WVU Libraries

Blog post by Stewart Plein, Rare Book Librarian.

“Not many things I know nor do,
But one;
This my poor heart
so vacant and so frail
can love you
can love you
and dispossess
itself of content
and of strength.”

Fragment of an unpublished poem written on a gardening catalog, pictured above

Today, February 6, we celebrate the 134^th birthday of Anne Spencer, poet of the Harlem Renaissance, civil rights activist, teacher, librarian, accomplished gardener, and West Virginian.  Read the rest of this entry »

Blog post by Jane Metters LaBarbara, Assistant Curator, WVRHC.

A lot of archives have what we call “hidden collections”—great materials that aren’t findable online or just aren’t described well.  At the WVRHC, one of our hidden collections is our panoramic photos collection.  The photos are large; the longest is 64 inches long—roughly the height of the average American woman!  I am working on describing and rehousing these photos so that we can put their descriptions online in our Guide to Archives & Manuscripts (check it out at A&M 4167).  In this post, I highlight one of the photographers and share some of his work.

We don’t have any photos of Ribble, but we do believe one of these shadows is him, standing next to his camera with his assistant.  Read the rest of this entry »

Help the West Virginia University Libraries recognize an exceptional librarian by submitting a nomination for a librarian who you think is doing an outstanding job.

The WVU Libraries Faculty Assembly sponsors the Outstanding Librarian Award once every three years to recognize exceptional contributions toward the delivery, development, or expansion of library services or special programs for the constituencies of WVU. Attributes sought in the finalist may include leadership, initiative, creativity, dedication, and exemplary attitude. The award is open to both current and retired WVU Libraries faculty.

Nominations will be accepted from WVU administration, faculty, and staff and must be submitted to Stewart Plein, stewart.plein@mail.wvu.edu, on the official nomination form by February 15. Selection criteria, dates, and the nomination form with submission details can be found on the Libraries’ website.

The Awards Committee includes Linda Blake, linda.blake@mail.wvu.edu, 304-293-0328; Mary Strife, mary.strife@mail.wvu.edu, 304-293-9756; and Jessica Tapia, jessica.tapia@mail.wvu.edu, 304-293-0312.

Blog post by Ashleigh Coren, Resident Librarian, WVU Libraries.

The Rare Book Collection in the West Virginia & Regional History Center recently acquired Ohioan Paul Laurence Dunbar’s (1872-1906) When Malindy Sings, an illustrated book of poems and photographs published in 1903 by Dodd, Mead and Company. While the Rare Book Collection is home to a variety of wonderfully illustrated rare books, the six Dunbar books in our collection: Howdy, Honey, Howdy; Poems of Cabin and Field; Candle-Lightin’ Time, Folks from Dixie, Li’L’ Gal, and now When Malindy Sings, are in a category of their own. Dunbar, who Darwin Turner hails as “a symbol of the creative and intellectual potential of the Negro,” died at the early age of 33. The six decorated books in the Rare Book Room showcase the wonderful marriage between text and image that was prevalent in the 19th and early 20th century. The Dunbar collection is a great example of what booksellers and bibliophiles refer to as decorated Publishers’ Bindings.  Read the rest of this entry »

Blog post by Stewart Plein, Rare Book Librarian.

At first glance, Puck may not be what you might consider one of the jewels among the collections in the Rare Book Room, however, it is an important publication that deserves its place in those rarified surroundings.  In its day, Puck was known as a magazine that satirized American politics and politicians, reporting events, sports and fashion trends throughout its run during the latter nineteenth and early twentieth century.  Read the rest of this entry »

Blog post by Jane Metters LaBarbara, Assistant Curator, WVRHC.

I wanted to write another blog post combining two things I love, food and history, and my fellow blogger Lori recommended a recently published book that has exactly what I’ve been looking for.  Serving Up History: Savor the Flavors of Early West Virginia Cookery 1776-1860 was written by Martha and Richard Hartley, who researched part of the book here at the WVRHC.  (We are ordering the book for our collection, so check the shelves soon!)  The cookbook is a companion to their earlier book, The Frontier Table: A Treatise & Source Book on Western Virginia Foodways History 1776-1860, and contains over 100 historical recipes with modern translations.  It also has “Cook’s Notes” that contain useful tips or recipe variations, and “Historic Insights” to help modern readers understand the original recipes.  Out of all the fantastic recipes it contains, I chose to make Hasty Pudding, Lemon Pudding, and A.P.s.  Read the rest of this entry »

Blog post by Lori Hostuttler, Digital Projects and Outreach Archivist, WVRHC.

