Collection highlights and information about IWU’s Tate Archives & Special Collections
Posted in Alumni, Cultural Studies, Unexplored collections on Oct 17th, 2009
As mentioned in Part One of our selected mysteries, there are many opportunities for enterprising researchers to mine our collections for new topics and treasures:
Correspondence from the 1950s between Diplomat John Melby (’34) and his family
A collection of manuscript notes by William S. Bach, ca. 1927
Glass lantern slides (in two shoe-sized boxes) with some nursing [...]
Posted in Unexplored collections on Sep 4th, 2009
In a previous post, I described collections we hold related to Political Science. One of these collections contains manuscripts, publications and memorabilia related to 17th Congressional District Representative Leslie C. Arends (1935-1975). Thanks to the talents and efforts of Physical Plant employees, we were able to move a cleaned and polished Arends’ desk, previously stored [...]
Posted in Alumni, Campus Administration, Campus units, Faculty, Students, Unexplored collections on Aug 24th, 2009
What is a finding aid? Basically, it’s our version of a catalog. It helps archivists and patrons find out what material we hold and where it lives.
For a number of years we’ve been trying to get an interactive, 2.0 type of finding aid online. We’re still trying to make that dream a reality, but in [...]
Posted in Cultural Studies, Unexplored collections on Jul 24th, 2009
Special Collections houses a number of mysteries some enterprising researcher may be able to mine for treasures. Here are a few items and what little information we have about them:
Five photo albums from the 19th Century, some with people identifed, some not, and only one with clues about the people’s relationship to IWU.
Barry Lennon Farm Records, 1842-52
Correspondence [...]
Posted in Cultural Studies, Unexplored collections on Jun 16th, 2009
The collection we call “Conduct of Life” holds over 200 books from secular and religious perspectives dating from 1560. The topics include moral, social and practical considerations aimed at youth of both sexes and women. French, Latin and English seem to the the languages represented in this collection, but you can browse the entire list from our online catalog by following the [...]
Posted in Alumni, Students, Unexplored collections on May 25th, 2009
Memorial Day seems like a good time to highlight military-related documents held at IWU. Students, alumni, faculty and administrators have served in all U.S. wars since IWU’s founding. Diaries, correspondence, service records and recollections are held in both our archives and special collections.
Examples of these documents include service applications of the WWII-era Nurse’s Cadet Corps, alumni responses [...]
Posted in Faculty, Students, Unexplored collections on May 12th, 2009
Special Collections holds a number of volumes in French. One part of these holdings was described at the time of donation as ”French Socialist Literature,” but topics vary and include literature and politics with dates ranging from the early-1800s to mid-1900s. Selected titles follow:
Clerget, Pierre. La Suisse au XXe Siecle: Etude Economique et Sociale. Paris: Colin, 1908.
Duffeyte-Dilhan, J. Aux Femmes: [...]
Posted in Alumni, Campus Administration, Campus units, Faculty, Students, Unexplored collections on Apr 2nd, 2009
So far I’ve been promoting special collections material in this blog, but many parts of the archives contain chances for research, too! Campus life and growth since 1850 are reflected in records containing the topics below. Don’t be deceived by the short list — it represents approx 800 linear feet of records!
1 : Board of Trustees
2 : Office [...]
Posted in Campus units, Local organizations, Unexplored collections on Mar 24th, 2009
Special Collections has two manuscript collections related to state and national politics: The Leslie Arends Congressional Collection and the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention papers of IWU PoliSci professor and Con-Con delegate John Wenum. The 1970 Con Con resulted in a first-ever state Constitution that explicitly guaranteed citizens’ right to a healthy environment.
The Arends Collection is [...]
Posted in Cultural Studies, Unexplored collections on Mar 11th, 2009
As can be expected, given IWU’s origins, special collections holds an array of books related to Methodist Church governance, history and liturgy. Sermons and insights into the religious and philosophical leanings of IWU presidents, many of whom were also Methodist ministers, are available in the archives. Samplings of other religions represented in special collections are below.
Additionally, we hold one manuscript collection of former [...]
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