His name lives among sports history legends.  

A coach, an educator and an innovator, Knute Rockne undoubtedly impacted the game of football and the University of Notre Dame. 

"Already a legend in life during an era when college football was rapidly becoming one of the most popular American pastimes, Rockne's sudden, tragic death at the height of his fame has since made him almost a mythic figure," said Gregory Bond, University Archives sports archivist and curator of the Joyce Sports Research Collection.

But Rockne's story doesn't begin and end with football, and with its latest exhibit, "Rockne: Life & Legacy," The History Museum explores a broader narrative of the coaching legend's life. 

"This exhibit goes beyond football to show Knute as an incredible inventor, innovator and inspiration to others," said Brian Harding, executive director of The History Museum. "Rockne has been an icon in this community for years, and it's our duty to tell incredible global stories through a local lens. The impact that Knute Rockne had was so impressive, and it wasn't just locally; it was on a national scale."

So, where does a museum go to find the right items to tell a story like Rockne's?

"He is one of the most influential people to come out of Notre Dame," said Kristie Erickson, deputy executive director of The History Museum. "Of course, the Notre Dame Archives is the first place we went to when we decided to put the exhibit together. We love working with all the folks there. It's a natural partnership for us."

Overall, the exhibit features more than 60 items on loan from the College Football Hall of Fame, private collectors and the University of Notre Dame Archives.

"We have a strong relationship with The History Museum, and I value that partnership," said Patrick Milhoan, head archivist for the University Archives. "They're excellent professionals and do a terrific job curating and presenting robust exhibits, creating educational outreach programming and caring for our material."

The exhibit has 16 items on loan from Notre Dame, including a sweatshirt Rockne wore, a championship banner he won, a chemistry book he wrote in and even a board game he endorsed, as well as 56 photo and document reproductions made from items in the Archives.

Working with cultural institutions

The History Museum's Rockne exhibit is just the latest example of the University Archives working with a museum or cultural institution to support its work. 

"This exhibit is probably the largest one that we've cooperated with in a long time, but it's by no means the only one," said Elizabeth Hogan, University Archives senior archivist for photographs and graphic materials. "If there's an opportunity for us to support another cultural heritage institution with the material that we have in our holdings, we definitely want to have that conversation and help people where we can."

Those conversations have led to items and reproductions from the University’s collections being displayed in a variety of cultural institutions. In recent years, Milhoan and his team have worked with the New York Yankees Museum, Kenosha Civil War Museum, National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Indiana Historical Society. 

"We are honored that our collections are helping our colleagues at The History Museum to tell an important story through this exhibit," said Margaret Meserve, Interim Edward H. Arnold Dean, Hesburgh Libraries and University of Notre Dame Press . "The University Archives collects and preserves these treasured artifacts not just so we can keep them safe, but also so we can share the story of our rich history with audiences in the South Bend community and beyond."

According to Milhoan, working with other cultural institutions such as The History Museum is a "no-brainer."

"By placing the objects and artifacts on loan, we have the ability to work with those in an allied field and help them realize their project and their story," said Milhoan. "The items in our collections support their story, and by doing that, we are placing our materials in another location, increasing the visibility of our collections." 

Among museums and cultural institutions, the affiliation between The History Museum and Notre Dame Archives stands out, in part because of the organization's proximity, but also because of the relationship's longevity.

"The History Museum is a good local partner," Bond said. "They attract a lot of visitors who might not be able to come into the Archives, so this is a chance for our materials to have a broader impact."

The museum regularly works with the University Archives staff, a relationship Harding says is "vital" to exhibits such as Rockne as well as those displayed in the Ernestine M. Raclin Gallery, which features the history of the University of Notre Dame. Past exhibits have focused on Shakespeare at ND and Notre Dame International (now ND Global).

"I felt like that was the most important partnership that we could establish from the start," Harding said.

Rockne at the Museum

"Rockne: Life & Legacy" tells a story that offers visitors a new perspective on a coaching legend. And for those who may not be familiar with the coach, the exhibit serves as an introduction to Rockne and his life.

"I am often the person who has to remind people that we can't assume that everybody knows about someone or something, even when it comes to Knute Rockne," Erickson said. "We are looking to cater to both the people who live and breathe ND tradition, but also people who don't have that base knowledge."

"They're being comprehensive in telling Knute’s story," Milhoan said. "It's evident in the images and artifacts that they've selected." 

"Rockne: Life & Legacy" will be on display at The History Museum through May 2026. Visit The History Museum’s website to learn more.