sign in sign up
<<
Home , Allen Tate, Billy Collins, Charles Simic, Daniel Hoffman, Howard Nemerov, Joseph Auslander

Gazette Volume 19, No. 27 • July 25, 2008 • A weekly publication for Library staff Librarian Appoints as 16th ibrarian of Congress James H. Billington on June 17 announced Lthe appointment of Kay Ryan, a Californian whose spare, prize-winning poems offer surprises and insights, as the Library’s Poet Laureate Consultant in for 2008-2009. Ryan will take up her duties in the fall, opening the Library’s annual literary series on Oct. 16 with a reading of her work. She also will be a featured guest at the Library’s 2008 National Book Festival in the Poetry pavilion on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 27. Ryan, the 16th poet laureate, succeeds and joins a long line of distinguished poets who have served in the position, including Simic, , , Louise Glück, , , , and . Billington said the Laureateship is

Jennifer Loring uniformly awarded for the highest qual- Kay Ryan brings the voice of her quiet life to the poet laureateship. LAUREATE, Continued on page 4 New Garden Enhances Adams Building ibrary staff, visitors and neighbors uled for the fall,” Morgan said. have reason to stroll past a new “We decided a facelift was needed to Lperennial garden on the east side enhance the beauty of one of our national of the Adams Building on Third Street, treasures by creating a new design meant S.E. to soften the existing hardscape and pro- Carl Morgan, Architect of the Capi- vide seasonal color and winter interest,” tol (AOC), led a crew of four Library Morgan said. “We have been receiving groundskeepers and three summer interns positive feedback from residents of the in the recent installation of plant material surrounding neighborhood, who fre- Michaela McNichol that will dress up the grounds and the quently visit this side of the building, and New landscape plan softens lines of neighborhood all year long. we hope the Library staff and visitors will Adams Building. After the gardeners complete the plant- also benefit from our new addition.” ings in the fall, the garden will contain Jessica Amerson, a former AOC gar- Shimizu collaborated on the design of some 30 different perennials, numerous dener who now works with the White the gardens that provide perennial plea- spring-blooming bulbs such as narcissus House Greenhouse staff, designed the sure to those who walk or sit beside the and crocus mixes, evergreen shrubs and four-season landscape to enhance the Madison Plaza planter boxes overflowing Japanese maples. Adams Building. Holly Shimizu, the direc- with roses, crape myrtle, phlox, catmint, “At this time, the project is 80 percent tor of the U.S. Botanic Garden, provided cranesbill and other plants. complete with final plant deliveries sched- oversight and guidance for this project. GARDEN, Continued on page 7 2 Gazette JULY 25, 2008

