Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island Karen Walton Morse University of Rhode Island, Kwmorse@Uri.Edu Creative Commons License

Home , Bruce Sundlun, Donald Carcieri, Frank Licht, John Chafee, Philip Noel

University of Rhode Island DigitalCommons@URI

Technical Services Faculty Presentations Technical Services

2017 Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island Karen Walton Morse University of Rhode Island, [email protected] Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/lib_ts_presentations

Recommended Citation Walton Morse, Karen, "Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island" (2017). Technical Services Faculty Presentations. Paper 70. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/lib_ts_presentations/70https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/lib_ts_presentations/70

This Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the Technical Services at DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Technical Services Faculty Presentations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DISTINCTIVE COLLECTIONS A presentation by Karen Walton Morse, 17 November 2017

Sponsored by the Library Faculty Development Committee

Context

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.1 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Definitions

Distinctive Collections: Special Collections (aka Special Collections and University Archives) by another name

We: the core staff of Distinctive Collections ¾Karen Walton Morse, Director ¾Mark Dionne, Archivist ¾Student assistants, currently [redacted] (2020), [redacted] (2018), and [redacted] (2021) sometimes also including Prof. Emerita Joy Emery, Curator of the Commercial Pattern Archive, and her students and volunteers

History and mission

The mission of Special Collections in the University of Rhode Island Libraries is to create a collection of unique research materials that will adequately serve the University's academic community, at all levels, and secondarily serve the needs of those from outside the University who would have reason to use these unique resources. Its mission is to acquire, organize, preserve, and make available to qualified scholars and research-oriented patrons those materials which are adjudged suitable for permanent preservation under controlled conditions. Unique research materials will consist of rare books; special book collections, e.g. R. I. Collection; University Archives; personal papers and maps. These materials will supplement the general collection in the University Libraries and further the goals of the Library to support the University's educational, scholarly and research programs. (Special Collections Mission - Goals, 1976)

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.2 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Collections

Image made possible by Jonathan Feinberg’s Wordle app

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.3 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Rare Book Collection Subject strengths Special collections: Agriculture The Poetry Collection (general) ¾Edna St. Vincent Millay Collection History (especially state and colonial) ¾Ezra Pound Collection Literature (especially poetry) ¾Walt Whitman Collection ¾Edwin Arlington Robinson Collection Natural history (especially botany and zoology) Philosophy and religion Typography and Book Arts ¾The Pym Randall Press Collection Typography and book arts ¾The Wilbur Doctor Merrymount Press Collection ¾Fritz Eichenberg Collection

Carl Woodward Collection of Early Agricultural Publications

Summa Theologica

Author: Saint Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence (1389-1459).

Publisher: Venice: Nicolaus Jenson, 1477-1480.

Call number: BX1749 A6 1477 (Rare Books)

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.4 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 The proceedings of the executive of the U.S. respecting the insurgents: 1794.

Author: United States. President (1789-1797: Washington)

Publisher: Philadelphia: Printed by John Fenno, 1795

Call number: E315 U62 1795 (Rare Books)

Inscribed by Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.5 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Ezra Pound Collection 756 published items

Envelope sent to John Quinn by Ezra Pound, April 1916. Pound Collection. Gift of Barry Scott

Rhode Island Collection Focus on local and state history Collection includes: ¾Books ¾Almanacs ¾Directories ¾Maps and atlases ¾Newspapers and magazines ¾Tax books ¾Pre-1900 government publications

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.6 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 University Archives Collections include: ¾Administrative records ¾Department/Center records ¾Committee records ¾Papers of faculty and staff ¾Records of campus organizations ¾Yearbooks ¾Student newspapers ¾University, college, and departmental publications ¾Course catalogs and directories ¾Theses and dissertations ¾Photographs and ephemera

Traveling display: “Illustrations of some of the work of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the Rhode Island State College,” c. 1920s. URI University Archives.

