The word “time capsule” was first used during the 1939 World’s Fair, and early prototypes of the modern time capsule include the Century Safe and the Crypt of Civilization (scheduled to be unsealed in 8113 AD).  As of 2008, the International Time Capsule Society reported that there are between 10,000 and 15,000 time capsules worldwide. That’s a lot of history.

 

Past experience shows that items selected for these low-tech time machines are generally pretty boring — coins, technology of the time, newspapers — giving a snapshot of life in a particular era, city or company. Even the oldest American time capsule, the one assembled by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams on July 4, 1795, had a one-shilling piece from 1652 and other coins, two newspapers, and a plaque commemorating the erection of the Massachusetts State House. The time capsule being assembled in celebration of Drexel’s 125th anniversary will, too, represent the culture of the University with items like a Drexel Magazine Anniversary Edition, 2016 academic course catalogue and student handbook, a list of all faculty and staff, and “Ambition Can’t Wait” brand awareness campaign newspaper ads.

 

There are a couple items that make our capsule a bit more unusual including Dragon Gels, sport supplements developed by Nyree Dardarian, MS, RD, LDN, CSSD, FAND ’06, assistant clinical professor; director - Center for Integrated Nutrition & Performance; and coordinator, Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway in the Nutrition Sciences department. Dragon Gels were suggested in an online survey and received the second highest number of votes, 1,328, winning its place in the inventory.

 

Since unearthing the Drexel University 125th anniversary time capsule is decades away, we should ask Professor Dardarian if Dragon Gels have a “best by” date.