Many people enjoy fishing as a relaxing and tranquil recreational activity. Everyone who likes to fish has their own special ways of doing things with particular equipment and tools. Special Collections and Archives has several books that highlight fishing as a hobby and...
Johannes Gutenberg chose the Bible to be the first book he would print on his new printing press in the 15th century. As such, the Bible is the first mass-produced book in the world. Before the invention of the printing press, bibles and other books were written and illustrated by hand. It could take several years ....
When you think of the guitar many images and words associated with the instrument might come into mind, such as romance, passion, captivation, and love. Now, who do you picture playing this captivating, romantic and passionate instrument? Most likely, you would think of men because through time famous guitarists have been mostly men. This is especially true in the field of classical guitar...
Summer is arriving soon and for many that means taking trips with family and friends, or going to different events that are happening around town, otherwise known as a "stay-cation". In Special Collections and Archives, we have many collections that highlight summer travels and local activities. Some of these include ...
Mother's Day has its roots in early Egyptian festivals which honored the goddess Isis, known as Mother of the Pharaohs. Other ancient cultures also honored mother figures, worshipping and celebrating mother goddesses like Cybele and Rhea, among others. With the spread of Christianity across Europe and England in the sixteenth century, celebrations of motherhood became focused ....
Musicals are a combination of theatre, music, and dance, and musicals have been a popular form of entertainment since the 19th century. Gilbert and Sullivan's musical theater productions were especially popular, and receiving more viewers than those that preceded them. Special Collections and Archives has ...
The Old China Hands Archives is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of new materials, including the Gloria Watson Curtis Kliene Collection, the Ellwood Lawson Collection, and the addition of new items to the Sylvia Maehrischel Collection. These collections strengthen the Old China Hands Archives mission to preserve...
"Once upon a time" is the well-worn opening to several traditional fairy tales, but where did the phrase originate? What is a fairy tale? Scholars generally agree that a fairy tale does not need to include actual fairies, but they agree on little else. Some basic themes in fairy tales are the presence of magic, some form of transformation (of a character or an idea), and the inclusion of the extraordinary ....
Artists' books have been produced around the world and across artistic disciplines for nearly 200 years, but weren't established as an official book (or art!) genre until the 1970s. Simply defined, artists’ books can be thought of as unique works of art in book format—though they do tend to challenge traditional concepts of what constitutes a "book." Often constructed from unusual materials, some artists' books in the library's collection are made from rubber, metal, plastic, fabric, and wood, as well as remarkable handmade papers ...
Many beauty and fashion trends quickly fall out of vogue, but others have more staying power. In Special Collections there are many fashion books and magazines produced in numerous time periods, as well as historical retrospectives that focus on the history of fashion and cosmetics. Women in particular ....
