The Crypt of Civilization at Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven, Georgia, was created between 1937 and 1940 as a room-sized time capsule meant to preserve a broad record of human life and knowledge until 8113. Conceived by university president Thornwell Jacobs, it sought to leave a fuller account of modern civilization than survives from many ancient cultures. Built in a sealed former swimming pool with carefully controlled preservation methods, it contains everyday objects, scientific tools, seed samples, clothing models, microfilmed books, sound recordings, and devices to help future users access the material. Its ambitious design influenced later long-term time capsule projects.