FORUM Stop Use of Plastic Food Containers To the Editor: I am writing to you regarding my concern for the all-encompassing using of plastic Gazette in our Library cafeteria and snack bar. www.loc.gov/staff/gazette I noticed that recently even the food trays in our cafeterias have now been replaced MATTHEW RAYMOND by soft plastic trays that can easily be discarded. Washable silverware and plates also Executive Editor have been replaced by plastic surrogates that are being discarded. GAIL FINEBERG Editor I have two objections to these practices: MICHAELA McNICHOL 1) The plastic trash this country is producing is doing irreparable damage not only Art Director, Photographer to our country but also throughout the world because plastic does not disintegrate Contributing Editors: Erin Allen, Calendar; like organic substances. (See www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Moore-Trashed- Carlin “René” Sayles, Moving On and Length of Service; PacificNov03.htm.) Runako Balondemu, Donated Leave 2) Our plastic stuff is made from oil, a limited and ever pricier resource. Instead Contributing Photographers: Nancy Alfaro, Barry Wheeler Proofreader: George Thuronyi of proposals for drilling in our last pristine wildernesses, shouldn’t we all make an effort to save money by using less plastic? peter braestrup James W. Mcclung Founder Founding Publisher Aside from these reasons for not using plastic, the new soft trays do not even hold (1990 – 1997) (1990 – 1994) a cup of coffee without dangerously bending and threatening to break. —Reiner A. Gogolin An official publication of the Library of Congress, The Gazette encourages Library managers and staff to submit articles and Law Team, Social Sciences photographs of general interest. Submissions will be edited to Cataloging Division convey the most necessary information. Deadline for submission of articles is 5 p.m. Wednesday, one Ed Note: Neal Graham, chief, Facility Services, responded to this letter as well as to week prior to publication date. Please submit text in digital questions from the editor about why the Library couldn’t use a biodegradable product form via e-mail ([email protected]) preferably as an attachedM icrosoft Word file. or return to washing old-fashioned reusable silverware, plates, glasses and trays. Back issues of The Gazette are available in the Public Affairs Office, Currently the dishwasher in the cafeteria is broken, so the vendor is using Styro- LM 105, and issues dating from 2000 through the current issue are foam until it is repaired. Plastic can be recycled; however, we do not have a program available online at www.loc.gov/staff/gazette. currently to recycle materials. Library of Congress We have had discussions with IL Creations about moving to bio-wear; however, Washington, DC 20540-1620 Editorial: Gail Fineberg, 7-9194, [email protected] bio-wear requires specialized equipment to segregate and recycle the waste. This Design and production: Michaela McNichol, equipment must be manufactured. 7-0970, [email protected] ISSN 1049-818 We are currently working on a plan to have a bio-wear program (used in the Printed on paper that contains recycled paper by the House cafeteria) in place by August 2009, when the new food-services contract will Printing Management Section, Office Systems Services be in place. Neal Graham Gazette Welcomes Letters from Staff The staff is invited to use the Forum pages for lively and Chief, Facility Services thoughtful debate relevant to Library issues. However, just as other newspaper editors exercise discretion over which letters to publish and how to edit them, so do we. In decid- Notable Events ing whether or how much to publish, we consider content Stereotypes of American Indians Persist, Says Author, Educator (including misstatements of fact, libel, innuendo, ridicule of individuals or the institution, personal attacks, and redun- Edwin Schupman, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of dancy) and length (the limit is 600 words). Oklahoma and an education materials developer at the National Letters must be signed by the author, whose place of work Museum of the American Indian, will present a Library lecture and telephone extension should be included so we can verify authorship. Letter writers should understand that when on Aug. 5 in the Benjamin A. Botkin Folklife Lecture Series. they sign their letters and release them to us for publication His lecture is titled “‘Do All Indians Live in Tipis?’ and they are relinquishing privacy. If a letter calls for manage- ment response, for example, an explanation of a policy or Other Compelling Questions for Education.” Schupman is the actions or clarification of fact, we will ask for management co-author of a book with a similar title: “Do All Indians Live in response.—Ed. Tipis? Questions and Answers from the National Museum of the American Indian” (Collins, 2007). Gazette Deadlines The deadline for editorial copy for the Aug. 1 He will speak from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, in the Montpelier Gazette is Wednesday, July 23. E-mail articles Room, LM 619. to [email protected] promote events through the Stereotypes, inaccuracies and inappropriate representations of Native Ameri- Library’s online calendar (www.loc.gov/loc/ events) and the Gazette Calendar, e-mail event cans continue to abound in American society today, Schupman says. Reflecting and contact information to [email protected] on his 20 years in the field of American Indian education, the speaker will explore by Monday, 9 a.m. the week of publication. examples, causes and implications of the current state of awareness about Native peoples and issues. issue At a glance: For more information, visit the American Folklife Center at www.loc.gov/ Donated Leave 3 folklife or call 7-5510. Calendar 8 JULY 25, 2008 The LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Gazette 3

