Peek in the Stacks

What is the link between a pickled human heart, the rise of the middle class, and the oldest musical instrument? The answer lies in Special Collections & Archives. Housed within the Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Collection is a transcription by Fransisco Tarrega of Chopin’s Prelude Op. 28, No. 15 for the guitar. This is a particularly unique item considering the history of the guitar. 

The Hassina and Deeptha Leelarathna Photographic Collection is an invaluable historical archive that offers a glimpse into the lives of two Sri Lankan immigrants who made significant contributions to the Sri Lankan community in the United States.

https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c82z1d78/Family memories that are made within a diaspora are all the more precious. This is especially true about the materials housed in the newly processed Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Collection, which documents the Armenian genocide survival and immigrant experiences of Hampartzoum “Harry” and Ovsanna Piloyan Chitjian.

Connie and Harvey Lapin of Northridge became advocates for children and adults with autism after the diagnosis of their son, Shawn. Their advocacy work is documented in the Harvey and Connie Lapin Collection in the University Library archives.