no·ta be·ne News from the Yale Library

volume xxv, number 1, spring/summer 2010

“Voices of American Music” puts OHAM in the Spotlight Perlis Awarded Sanford Medal

A unique multi-media concert, Zwilich, whose work “Voices of American Music: A was performed during Tribute to OHAM,” was presented the concert, as well as by the on other luminaries from the April 6 and 8 in celebration of the composition world and fortieth anniversary of Oral History many young composers, of American Music. At the April all eager to honor the 6 performance in Sprague Hall, legacy of those who have Dean Robert Blocker of the School shaped and defined modern of Music awarded the Sanford American music. Medal, the School’s highest honor, The concert to OHAM’s Founder and Director was favorably reviewed by Vivian Perlis for her four decades Anthony Tomasini of the of pioneering work in collecting, New York Times, as well as archiving, and sharing oral OHAM Founder and Director Vivian Perlis (center) with composers Steve Reich by blogger and critic George histories of American composers. and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich at the “Voices of American Music: A Tribute to OHAM” Grella, who, on his blog An audience of Chamber Music concert at Carnegie Hall on April 8. The Big City, called the Society series subscribers, performance “part concert, members of the Yale community, and OHAM interviewees, part celebration … a great program of music and memories.” “Voices friends, and supporters warmly honored Perlis with a standing of American Music” also garnered the attention of National Public ovation. Previous recipients of the Sanford Medal include Radio; on April 12 NPR aired a feature story by Lara Pellegrinelli, com-poser , whose biography Perlis co-authored, who visited OHAM days before the concerts, interviewing Perlis, and clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, who was featured in the and touring the collection. Sedgwick Clark of www.musicalamerica. evening’s performance. com noted that, while the concerts were a tribute to OHAM, “we Two nights later, as part of the Yale in New York series, the all know who is most deserving of our tribute.” Referring to Perlis, same program was performed in Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. Sedgwick wrote, “She has been, and remains, simply, the American The audience included composers Steve Reich and Ellen Taaffe composer’s best friend.” –ar

Nota Bene Goes Digital

After 24 printed issues, Nota Bene has transitioned to an online To receive an automatic update when new issues are published, publication and will be available to readers via its new web site: visit the web site and register for the RSS feed. –gl www.library.yale.edu/notabene.

2 Frank Turner Appointed Interim 4 Library Helps Yale Mark 40 Years 6 Mobile Technologies at the Beinecke University Librarian of Celebration 7 New York Times Sports Editor 2 Library Celebrates 5 Records of Bloodroot Collective Visits Manuscripts and Archives table of contents 150 Years as a Government Donated to Manuscripts and Archives 7 Preservation Department in Documents Depository 5 Chopin, Schumann Honored Newly Renovated Spaces 3 Cataloguing Project Successfully at Gilmore Music Library 7 Library Implements Skills Inventory Completed 6 Divinity Library Acquisitions 8 Exhibit Showcases Medieval 3 Sue Roberts: An Appreciation Document Christianity in Tibet Fragments Found in Law Book 4 Yale Acquires Photographer and Nepal 8 Trustee’s Corner ’s Archive and 6 New Group Study Space Opens 9 Arts Library Receives Hand Master Prints in Medical Library Bookbinding Collection spring 2010 no·ta be·ne News from the Yale Library Frank Turner Appointed Interim University Librarian

Frank M. Turner, the John Hay Whitney noted that Turner has been an “effective Professor of History and Director of the leader of the Beinecke, building collections Beneicke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and launching numerous initiatives.” A search since 2003, has been appointed Interim for a new University Librarian is underway University Librarian. Turner, a former Provost and a committee, chaired by Professor Pericles of the University, took up this acting role in Lewis of the Departments of English and January 2010. In announcing the appointment Comparative Literature, has been formed to in October 2009, President Richard C. Levin advise the President. –gl

Yale University Library Celebrates 150 Years as a Government Documents

Nota Bene is published during Depository the academic year to acquaint the Yale community and others Yale University Library is celebrating its interested with the resources of 150th anniversary as a depository for United the Yale libraries. Please direct comments and questions to States federal government documents. John Geoffrey Little, Editor Woodruff (1826–1868), U.S. Representative Sterling Memorial Library, from Connecticut, designated Yale College a (phone: 203-432-8061, e-mail: repository for public documents in 1859 and [email protected]) the records of the second session of the 35th Congress of the were sent to Copyright ©2010 Yale University Library New Haven in July, 1860. issn 0894-1351 Over the succeeding fifteen decades, Yale has continued to build its collection of federal How to Make a Penny at the Denver Mint government documents by participating in the (Washington, DC: GPO, 1971) from the collection of the GDIC. Contributors to this issue include Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), Dorie Baker (db) which is administered by the U.S. Government Richard Boursy (rb) Printing Office. FDLP provides government Mary Caldera (mc) documents at no cost to designated depository project to catalog the entire collection has Katherine Haskins (kh) libraries across the country and in American made many thousands of items available to Rebekah Irwin (ri) territories, as well as to selected libraries over- researchers and will greatly enhance access Geoffrey Little (gl) and benefit scholarship.” Julie Linden (jl) seas. In turn, these libraries provide free public All items in the depository collection, which Christine McCarthy (cm) access to their depository collections. number nearly a half-million volumes, can now Amanda Patrick (ap) The Library is marking this anniversary Kimberly Peach (kp) year with a major accomplishment: the be found in the online catalog and requested for delivery to libraries across the campus. Yale Anne Rhodes (ar) cataloging of the entire federal depository will also share these online records with other Jae Rossman (jr) collection in Orbis, the Library’s online Richard Sarcia (rs) libraries so that they can identify and catalog catalog. Until now, only documents from Ernie Scriviani (es) items in their own collections. Senior essays 1976 onwards were cataloged, meaning that Lynn Sette (ls) based on research done in the federal depository much of the collection was accessible only Martha Smalley (ms) collection are also eligible for consideration for through complicated print indexes. “Yale’s Alan Solomon (as) the Harvey M. Applebaum ’59 Award, which U.S. federal depository collection is used by Mike Widener (mw) has been given since 2008. students and faculty studying a wide range of editorial information: subjects including history, political science, For more information about the U.S. federal Frank Turner, art and architecture, science, and medicine,” documents depository collection at Yale, con- Interim University Librarian said Frank M. Turner, the John Hay Whitney tact Julie Linden, Government Information Librarian, at [email protected] or Geoffrey Little, Professor of History and Interim University (203) 432-3310. –jl Editor Librarian. “The completion of an ambitious ChenDesign Publication Design Cataloguing Project Successfully Completed