NEWS

OBITUARY

Nancy Galbraith Dies and silky grande dame.” Stanley Henderson Burdick, a founder palsy, and he died on Jan. 21. Nancy Burdick Galbraith, who Kunitz (consultant, 1974-76) said and chief of staff of Washington Galbraith’s first short story, headed the Library’s Poetry and Galbraith’s poetry office was “an Children’s Hospital during the “Fantastic Ambition,” won a 1988 Literature Center for 23 years, inviting corner graced with your 1950s, and Margaret Carothers PEN Syndicated Fiction Project from 1970 to her retirement in spirit.” Maxine Kumine (consul- Burdick, Galbraith was born on award and was later named by 1993, died on July 6 in a Belle- tant, 1981-82) noted that she, Gal- March 8, 1929, in Washington, the project as one of the 10 best vue, Wash., hospital from com- braith and her assistant Jenny D.C. She attended the National of that year’s winning stories. plications of emphysema. She Rutland, as a team, had orga- Cathedral School and was gradu- She continued to write after was 79. nized readings and workshops ated from the Madeira School retiring. She was active at the A native and longtime resident for women writers that focused in suburban Virginia in 1947, Writers Center in Bethesda, Md., of Washington, D.C., Galbraith public attention on women’s liter- the year she was introduced and was a featured poet in the had moved to an assisted-living ary achievements. Gigi Bradford, to society. Galbraith majored Joaquin Miller Cabin poetry series facility in Bellevue in November in Rock Creek Park in July 1999. 2007 to be near her sister-in-law, With other women writers she Barbara Burdick. founded the Stromboli Stregge, In addition to her 29 years in which met regularly in a small the poetry office, Galbraith was cafe, to critique one another’s a published poet, a short-story work. In 2006, the group pub- writer, an artist and art thera- lished an anthology, “The Pen Is pist. Mightier Than the Broom,” which In 1964, Galbraith took a posi- contains some of her writings. tion with the Poetry and Litera- Pursuing an interest in art, Gal- ture Center, which then was the braith earned a master’s degree in office of the annually appointed art therapy from George Washing- consultant in poetry and later, by ton University in 1979. She worked an act of Congress in 1985, of the as a volunteer art therapist with nation’s poet laureate. She served psychiatric patients at George as head of the center from 1970 Washington University Hospital to 1993 and was the principal in Washington, D.C., and with assistant to the poet in residence. children at Suburban Hospital She was also responsible for run- in Bethesda. Her case study “A ning the Library’s annual cycle of Foster Child’s Pictorial Expression public literary readings. of Ambivalence” and numerous In a 1991 interview, she said book reviews appeared in the of her role, “I like my part of the American Journal of Art Therapy. handiwork to be invisible, like She developed and taught an art Photo duplication S ervice course for adults called “I Can’t the stitches in a quilt.” Nancy Galbraith often quoted the poems of Howard When Galbraith retired from Nemerov, who served twice as poet laureate before his Draw,” and some of her own line the poetry office and Library on death in 1991. drawings accompanied articles Feb. 3, 1993, former poets lau- in various publications. reate and consultants, whom then director of the Literature Pro- in English at Wellesley College In addition to those already she had once described as “the gram at the National Endowment and Bryn Mawr College, from mentioned, her parents and her best of the best,” gathered to for the Arts, said Galbraith was which she was graduated cum younger brother, William Hender- bid her farewell or wrote lines an “intellectual iconoclast with a laude in 1951. son Burdick, predeceased her. commemorating her intellect, great sense of humor. . . . She tells For the next three years she She is survived by her sister-in- knowledge of poetry, wit and the truth but tells it aslant, from worked at the Central Intelligence law, Barbara Burdick. whimsy. (lau- an angled point of view.” Agency, where she met her hus- A memorial service is planned reate, 1987-88) called her “the Galbraith returned to the band-to-be, Evan G. Galbraith Jr., for September at the Cedar Lane first sergeant of the outfit...the Library from August 2001 until who served as the U.S. ambas- Unitarian Universalist Church in one who really knows what to September 2004 as a part-time sador to France in the 1980s. Bethesda, of which she was a do...and knows her poetry as editor for the National Library They were married in 1955 and longtime member. u well.” (con- Service for the Blind and Physi- divorced in 1964. Their daughter, — By Mark Eddy sultant, 1985-86) described her cally Handicapped. Alexandra, died on Feb. 14, 2005, Congressional Research as “a combination of level human The daughter of Dr. William of complications from cerebral Service

Kim Black Tanya Fletcher Arlene Peters Donated Leave Francine Via The following Library employees have satisfied Allen Brawner Kizzy Gomes the eligibility requirements of Library of Kimberly Brent-Thorpe Thomas Imhoof Karla Walker Congress Regulation (LCR) 2015-13 to receive Shvonne Chappell-Kirby Jannease Johnson Janice Wallace leave donations from other staff members. Kimberly Cabbagestalk Vanita Kelley Anthony Williams Contact Runako Balondemu at 7-1545. Barbara Dash Laura Monagle Rachel Young 4 The LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Gazette JULY 25, 2008

