Wayne State College Graphic Design students and Professors Joshua Piersanti, Chris Holton, and Matt Hepworth restored historical photographs for the College. In several projects across 4 semesters, 89 students participated in the restoration of more than 30 photographs (including several large panoramics) for the College. Restoration of additional historical photographs from the College's archives is ongoing.
WSC's Director of the Conn Library and the WSC Librarian-Acquisitions and Archivist have maintained a large archive of historical photographs showing the College campus, administration, and students. Many of these photographs are from the College's beginnings in the late 1800s and early 1900s and were in need of preservation and restoration. The College's graphic design students were asked to restore these photographs so they can be displayed in buildings across campus.
These projects were completed as part of WSC's Service-Learning Program, so in addition to benefiting the community and the College, the projects enabled students to develop skills that will help them as they become professional graphic designers. Institutional funding provides support for Service-Learning at Wayne State College. This funding was used to professionally mat and frame each of the restored photographs so they can be put on display.