Illinoi University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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ILLINOI UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PRODUCTION NOTE University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library Large-scale Digitization Project, 2007. Insight into PoliticsisadPbiL and Public Life noPl Inih Bob Crawford, legendary politi- earned a journalism degree from the F A L L 2 0 0 4 cal reporter and radio journalist, Urbana campus in 1959. He began VOLUME 26 * NUMBER 1 has donated more than 58 hours of his broadcasting career while he was a historic audiotape to the University student at Illinois, working for WILL, Highlights Library. Managed by the University WPGU Radio, and WCIA-TV. "I con- Archives, the collection primarily doc- sider much of what I learned at the Z Friends Board Member Establishes uments Chicago politics from 1968 to Unitrust U of I to be important in what I later 2004, but it also includes commentary achieved," he says. Weiss Estate to Establish Military by state and national politicians and Collection For more than four decades, Bob public figures. A duplicate set has Crawford reported on Chicago poli- 4 Library Friends Support been placed in the Richard J. Daley Preservation Efforts tics at CBS radio affiliate WBBM-AM, Library at the University of Illinois at most notably on the popular public Federal Grants Preserve Collections Chicago. and Educate Librarians affairs program "At Issue." He was 5 Save an "Endangered Species" with "This collection provides an oppor- recruited by the station in 1968 after a Gift to the Library Friends tunity for me to give back to my he covered the trial of mass murderer alma mater," says Mr. Crawford, who Continued on page 2 5 Upcoming Events 6 Faculty Highlight: Bill Mischo 6 Grainger Engineering Library and Information Center I The Library Is Looking For ... 0 2004 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois To read about the campus campaign for the Library and to make your next gift online, visit: www.library.uiuc.edulfriends Bob Crawford at the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles riends Board Member UnitrustIstablishes Vern Lewis of Centerville, Ohio, "Trudy and I have watched the costs sion and later served on the labor knows from experience the value of educational activities rise year relations staff of the corporation. He of a strong academic library and an after year," explains Vern. "Frankly, I retired in 1980. achievement-oriented university. A wanted to provide for her future in Vern remains very active in his 1948 U of I graduate who majored in the event something happens to me. retirement. In addition to spending labor and management, he cherishes We have found a perfect vehicle for time with Trudy, he engages in many memories from the university, where providing income to both of us, a consulting and civic activities as well he laid the foundation for his highly tax benefit, and the ability to help a as historical research focused largely successful professional career. fine library at a superior university. I on Colonial Virginia. He serves as a would recommend highly that people With the future of the Library in valued member of the Library Friends who want to help themselves and mind, Vern and his wife Trudy have Board of Directors, graciously devot- their university look to the [U of I] established the Vern E. Lewis and ing his time and energy to support the Foundation for assistance in reaching Trudy K. Lewis Charitable Remain- University Library. their goals." der Unitrust. This generous deferred "Vern is a loyal and dedicated gift will provide important funds to Vern enrolled at the University of alumnus who appreciates the Library benefit a number of vital areas in the Illinois in 1945, following active duty as an unmatched resource for the Library. While the gift is unrestricted, in the U.S. Navy during World War University's faculty and students," says the Lewises have suggested certain II. After earning his bachelor's degree Paula Kaufman, university librarian. areas of focus that are aligned with in the Division of Special Services for "Through their generous gift, Vern their interests. These include support War Veterans, he went to work for Eli and Trudy will ensure the quality of for a Colonial America collection, Lilly, where he stayed until 1952. He the Library's collections, programs, book preservation, the construction then accepted a position at General and services for years to come." -- ' or renovation of library facilities, and Motors Institute, where he ultimately seed money for fundraising initiatives. was promoted to the Frigidaire Divi- Continued from page 1 Richard Speck for WMBD-AM in "The taped interviews and sound mayoral administrations of Richard J. Peoria. In 1980, he joined the CBS clips provide a good working tool Daley, Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne, team at the White House, providing for journalism and political science Harold Washington, Eugene Sawyer, reports to all the network's stations students as they learn about public and Richard M. Daley. during