NEWS

OBITUARY

Bernard A. Bernier Jr. Dies events. The oldest newspaper in Spring, Md., Washington. Bernard A. Bernier Jr., a life- the collection is the Ulster County u n t i l l a s t Described at his funeral as a long archivist and former assis- Gazette from Kingston, N.Y., fall, when “die-hard Yankees fan” with a tant chief of the Serial and Gov- which on Jan. 4, 1800, reported they moved sense of humor, Bernier would ernment Publications Division, the death of President George to Bethany have appreciated that the Gospel died on June 20. He was 76. Washington. Newspapers in this Beach, Del. chosen for his funeral Mass was After 35 years of Library ser- collection appear in many Library In 1983, the same as that used in another vice, Bernier retired on June 1, exhibitions and were popular while work- Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium. Bernard Bernier 1990. He then became the archi- items in the long-running Ameri- i n g a t t h e His Mass of Christian Burial vist of the Catholic Archdiocese can Treasures exhibition. Library, he was ordained a was celebrated at St. John the of Washington, D.C., a position he Bernier was promoted to super- deacon in the Archdiocese of Baptist Church in Silver Spring, held for 17 years before retiring visory and administrative duties Washington. In addition to his Md., where he had served from for the second time, in June 2007. as head of the Reference Sec- duties as archdiocese archivist, 1998 to 2007. Interment was in At that retirement celebration he tion and assistant chief of the he served in St. Bernadette Parish the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in was described as “the custodian division. in Silver Spring for many years Silver Spring. of memories.” Bernier was born Nov. 22, 1931, and most recently as administra- In addition to his wife, he During his Library career as an in Webster, Mass. He earned both tor of the Holy Savior Mission in leaves six children: Ann Rogers, archivist and reference special- his bachelor’s degree and master’s Bethany Beach. Patricia Sichelman, and Cath- ist, he started a Historic Events degree in library science from the An historical moment in his erine, Thomas, Marie and Robert Newspaper Collection consisting Catholic University of America, life came on April 17, when he Bernier; five grandchildren; and of original front pages of news- where he met his wife of more with other deacons assisted four great-grandchildren. A son papers that documented some than 50 years, Mary Ann. They Pope Benedict XVI at the Papal died in 1968. u of ’s major historical lived with their family in Silver Mass at the Nationals Park in — By Gail Fineberg

For more than 30 years, Ryan limited hard to be LAUREATE, Continued from page 1 her professional responsibilities to the alone so long ity of poetry. “Kay Ryan is a distinctive part-time teaching of remedial English at and then hear and original voice within the rich variety the in Kentfield, Calif., someone come of contemporary ,” Bil- thus leaving much of her life free for “a around. It’s lington said. “She writes easily under- lot of mountain bike riding plus the idle like some form standable short poems on improbable maunderings poets feed upon.” She said of skin’s developed subjects. Within her compact composi- at one point that she has never taken in the air tions there are many surprises in rhyme a creative writing class, and in a 2004 that, rather and rhythm and in sly wit pointing to interview in The Christian Science Moni- than have torn, subtle wisdom.” tor, she noted, “I have tried to live very you tear. Patricia Gray, coordinator of the quietly, so I could be happy.” She describes poetry as an intensely Library’s Poetry and Literature Center, In her poems Ryan enjoys reexamin- personal experience for both the writer noted that although Ryan’s appointment ing the beauty of everyday phrases and and the reader: “Poems are transmissions as laureate may disrupt her quiet life tem- mining the cracks in common human from the depths of whoever wrote them porarily, her career path is likely to inspire experience. Unlike many poets writing to the depths of the reader. To a greater poets everywhere who work indepen- today, she seldom writes in the first person. extent than with any other kind of read- dently, forgoing time-consuming career She has said, “I don’t use ‘I’ because the ing, the reader of a poem is making that tracks and more remunerative positions personal is too hot and sticky for me to poem, is inhabiting those words in the so they can lead lives that nourish their work with. I like the cooling properties most personal sort of way. That doesn’t writing. of the impersonal.” In her poem “Hide mean that you read a poem and make it Ryan was born in 1945 in San Jose, and Seek,” for instance, she describes whatever you want it to be, but that it’s Calif., and grew up in the San Joaquin the feelings of the person hiding without operating so deeply in you, that it is the Valley and the Mojave Desert. Her father ever saying, “I am hiding”: most special kind of reading.” was an oil-well driller and sometime It’s hard not Ryan’s poems are characterized by prospector. She received both bachelor’s to jump out the deft use of unusual kinds of slant and and master’s degrees from the University instead of internal rhyming, which she has referred of California, Los Angeles. Since 1971, waiting to be to as “recombinant rhyme,” in combina- Ryan has lived in Marin County. Her part- found. It’s tion with strong, exact rhymes and even ner of 30 years is Carol Adair. JULY 25, 2008 The LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Gazette 5

