wearing traditional folkloric clothing. The photos are arranged on draped red fabric inside a display case. One photograph shows a performer in a colorful, multicolored skirt held open in a wide semicircle, while another shows a performer in a flowing white dress posed outdoors beneath a tree. A third photograph depicts a staged cultural dance performance with dancers in brightly colored dresses.
  • Exhibition of traditional Mexican dress displayed in a public building or museum lobby. Mannequins wear ornate embroidered and sequined dresses positioned around large informational panels. One panel is titled “La China Poblana” and includes historical and cultural information about the dress tradition. Stanchions surround the exhibit, and the garments feature vibrant floral patterns, decorative beadwork, and colorful sashes.
  • Wide view of the “La China Poblana” exhibition showing several mannequins dressed in elaborately decorated traditional dresses arranged around a central video screen. The dresses feature embroidered floral motifs, sequins, and multicolored skirts. Informational brochures are displayed on a small table in the foreground, while the exhibit occupies an open lobby space enclosed by black rope barriers.
  • Museum display case featuring two traditional garments. On the left, a white tunic-style blouse is displayed on a mannequin and decorated with colorful floral embroidery around the neckline and shoulders. An embroidered front panel depicts a figure carrying a basket, framed by flowers and geometric patterns in red, green, blue, and yellow. On the right, a heavily sequined cape or shawl hangs beside the blouse, covered in intricate multicolored designs and topped with a striped sash in green, pink, cream, and brown tones. Both garments are exhibited behind glass, highlighting detailed craftsmanship, embroidery, and decorative beadwork.

La China Poblana

Women’s Stories Stitched, Worn And Remembered In The Borderlands
Level 1

Every stitch tells a story. Explore the rich and layered history of La China Poblana through dress, performance, memory and community storytelling. This exhibition brings together historic China Poblana ensembles, recorded cultural performances and stories rooted in the U.S.–Mexico borderlands—examining how clothing can become an archive of identity, tradition, migration and belonging.

  • Museum display case containing a historical document with an eagle emblem and several stone slabs.
  • Museum display case of a colorful map of the United States, an open book, and historical documents.
  • Museum display of a red pamphlet titled "The Case of Joe Hill" alongside other historical documents.
  • A sign in a museum display case reads "NO KINGS SAVE DEMOCRACY" in bold orange and black letters.
  • Museum display case of a portrait photograph, handwritten letters, and small historical booklets.
  • Museum display of two large open books with illustrations and text, a smaller closed book, and a document.
  • Museum display of vertical manuscripts, patterned fabric, and textured bark-like material with labels.

America in the Archive: The Many Voices of Democracy

Level 4

The United States of America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. The birth of the nation was rooted in a long history of place, people, and beliefs that extended beyond the continental United States and continues to expand in our present. These many histories, often streamlined as linear narratives, find their source in the myriad material artifacts contained in an archive. Far from a straightforward history, archives describe weblike, simultaneous, and intertwined stories while at the same time, pointing to gaps in the record.
Discover the layered history of democracy in America through the voices and stories of the people who were instrumental in helping to create democracy and essential to preserving it in our present and future. This exhibition will explore American history with a particular focus on Utah and the Intermountain West.

The exhibition is FREE and open to the public.