The Extraordinary World of MARBL: Dooley’s Suit and Shoes

The Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library is a place of discovery. All are welcome to visit and explore our unique holdings, whether as a researcher or an observer. The breadth and depth of our collections are vast, and it is nearly impossible to investigate every nook and cranny. We invite you this year, through our blog, to tour some of those places you didn’t know existed, and get acquainted with collections you might not have previously explored. Check back in with us weekly over the course of 2013 as we offer you a delightful look into some of the favorite, but perhaps lesser-known, corners of our collections. These pieces are visually interesting, come attached with fascinating stories, and are often 3D objects you might not have realized are part of what makes up The Extraordinary World of MARBL.

Emory’s unofficial mascot is Dooley, a skeleton who first made his appearance in an 1899 issue of the Phoenix, a monthly literary journal. In this publication, Dooley explained that he was the skeleton in the science room and that he did not care for the students at Emory. Since then, he has appeared in numerous publications and became known as the “Lord of Misrule” until eventually he was given his own Ball and week of fun in the spring. During Dooley’s week, which this year runs from April 1-6, you’ll find Dooley and his bodyguards around campus letting class out early or overseeing various social functions. One of the suits previously used by Dooley can be found in MARBL along with an old pair of shoes and a hat. The identity of the student who dons the costume and portrays Dooley each year is one of Emory’s best-kept secrets.

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