NEWS puns. The poems are peppered with wit ate in order to permit incumbents to work the central announcement system. and philosophical questioning and rely on their own projects while at the Library. More recently, Ted Kooser created a on short lines, often no more than two Each brings a new emphasis to the posi- free weekly newspaper column (www. to three words each. She has said of her tion. In the period prior to 1985, when americanlifeinpoetry.org) that features a ascetic preferences, “An almost-empty the library’s consultant in poetry was brief poem by a contemporary American suitcase—that’s what I want my poems designated laureate by an act of Congress, poet and an introduction to the poem to be. A few things. The reader starts served in 1943-44 as editor of by Kooser. Donald Hall participated in taking them out, but they keep multiply- the Library publication The Quarterly the first-ever joint poetry readings of the ing.” Because her craft is both exacting Journal of the Library of Congress and U.S. Poet Laureate and British Poet Laure- and playfully elastic, it is possible for edited the compilation “Sixty American ate Andrew Motion in a program called both readers who like formal poems and Poets, 1896-1944.” Some consultants have “Poetry Across the Atlantic,” also spon- readers who like free verse to find her suggested and chaired literary festivals sored by the Poetry Foundation. Charles work rewarding. and conferences; others have spoken in Simic provided tips on writing at www. John Barr, president of The Poetry a number of schools and universities and loc.gov/poetry and taught a master class Foundation, said: “Halfway into a Ryan received guests in the Poetry Room. for accomplished poets at the Library. poem, one is ready for either a joke or Increasingly in recent years, the Consultants in Poetry and Poets Lau- a profundity; typically it ends in both. incumbents have sought new ways to reate Consultants in Poetry and their Before we know it the poem arrives at broaden the role of poetry in our national terms of service are listed below. some unexpected, deep insight that likely life. initiated a popular · , 1937-1941 will alter forever the way we see that women’s series of poetry workshops at · Allen Tate, 1943-1944 thing.” the Library’s Poetry and Literature Center. · , 1944-1945 Ryan has written six books of poetry, Gwendolyn Brooks met with groups of · , 1945-1946 plus a limited edition artist’s book, along elementary school children to encourage · , 1946-1947 with a number of essays. Her books are: them to write poetry. · , 1947-1948 “Dragon Acts to Dragon Ends” (1983), conducted seminars at the Library for · Leonie Adams, 1948-1949 “Strangely Marked Metal” (Copper Beech, high school English classes. Most incum- · , 1949-1950 1985), “Flamingo Watching” (Copper bents and many other poets reading · , 1950-1952, the first Beech, 1994), “Elephant Rocks” (Grove at the Library have contributed to the to serve two terms Press,1996), “Say Uncle” (Grove Press, Library’s Archive of Recorded Poetry · , appointed 2000), “Believe It or Not!” (2002, Jungle and Literature. initiated in 1952 but did not serve Garden Press, edition of 125 copies), the idea of providing poetry in public · , 1956-1958 and “The Niagara River” (Grove Press, places—supermarkets, hotels, airports · , 1958-1959 2005). and hospitals. · , 1959-1961 Her awards include the Gold Medal for Rita Dove brought a program of · , 1961-1963 poetry, 2005, from the Com- poetry and jazz to the Library’s literary · Howard Nemerov, 1963-1964 monwealth Club; the Ruth Lilly Poetry series, along with a reading by young · Reed Whittemore, 1964-1965 Prize from The Poetry Foundation in Crow Indian poets and a two-day confer- · , 1965-1966 2004; a Guggenheim fellowship the same ence titled “Oil on the Waters: The Black · , 1966-1968 year; a National Endowment for the Arts Diaspora,” featuring panel discussions, · , 1968-1970 fellowship as well as the Maurice English readings and music. · , 1970-1971 Poetry Award in 2001; the Union League Robert Hass sponsored a major con- · , 1971-1973 Poetry Prize in 2000; and an Ingram Mer- ference on nature writing called “Water- · , 1973-1974 rill Foundation Award in 1995. She has shed,” which continues today as “River · Stanley Kunitz, 1974-1976 won four Pushcart Prizes and has been of Words,” a national poetry competi- · , 1976-1978 selected four different years for the annual tion for elementary and high school stu- · William Meredith, 1978-1980 volumes of . dents, Robert Pinsky initiated his Favorite · Maxine Kumin, 1981-1982 Her poems have been widely reprinted Poem Project, which energized a nation · , 1982-1984 and internationally anthologized. Since of poetry readers to share their favorite · , 1984-1985, 2006, she has been a Chancellor of the poems in readings across the country appointed and served in a health-limited Academy of American Poets. and in audio and video recordings. Billy capacity, but did not come to the Library Collins instituted the Web site Poetry180 of Congress Background of the Laureateship (www.loc.gov/poetry/180), which brought · Reed Whittemore, 1984-1985, The Library keeps to a minimum the a poem a day into every high school Interim Consultant in Poetry specific duties required of the poet laure- classroom in all parts of the country via · Gwendolyn Brooks, 1985-1986 LAUREATE, Continued on page 7 6 The LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Gazette JULY 25, 2008

VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT Thune Interview Enriches VHP Archives By Gail Fineberg