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.7 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Political Papers Subject specialist: Mark Dionne Rhode Island Governors Legislators ¾William Vanderbilt (1939-1941) Rhode Island House of Representatives ¾John Chafee (1963-1969) ¾David Dumas (1983-1990) ¾Frank Licht (1969-1973) U.S. House of Representatives ¾Robert Tiernan (1967-1975) ¾Philip Noel (1973-1977) ¾Claudine Schneider (1983-1991) ¾ J. Joseph Garrahy (1977-1985) ¾Robert Weygand (1996-2000) ¾Bruce Sundlun (1991-1995) U.S. Senate ¾Donald Carcieri (2003-2011) ¾John H. Chafee (1976-1999) ¾Claiborne Pell (1961-1997)

Senator John H. Chafee ¾Audio on DigitalCommons@URI

Senator Claiborne Pell ¾Audio files on Shared Shelf ¾Video files on Shared Shelf ¾National Endowment for the Humanities files on DigitalCommons@URI

From Univ. Archives photograph file: Chafee speaking at the inauguration of Baum (1968), Pell at commencement (1969)

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.8 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Rhode Island Episcopal Church Records

Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island ¾Old Narragansett Church Episcopal Church Women ¾St. Ansgarius (Providence) ¾St. George’s Episcopal Church (Newport) Churches: ¾St. John’s Church (Barrington) ¾ Christ Church (Lonsdale) ¾St. John’s Church/Cathedral (Providence) ¾ Church of the Advent (Pawtucket) ¾St. John’s (Millville, MA) ¾ Church of the Ascension (Cranston) ¾St. Luke’s (East Greenwich) ¾ Church of the Epiphany (Providence) ¾St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (Warren) ¾ Church of the Good Shepherd (Pawtucket) ¾St. Michael’s (Bristol) ¾ Church of the Messiah (Providence) ¾St. Paul’s Church (Pawtucket) ¾ Church of the Resurrection (Warwick) ¾St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Church (Providence) ¾ Church of St. Andrew and St. Philip (Warwick) ¾St. Stephen’s Church (Providence) ¾ Emmanuel Church (Newport) ¾Trinity Church (Pawtucket) ¾ Grace Church (Providence) ¾Trinity Church (Bristol)

Image: Archival collections storage in Distinctive Collections

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.9 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Personal Papers and Manuscripts A sampling - Small Presses: ¾Biscuit City Press Archives Journalism: ¾Pym-Randall Press Archives ¾Burton Hoffman Papers ¾Richard Wilmarth Papers (Dead Metaphor ¾G. Wayne Miller Papers Press) ¾John Carter Minkins Papers ¾Tony Hofford Kingston Hill Scrapbooks Textile industry: ¾Allen Knight Remington papers Performing Arts: ¾Records of the Carolina Mills ¾Bonoff Family Papers (Warwick Musical Theatre) Unions: ¾Records of the Rhode Island Feminist Theater ¾Amalgamated Transit Union. Division 618 ¾Records of Theatre-by-the-Sea ¾American Assoc. of University Professors. URI Chapter Rhode Island families: ¾Arthur H. Riani and the Brotherhood of ¾Hazard – Caroline, Rowland, Rowland G., Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 66 Papers Thomas ¾Edwin C. Brown Labor Union Collection ¾Perry – Rev. James DeWolf, Raymond Henry ¾Paul Buhle Rhode Island Labor Collection Jones ¾Brown and Sharpe Labor Strikes Research ¾Potter – Elisha Reynolds, John Collection

Fayerweather Family Papers, 1836-1962 MssGr121

Account book, Blacksmith shop of George and Solomon Fayerweather, 1809-1826 (MssGr121, oversize)

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.10 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Foster Parents Plan International MssGr117

Minutes of the Board of Directors, October 28, 1940 (MssGr117.2, Ser I, box 1, folder 4)

Oral History Collections 20th century events: Local community: ¾The Family in the Fifties ¾Galilee Fishermen ¾What Did You Do in the War, Grandma? ¾HERA (Gallery) ¾The Whole World Was Watching, 1968 ¾In the Wake of ’38 ¾Jamestown Bridge Project Immigrant and Minority groups: ¾Rhode Island’s Islands ¾Immigrant Oral Histories ¾South Providence Community Gardeners ¾Life Story Theatre (Latinx) ¾Yankee Ingenuity ¾Interview of Mable Graves (Osahadah) ¾RI Black Heritage Society Oral Histories University history: ¾Samuel Fine Family History ¾Graduate School of Oceanography Oral History Interviews Labor and activism: ¾John C. Weldin and Donald B. Webster Oral ¾Bernard LaFayette Oral History Project Histories of Rhode Island State College ¾Florence Luscomb ¾(Re)Presenting a Half Century: Oral History of ¾Jamestown and Newport Ferry Company the College of Arts and Sciences ¾Mill Life Oral History Collection ¾University of Rhode Island Oral History ¾Rhode Island Working Women ¾URI Centennial Oral History

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.11 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 The Whole World Was Watching: An Oral History of 1968 MssGr143

