University of Arizona

Everyone is welcome to visit Special Collections without an appointment from 9 am - 5 pm, Mon - Fri. Note that beginning April 1st, our hours will be 9 am - 4 pm

1968 in America

One of the most volatile years in the history of the United States was 1968.

The Tet Offensive escalated the war in Vietnam, we lost two monumental leaders—Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy—to assassination, and riots broke out across the nation. As students protested the war, popular music became a powerful voice for their generation. At the same time, the civil rights and Black Power movements inspired environmentalists, women, Chicanos, Native Americans and the gay and lesbian community to add their voices to the discourse. This exhibit showcases a variety of materials from Special Collections. Explore hidden treasures highlighting politics, news, art, literature and culture from 50 years ago—including underground press publications, author Edward Abbey’s draft of Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness and photographs from the University of Arizona.

Free and open to the public.

Related information

September 6: 1968: From the My Lai Massacre to Yellow Submarine - a presentation by Tom Miller, author and travel writer

October 2: 1968: A Closer Look at Its Impact - panel discussion

The Year That Rocked the World

Travel back in time with UA Libraries