When Harold Thune, a U.S. Navy Air hangar deck. Sailors man- Corps fighter pilot, reported on Nov. 30, aged to bring the gasoline 1944, to his skipper at a floating U.S. Navy fires under control. When base sheltered by the atoll Ulithi in the the attack was over, six offi- South Pacific, his commanding officer cers and 59 enlisted men was shocked. had been killed or listed as Four days earlier, the skipper had missing. A charred, twisted watched Thune’s F6-F aircraft crash and hulk, the Intrepid limped burn during takeoff from a rough coral 1,000 miles east to join the runway on Palau. He had thought nobody fleet at Ulithi. could walk away from that inferno. Fighters returning to Thune told this and other stories of the Intrepid were directed his wartime experiences in an interview to land on other carriers conducted by his son, Sen. John Thune, or fields. “We completed R-S.D., for the Library’s Veterans History our mission and were Project (VHP). instructed to land at Leyte As a young man of the wide open in the Philippines. [Gen. spaces of the Great Plains, Thune had Douglas] McArthur had always wanted to fly. With an older just secured a strip of the brother already in the Navy and sta- beach, and the engineers tioned at Pearl Harbor at the time of the laid down steel netting to Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941, Thune make a landing strip. So we joined the Navy while he was a senior at stayed overnight with the the University of . One month Army,” Thune recalled. Michaela McNichol after he graduated, he reported for duty The next day, Thune The Librarian presents Sen. John Thune with a certificate of appreciation for his contribution to the Veterans in July 1942 and took flight training in and his squadron hopped History Project. Minneapolis, Corpus Christi, Texas, and to Palau, an island about San Diego. 500 miles west of the fleet, to refuel. “On bay and I got bandaged up. An admiral In November 1944, Thune and other takeoff, I was rolling down the runway, [possibly fleet commander Admiral Wil- pilots in his VF-18 Fighter Squadron and before I got up to flying speed I blew liam Halsey, who visited Ulithi to inspect assigned to the carrier USS Intrepid were a tire. ‘Boy, if I can just force this thing the damaged Intrepid] was flying in a big flying their Grumman F6-Fs in strafing off’—in our minds we knew we were plane to Ulithi, so I asked if I could bum a and bombing sorties on the Philippines. probably headed home, because our ride. So we landed at Ulithi . . . they had “We ended up doing more bombing than carrier was hit and we had been out a few set up camp on a beach. I walked in and the bombers did,” Thule said. “We could weeks longer than we were supposed to said, ‘Hi.’ The skipper couldn’t believe it. carry one 1,000-pound bomb or two 500- be. So we were concerned about getting He was sure I was dead. pound bombs.” back to Ulithi. “He thought I should have the Purple On Nov. 25, as they took off on yet “The runway was hewn out of coral. Heart. I said, ‘For what? I saw no enemy another mission, two pilots in his group The tire dragged me off to the side, and action.’” looked back to see smoke bellowing my 150-gallon belly tank [full of gasoline] Thune’s son asked him about his from the Intrepid, which was hit in quick hit a boulder and the plane was on fire. medals, the Air Medal, awarded for bomb- succession by two kamikaze pilots. The And you just react, get things off, try to ing and strafing, and the Distinguished first Japanese Zero went into a power stall get out. The rest of the squadron was Flying Cross. “A lot of men have this,” and a wingover, crashing onto the flight airborne; they circled up there, pretty Thune said, holding up the Flying Cross deck. The bomb it carried exploded in tight. I flew in the skipper’s division, and in its box. “I think it was in recognition an unoccupied pilots’ ready room and he said there was no way anybody could of my shooting down a couple of enemy killed 32 in an adjoining compartment, get out of that thing. planes. I am very happy to have it and according to a history of the Intrepid. “But I got out of the plane and had proud to wear it.” Two minutes later, a second Zero hit some burns,” Thune continued. “An Army The younger Thune noted that Vice the carrier, its missile exploding on the jeep picked me up and took me to the sick Admiral J. S. McCain, Sen. John McCain’s JULY 25, 2008 The LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Gazette 7

