The ceremony, with a champagne reception, will feature remarks by University President Hugo Sonnenschein an honor roll of leadership and memorial donors. A brief program will return us to some of the Oriental Institute's earliest endeavors and roots with a reenactment of ancient Egyptian building rituals: "driving in the stakes" (to survey foundation footprint), "hacking the earth" (equivalent to turning the first shovel of earth for the foundation), scattering white plaster and burning incense to purify the building, and placing inscribed bricks in the foundation trenches.

From these ancient, timeless ceremonies the building project will lead us into the twenty-first century with facilities meeting our research, teaching, and public outreach needs. The project will provide both a new wing and renovation of the existing building: climate control throughout the public galleries, air conditioning in the auditorium and Research Archives, a new Archaeology Research Center, a new public activity center for volunteers and educational programming, new library stacks, and a state-of-the-art Conservation Center.

As we enter this final phase of the Legacy Campaign I hope you will join the Institute family of faculty, members, and friends to commemorate groundbreaking for our new wing and the start of major renovations.

Celebrate our Legacy!

Sincerely,

William M. Sumner, Director

The Oriental Institute