I was attending the Harrison County Historical Society Christmas Party last weekend and some friends and I were trying to identify a postcard that was labeled as Main Street, Clarksburg.  It was unrecognizable as Main Street as we knew it, so we started talking about the clues that the postcard presented us about the time period it was created so we could use Clarksburg City Directories to find the location of the home in the photo.  Read the rest of this entry »

Two student artists in the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts have won the Dean of the Libraries Award from the Art in the Libraries Committee. Matthew Gillette won for his sculpture “Slumped,” and Floyd-Wheat Robinson for his sculpture “Tap Water.”

Matthew Gillette with his sculpture “Slumped.”

Floyd-Wheat Robinson with his sculpture “Tap Water.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Blog post by Michael Ridderbusch, Associate Curator, WVRHC.

During this busy time of year people often choose the convenience of eating out to save time, and the diner has always been there as an option for those with challenging schedules.  Having emerged in the late 1800s, diners are now attracting interest as a historical phenomenon as evidenced by the considerable attention given the topic by publishers in recent decades.  There are now many books that survey the subject photographically by region with some related historical narrative.  A variety of genres are represented in this publishing effort, including children’s books, cook books, mysteries, travel diaries, and even a dictionary (entitled The Diner’s Dictionary:  Word Origins of Food and Drink by John Ayto).  Read the rest of this entry »

The Downtown Campus and Evansdale libraries opened at 9 a.m. Sunday and will remain open through 2 a.m. Friday night/early Saturday, Dec. 12. Both libraries will be open Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. They will then be open from 9 a.m. Dec. 13 through 8 p.m. Dec. 16.

The Health Sciences Library will be open 7:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 7-10; 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 11; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 12; 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 13; and 7:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 14-17.

Semester Break hours are available on the Libraries’ website.

Blog post by Stewart Plein, Rare Book Librarian.

From its early origins in Germany, where a cut and decorated tree was called “Tannenbaum,” to its arrival in this country in the mid-19^th century, Christmas trees have become an essential component of our holiday celebrations.  Read the rest of this entry »

Help the West Virginia University Libraries recognize an exceptional librarian by nominating a librarian who you think is doing an outstanding job.

The Outstanding Librarian Award, sponsored every three years by the WVU Libraries Faculty Assembly, honors exceptional contributions toward the delivery, development, or expansion of library services or special programs for the WVU community. Attributes sought in the finalist may include leadership, initiative, creativity, dedication, and exemplary attitude. The award is open to both current and retired Library faculty.

Nominations will be accepted from WVU administration, faculty, and staff and must be submitted to Stewart Plein, stewart.plein@mail.wvu.edu, on the official nomination form by February 15, 2016. Selection criteria, dates, and the nomination form with submission details can be found on the Libraries’ website.

The Awards Committee includes Linda Blake, linda.blake@mail.wvu.edu, 304-293-0328; Mary Strife, mary.strife@mail.wvu.edu, 304-293-9756; and Jessica Tapia, jessica.tapia@mail.wvu.edu, 304-293-0312.

Blog post by Danielle Emerling, Assistant Curator, WVRHC

The West Virginia & Regional History Center announces the opening of a new digital collection, “From Our Family to Yours: A Collection of Rockefeller Family Holiday Cards.” The collection draws on materials in the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers and includes holiday cards sent by the Rockefellers to family and friends throughout his many years in public service. The cards, which became a popular collectible among some supporters, span the years 1971-2014 and feature photographs of the family, illustrations of the West Virginia Governor’s Mansion and State Capitol, and the U.S. Capitol building.

An exhibition in the John D. Rockefeller IV Gallery in the Downtown Library accompanies the digital collection and will be open December 1, 2015-January 15, 2016.

1978 Rockefeller family holiday card, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia & Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, https://rockefeller.lib.wvu.edu/cards/catalog/wvulibraries:2599

Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV came to West Virginia in 1964 as a 27-year-old VISTA volunteer in the small community of Emmons, an experience that shaped his extensive career in public service. He entered politics in 1966 as a Kanawha County candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates.

In April 1967, he married Sharon Lee Percy, daughter of U.S. Senator Charles Percy of Illinois. The Rockefellers had four children, John Davison “Jamie” V, Valerie, Charles, and Justin Aldrich, and later several grandchildren.

After his time in the West Virginia House of Delegates (1966-1968), Rockefeller served as Secretary of State of West Virginia (1968-1972); President of West Virginia Wesleyan College (1973-1976); and Governor of West Virginia (1977-1985).

In 1984 he was elected to the United States Senate and was reelected four times, in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008, before retiring in 2015. He was a leading champion for health care reform, an advocate for improving the lives of children and working families, and a supporter of the nation’s soldiers, veterans, and senior citizens.