NEWS

grandfather, had signed his dad’s com- vets), the senator said: “Interviewing my · Charles Simic, 2007-2008 mendation. father for the Veterans History Project The annual poetry and literature read- Thune Interview Enriches VHP Archives The story of Thune’s crash and sur- was a great way to learn more about his ing series at the Library of Congress is vival is but one excerpt that appears experiences during World War II. This the oldest in the Washington area and on Senator Thune’s own Web site, at interview is a small contribution to an among the oldest in the . http://thune.senate.gov/public/index. already impressive collection of Ameri- These readings, lectures, symposia and cfm?FuseAction=Services.VeteransHis- can history as told by those who made occasional dramatic performances began toryProject. The senator contributed the it.” He encouraged other South Dakotans in the 1940s and were designed to bring entire video interview, which he captured to contribute their own family stories to good literature to a larger audience. The on a DVD, and other materials document- the project. u events are free and have been supported ing his father’s World War II experiences since 1951 by a gift from the late Gertrude to the Veterans History Project, American Clarke Whittall and the Archer M. Hun- Folklife Center, on July11. LAUREATE, Continued from page 5 tington Fund. Commending the Library’s effort The Poetry and Literature Center to preserve veterans’ oral histories for · Robert Penn Warren, 1986-1987, administers the series and is the home the future, Thune said the project had first to be Poet Laureate Consultant in of the poet laureate consultant, a posi- prompted him to finally interview his Poetry tion that has existed since 1936, when father, now 89 and living in the senator’s · Richard Wilbur, 1987-1988 Huntington endowed the Chair of Poetry hometown of Murdo, S.D., to get him to · Howard Nemerov, 1988-1990 at the Library. Since then, many of the record his memories for posterity. · , 1990-1991 nation’s most eminent poets have served Senator Thune told Librarian of Con- · Joseph Brodsky, 1991-1992 as consultant in poetry to the Library gress James H. Billington and VHP Direc- · , 1992-1993 and, after the passage of Public Law tor Robert Patrick he would encourage · Rita Dove, 1993-1995 99-194 (Dec. 20, 1985), as poet laureate his fellow senators to make their own · Robert Hass, 1995-1997 consultant in poetry. The poet laureate contributions to the Veterans History · Robert Pinsky, 1997-2000 suggests authors to read in the literary Project. · Stanley Kunitz, 2000-2001 series and plans other special literary In a press release that the senator · Billy Collins, 2001-2003 events during the literary season. issued on June 13, the day he released · Louise Glück, 2003-2004 More information on the poet laureate his own Web site promoting the VHP with · Ted Kooser, 2004-2006 and the Poetry and Literature Center can a link to the Library’s site (www.loc.gov/ · Donald Hall, 2006-2007 be found at www.loc.gov/poetry/. u

GARDEN, Continued from page 1

To ensure the success of the Adams project, the existing soil was amended with organic matter along with a prod- uct called Ecolite to improve the drain- age. Ron Bean, an AOC plumber with expertise in outside irrigation systems, designed and installed a new irrigation system with assistance from other in- house staff members. “The new system is dedicated specifically to address the garden’s irrigation needs and is sepa- rate from the surrounding lawn area,” Morgan said. Planting began in late June after the new irrigation system was installed. In addition to Morgan, the plant instal- lation team consisted of four permanent AOC gardeners assigned to care for the Library grounds—Alonzo Watkins, Mike Michaela McNichol Gardeners planting perennials on the east side of the Adams Building are, from left in Lopez, Gavin Fisher and Kyle Parks—and front, Devin Edwards, Raymond Neal and Aaron Alder, all summer interns, and from left in three summer students, Raymond Neal, the background, Mike Lopez and Carl Morgan, both of the office of the Architect Aaron Alder and Devin Edwards. u of the Capitol. 8 Library of Congress Gazette JULY 25, 2008