the final days of the Carter discourse and the complexities of The collection is a unique and administration through the release communication under the public eye," significant resource for historians, of hostages in Iran and the inaugura- he explains. "Further, the collection political scientists, researchers, and tion of late President Ronald Reagan. offers primary source material for students. "It provides an indisput- Renowned for his hard-nosed report- students who want a fresh insight into able record of what politicians said ing style, Crawford received numer- politics and public life." and how they said it, and it reveals ous awards throughout his career, The Robert P. Crawford Audio a great deal about how these leaders and in 1995 he was inducted into the Archives includes 2,148 separate handled important issues," explains Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame. entries covering 175 notable indi- Mr. Crawford. "It also demonstrates He retired in 2001 but continues to viduals from government, politics, the importance of proper documen- provide occasional political analy- religion, law, civil rights, and various tation," he says. "Journalists cannot sis on WBBM-AM, Chicago Public other fields. It contains audiocassette engage is sound, explanatory journal- Radio, and the WTTW-Channel 11 recordings and typescript interview ism without keeping good files." program "Chicago Tonight." summaries of press conferences, To access the Crawford Audio According to Bill Maher, university speeches, and proceedings. The most Archives, visit http://web.library.uiuc. archivist, the gift is a valuable acqui- significant sections address Chicago edu/ahx. ,- sition for the University Archives. politics and politicians, including the Weiss Estate to [stablish Military (ollection A unique deferred gift from Julius and Dorothy Weiss of Springfield, Illinois, will support the study of traditions and customs associated with the military and its regalia. Through their generous estate plan, the University Library will receive an outstanding collection of military-related books, ephemera, posters, badges, uniforms, and other reference materials. Their additional six-figure gift will support the collection by establishing the Julius L. and Dorothy U. Weiss Military Collectors' and Researchers' Library Collection Endowment Fund. "As lifelong collectors and students of the many aspects of the military, we are happy to make this gift to the Library," says Julius. "We believe that this area has been neglected in traditional scholarship, and a tremendous amount can be learned from its Julius and Dorothy Weiss display items from their military collection Julius and Dorothy Weiss met not long after Julius was discharged from the Army Air Corp follow- ing his service in World War II. While in the service, Julius fund will help sustain, preserve, and share the materi- served in the China-Burma-India theatre and developed als with military scholars around the globe." The annual a hobby of collecting military insignia. During this time, income from the fund also will support a librarian to Dorothy was a student at the Urbana campus, studying to manage the materials and will provide scholarship assis- be a teacher. After they met and married, she quickly joined tance for graduate students. Julius in his affection for military insignia and related In the years to come, the Weiss Military Collectors' and materials from the United States and many other nations. Researchers' Library Collection will serve as an important Their efforts over the ensuing 50 years led them to amass a resource for serious students in the field as well as foster wide-ranging collection of research books and ephemera. interest and respect by the more general enthusiast. "Our "This is a very rich and comprehensive collection, thought- overriding goal is to enhance the study of the impact of fully cultivated," says Karen Schmidt, associate university the military on our daily lives and expand that research librarian for collections. "It will provide a wealth of detail to include dress, advertising, music, the arts, and other on military customs and traditions, and the endowment customs and traditions," says Dorothy. '"- University Librarian Paula Kaufman (right) displays Illinois House Resolution No. 744, which congratulates the University Library on the acquisition of its ten-millionth volume. The resolution was presented at the spring meeting of the Library Friends Board of Directors. Also presented was a congratulatory letter from Governor Rod Blagojevich on behalf of the citizens of Illinois. Pictured from left are Senator Rick Winkel (R-52nd District), Representative N'aomi Jakobsson (D-103rd District), and Representative Chapin Rose (R- 10th District). '-- Federal Grants Preserve Collections and Educate Librarians In partnership with libraries at other universities, the University Library is the recipient of four federal grants to preserve historical collections and educate librarians. The grantors are the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the awards are as follows: 4 Preserving the History of U.S.