In 2014, Rockefeller donated his papers documenting his 30-year career in the U.S. Senate to the WVU Libraries’ West Virginia & Regional History Center. To learn more about Senator Rockefeller and his Senate career, visit the Center’s “Jay Rockefeller” website at https://rockefeller.lib.wvu.edu.

Blog post by Jane Metters LaBarbara, Assistant Curator, WVRHC.

The WVRHC recently acquired a bound volume of typed minutes from various meetings of the Charleston, West Virginia branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), founded in the summer of 1918.  The minutes in the book span the years 1922 to 1936; during that time, attorney and politician T. Gillis Nutter served as the branch president.  Many meetings were held at Garnett High School (founded ca. 1900, sometimes spelled Garnet), an African-American high school in Charleston; branch member Charles Wesley Boyd was the school’s first principal.

Read the rest of this entry »

Behind the scene changes in how West Virginia University Libraries manages resources will translate to a better search experience and fewer headaches for library users.

WVU Libraries has signed an agreement for OCLC WorldShare Management Services (WMS), a cloud-based library management system, to administer its entire lineup of books, journals and electronic resources.

WorldShare Management Services (WMS) is a complete, cloud-based library management system that offers all the applications needed to manage a library, including Acquisitions, Circulation, Metadata, Resource Sharing, License Management and a single-search Discovery interface to connect library users to the information they need. WMS also includes a range of Reports based on local data that help libraries understand their activities and track key metrics over time.

“My priority has been to move WVU Libraries to a next generation library system,” Dean of WVU Libraries Jon E. Cawthorne said. “I am impressed with everything I have learned about WorldShare Management Services, and I am excited about the growth potential. I am grateful that the entire University community and the regional institutions will benefit from the Libraries partnering with OCLC.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Blog post by Michael Ridderbusch, Associate Curator, WVRHC.

The West Virginia and Regional History Center recently acquired a collection of photographs documenting Appalachian Folk Music Festivals from the 1970s.  Among the many candid images of musicians playing guitars, banjos, and dulcimers are shots of the fiddlers, many of whom have achieved acclaim as Vandalia Award winners, including Ira Mullins (1982), Franklin George (1994), and Bobby Taylor (2010).  In its recognition of a lifetime’s contribution to West Virginia’s traditional culture, the Vandalia Award bestows upon its recipients public recognition of their accomplishments, and sets a standard for future artists and their development.  Read the rest of this entry »

The Downtown Campus Library has added software that streamlines the process of recording a video in its Presentation Practice Room.

One Button Studio is a simplified video recording system that requires no production experience or training. All you need is a reservation and a flash drive. The One Button Studio monitor guides you through the process:

1. Insert a thumb drive
2. Push the start button
3. Following a five-second countdown, begin presenting.

Read the rest of this entry »

Blog post by Lori Hostuttler, Digital Projects and Outreach Archivist, WVRHC.

This Wednesday, November 11, Pulitzer Prize winning author and Don Knotts biographer Daniel de Visé will discuss the research for his new book, Andy & Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show.  Please join us for the discussion and book signing at 2:00 p.m. in the Robinson Room of the WVU Downtown Campus Library.

To learn a little more about Mr. de Visé before his visit, we asked five questions about his career, interests and Don Knotts!

  Read the rest of this entry »

Blog post by Stewart Plein, Rare Book Librarian.

William Henry Edwards’ (1822 – 1909) business was coal.  Although born in New York, Edwards spent most of his adult life in Coalburg, a small town outside Charleston, West Virginia.  As a co-founder of the Kanawha and Ohio Coal Company, Edwards moved to Coalburg in order to be closer to his mining operations.

However, the real love of his life was butterflies.  Read the rest of this entry »

West Virginia University Libraries’ newly hired Wikipedian in Residence for Gender Equity, Kelly Doyle, will help Wikipedia address its gender gap while increasing the presence of Mountain State natives in the online encyclopedia.

“We are thrilled for Kelly Doyle to lead West Virginia University in this extensive endeavor to enhance Wikipedia’s content and reliability,” said Jon E. Cawthorne, dean of the WVU Libraries. “This project will enable us to promote the accomplishments of West Virginians, both historical figures and those making a difference in the world today.”

A Wikipedian in Residence (WiR) is an editor based at an institution to facilitate the creation and improvement of Wikipedia articles related to that institution’s mission. A relatively new role, the first WiR was a volunteer at the British Museum in 2010. By 2014, there were 31 Wikipedians working at institutions around the world.

Read the rest of this entry »