CALENDAR

JULY Mary Pickford Theater, LM JULY august 25FRIday 301. Contact 7-5677. 31THURSDAY 1 FriDAY Aerobics Class: Strength JULY Aerobics Class: High-Low. Aerobics Class: Strength training and floor exercise. 30wednesday Noon, LC Wellness Center, LA training and floor exercise. Noon, LC Wellness Center, LA B-36. Contact 7-8637. Noon, LC Wellness Center, LA B-36. Contact 7-8637. Basic Emergency Care B-36. Contact 7-8637. Class: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Yoga: Noon, LM SB-02. Film: Asian Reflections Series: Classroom E, LM 654. Register Contact 7-5984. LC Ballroom Dance Club: “King of the Khyber Rifles” 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Dining at www. loc.gov/staff/cld/. Meditation: Open to all. 12:15 (20th Century-Fox, 1953). 7 Room A, LM 620. Contact Contact 7-8035. p.m., LA 300. Contact mrag@ p.m., Mary Pickford Theater, 7-2815. Tai Chi Class: All levels. 11:30 loc.gov. LM 301. Contact 7-5677. Film: An Evening with Marcel a.m., LC Wellness Center, LA Belly Dance Class: 1 p.m., JULY Marceau: “Shanks” (William B-36. Contact 7-3284. LC Wellness Center, LA B-36. Castle Productions/Paramount, monday Contact 7-1215. 28 LCPA What If …: Hildy 1974) and “Fable” (Mobil Oil Library Research Silverman, editor-in-chief Film: “In Name Only” (RKO Corp. International Division/ Orientation: 10 a.m. – noon, of Space & Time science Radio Pictures, 1939). 7 p.m., Columbia, 1968). 7 p.m., Mary LJ G-07. Register by phone fiction and fantasy magazine, Mary Pickford Theater, LM Pickford Theater, LM 301. 7-3370, online at www.loc.gov/ presents a talk titled “How 301. Contact 7-5677. Contact 7-5677. rr/main/inforeas/signup.php or to Raise the Dead (Market).” in person at LJ 139. Contact Noon, Mary Pickford Theater, 7-0945, 7-2138. LM 301. Contact 7-3864, Belly Dance Class: Noon, [email protected]. The Humanities and Social Sciences Division offers LC Wellness Center, LA B-36. Bloomsday Camerata: an overview Contact 7-1215. Reading through “” Research Orientation to LC Ballroom Dance Club: by . Noon, Dewey 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Dining Conference Room, LM 547. the Library Room A, LM 620. Contact Contact 7-0013. The Research Orientation is designed 7-2815. Forum: Bible study. Open to as a basic overview for researchers using all. Noon, LM 613. Contact Library collections and resources. JULY [email protected]. Presented from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the following Mondays: July 29tuesday Aerobics Class: Strength training and floor exercise. 28. Orientation will be held in Room G-07 of Aerobics Class: High-Low. the Jefferson Building. Noon, LC Wellness Center, LA 12:30 p.m., LC Wellness B-36. Contact 7-8637. Center, LA B-36. Contact Reader ID cards can be obtained in LM 140. Registration is 7-8637. required. Register by phone at 7-3370 or online at www.loc.gov/ Meditation: Open to all. 12:15 p.m., LA 300. Contact mrag@ Yoga/Pilates: Start at your rr/main/inforeas/signup.php. Request ADA accommodations five loc.gov. own level. 1 p.m., LM SB-02. business days in advance at 7-6362 or [email protected]. Contact 7-3013. Film: Summer Surfing For more information call Kathy Woodrell 7-0945 or Series: “Pacific Vibrations” Abby Yochelson 7-2138. (John Severson Productions/ American International Bloomsday Camerata Pictures, 1970), “Kings of the The group started reading “The Wild Waves” (Seymour Borde Cantos” by Ezra Pound on Interested in expanding your life? Associates/Paramount, 1964) Wednesday, July 23, and the Contact our Employee Assistance Program counselor at 7-6389 and “Skaterdater” (Byway room number is now LM 547. ([email protected]), call (800) 433-2320 or visit www.cascadecenter. Productions/UA, 1965). 7 p.m., com. All Library employees and their benefit-eligible dependents are entitled to receive services from a counselor on-site or up to three sessions at no charge for the counselor off-site, close to home Health Services Office Heartsaver AED/CPR Classes or work. 9 a.m. - noon, Tuesday, Aug. 5, LM 654 A/B 9 a.m. - noon, Wednesday, Aug. 13, LM 654 A/B 9 a.m. - noon, Thursday, Aug. 28, LM 654 A/B The updated 2008 version of the online Informa- Basic Emergency Care tion Technology (IT) Security Awareness Train- 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 30, LM 654 E ing is now available at www.loc.gov/staff/cld/ 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 16, LM 654 E (from outside the Library, http://olc.loc.gov). The This seven-hour course includes: AED/CPR, Basic First Aid, Blood Borne deadline to complete the new course is Sept. 30. Pathogen Awareness, and Emergency Oxygen Administration. It is geared for those on the Library’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and members of the OSEP staff. Employees considering applying for membership to the CERT team may contact Peter Torres at [email protected] for approval. Anonymously report suspected illegal activities, waste, fraud, abuse and Psychological First Aid mismanagement in Library programs and operations. Library of Congress Regulation 211-6, available on the staff intranet at www.loc.gov/staff/ogc/ 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 27, West Dining Hall, LM 621 lcr/211-6.html, explains staff and Office of Inspector General responsibilities Register for classes on the Center for Learning Development under the Library of Congress Inspector General Act of 2005. The OIG hotline website at www.loc.gov/staff/cld phone number is 7-6306 and the e-mail address is [email protected].

Request ADA accommodations for events five business days in advance at 7-6362 or [email protected] www.loc.gov/loc/events for calendar online.