Naomi Craig being interviewed by S. Kingston High School student Ashley Johnson, 1998 (MssGr143, Ser III, box 5, folder 6)

Commercial Pattern Archive (CoPA) Curator: Professor Emerita Joy Emery Pattern Collections: ¾The Betty Williams Collection ¾The Joy Emery Collection ¾Fashion Institute of Technology ¾URI [Pattern]Collection Records Collections: ¾Betty Williams Research Collection ¾Butterick Research Collection Reference Library (490 books, 7211 serials) Image: Collage from CoPA database webpage Online Database

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.12 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Cover image (cropped), McCall 4918: Ladies and Misses' Bathing Suit, 1927, Betty Williams Collection, 1927.313.BWS Drawer containing patterns from 1935

What we do AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.13 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Processing for preservation and access

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.14 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Digital and digitized collection material available:

Facilitating research

Distinctive Collections Reading Room Open by appointment, 9 am-4 pm, Monday-Friday (excepting state holidays)

Reference and research assistance for distance researchers via phone and email. Image: Prof. Emeritus L. Patrick Devlin reviewing items from his collection of political campaign ads (MssGr193) in the Distinctive Collections Reading Room (URI Today)

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.15 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 What we can do for students Access to select textbooks For LIS students interested in archives and/or special collections librarianship Archival research assistance ¾Professional field experience ¾Assistance using materials in Distinctive Collections ¾Career advising ¾Referral to other repositories with collections more relevant to the research topic Documenting student life and activities ¾Archiving records of student organizations ¾Ensuring future availability of yearbooks, student newspapers, etc. (and documents needed for recertification)

What we can do for faculty Class presentations Collaboration (in the classroom or in the library) ¾Exhibits ¾Using primary sources ¾Digitization projects ¾Doing research in archival repositories ¾Crafting Distinctive Collections-based ¾On collections we hold research assignments for students ¾Documentation projects

Guest lectures Access to vital records ¾Archives ¾University records needed for recertification ¾Public history or reaccreditation ¾University history

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.16 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 What we can do for faculty Class presentations Collaboration (in the classroom or in the library) ¾Exhibits ¾Using primary sources ¾Digitization projects ¾Doing research in archival repositories ¾Crafting Distinctive Collections-based ¾On collections we hold research assignments for students ¾Documentation projects Guest lectures ¾Archives Access to vital records ¾Public history ¾University records needed for recertification or reaccreditation ¾University history ¾Course evaluations

Future Projects

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.17 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Image made possible by Jonathan Feinberg’s Wordle app

Project STAND (Student Activism Now Documented) brings together information about student activism archives from colleges and universities.

Image: Title page of American Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) presentation on Project STAND. ©Lae’l Hughes Watkins. Used with permission

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.18 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Conclusion

“The dedication of a library is in itself an act of faith. To bring together the records of the past and to house them in buildings where they will be preserved for the use of men and women in the future, a Nation must believe in three things. It must believe in the past. It must believe in the future. It must, above all, believe in the capacity of its own people so to learn from the past that they can gain in judgment in creating their own future.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt (June 30, 1941)

Image: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library dedication (cropped), June 30, 1941. From the collection of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum.

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.19 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017 Any questions?

Please contact us:

Distinctive Collections Karen Walton Morse Carothers Library, 2nd floor Director, Distinctive Collections 401-874-2594 401-874-2128 [email protected] [email protected]

As ARL libraries carry out these important functions [of preserving and providing primary sources], our Special Collections play a critical role. While many of our general collections are remarkable in their comprehensiveness or age, our Special Collections tend to the unique. They comprise manuscripts and archival collections unduplicated elsewhere and one-of-a-kind or rarely held books. They also include items precious through their rarity, monetary value, or their association with important figures or institutions in history, culture, politics, sciences, or the arts. Special Collections extend beyond paper to other formats of cultural significance […] Special collections are also significant for their focused assemblages of published materials so comprehensive as to constitute unparalleled opportunities for scholarship. The development, preservation, support, stewardship and dissemination of major special collections thus becomes both a characteristic of the true research library, and an obligation assumed by all members of the Association of Research Libraries. Special Collections represent not only the heart of an ARL library's mission, but one of the critical identifiers of a research library. Assoc. of Research Libraries "Research Libraries and the Commitment to Special Collections” (2003; emphasis mine)

Morse, K.W. Distinctive Collections at the University of Rhode Island, p.20 lecture sponsored by the University Library Faculty Development Commitee, Kingston, RI, November 17, 2017