In December 2009 the Donohue Group, problems, making invaluable contributions in Orbis, the Library’s online catalog. Inc. (DGI) of Windsor, Connecticut, a in helping to facilitate the project. Though the collection is comprised provider of contract services to libraries, While the majority of the materials in primarily of United States documents dis- museums, and archives, completed a the GDIC were accessible through seminated through the Federal Depository project started in October 2008 to catalog preliminary catalog records and various Library Program, it also includes material and barcode the government documents finding aids, the completeness of the issued from the depository programs of collection in the Government Documents records needed to be upgraded to meet the Canadian federal government, the & Information Center (GDIC) at the the requirements for eventual transfer European Union, and the United Nations. Seeley G. Mudd Library, processing a out of the Mudd Library building. More In addition, collections issued by the total of 633,175 items. importantly, enhanced records improve U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and the To facilitate the project, the GDIC access and open up the resources in this International Atomic Energy Agency were reading room was refitted to accommodate rich collection to researchers at Yale also cataloged. Much of this material had thirty computer workstations for DGI staff and beyond. These enhancements were never been adequately represented in Orbis to process the material. Catalog records illustrated by the increased number of or in the Online Computer Library Center were either created or upgraded for all titles requests for government documents which database (OCLC), the central storehouse in the collection and holdings information jumped nearly 70% in November 2009 of bibliographic holdings information that was reconciled. Library staff provided their from that of the previous November as serves some 71,000 libraries in the U.S. expertise to answer questions and resolve additional documents became available and internationally. –rs

Sue Roberts: An Appreciation

Susanne F. Roberts, Librarian for Western made her an indispensable source of formats and the tools needed to conduct European, Ancient, and Commonwealth information for colleagues throughout excellent research. Paul Kennedy, the History, Coordinator of Humanities the Library. In fact, Sue served as a J. Richardson Dilworth Professor of Collections, and the founding editor of mentor to many of the Library’s human- History, recently noted: “I have inter- Nota Bene, retired at the end of March ities selectors, past and present, and acted with Sue for the past 27 years, after nearly 32 years of extraordinary service she parlayed her prodigious knowledge and I cannot measure how great my debt to the Library and University. Sue came to of Yale’s collections into a number of is to her for her collegiality, cheerfulness, the Library in 1978 with a PhD in History Library exhibitions while also skillfully and professional advice. During those from . Her doctoral editing Nota Bene for 20 years. She has years I have sent hundreds and hundreds work in French medieval history coupled also been active in the professional and of my History juniors, seniors and gradu- with a strong background in European scholarly communities, notably in the ate students to Sue, to get advice, to be history quickly helped her become an Western European Specialists Section of introduced to the magnificent resources excellent bibliographer and selector as the Association of College and Research of Sterling, sometimes even to ask her to well as an outstanding liaison to the Libraries and the Medieval Academy of History Department and Medieval America, and she has served as a panelist order microfilms of new materials. She Studies Program. and grants reviewer for several divisions has been an incredible contributor to Yale’s scholarly achievements and, on Sue’s commitment and energy are within the National Endowment for legendary. She developed one of the the Humanities. behalf of all my advisees, I salute her.” best Western European history collections Sue’s most important achievement Sue was — and remains — the epitome in the country, notably in the area of — and the one she is most proud of — of what a subject specialist librarian should primary resources. Her knowledge of is her work with students and faculty. be: a scholar, an excellent selector, a collection development policies and She possesses an inexhaustible intellectual research partner for students and faculty, practices, especially in the humanities, curiosity about research materials in all and a great colleague. –as

For information about funding opportunities at the Library, please visit the } new library development web site at www.library.yale.edu/development. Yale Acquires Photographer Lee Friedlander’s Archive and Master Prints

The Yale University Art Gallery and the as one of the leading “street” photographers preliminary explorations in the darkroom, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript of his time, influenced by such pioneers of materials that demonstrate the artist’s Library together have acquired the Lee the genre as , , rigorous editing and proofing process from Friedlander Archive, which includes 2,000 Eugène Atget and . His negative to finished print. of the photographer’s master prints as well signature black-and-white images from this “We are excited that Friedlander’s work as negatives, working prints, letters, books period often explore social and cultural will join the library’s extensive collections of and other articles cataloging his creative subjects through their reflection on shiny works by American photographers, includ- process and output. surfaces — storefront windows, rear-view ing Carleton Watkins, Timothy O’Sullivan, With this acquisition, Yale University car mirrors and TV screens, among them — Alfred Stieglitz, Carl Van Vechten, David becomes home to the largest archive of and helped to broaden public appreciation Plowden, Carl Mydans, and Eve Arnold, material produced by one of America’s of the compelling power of photography and pleased that we could collaborate with most celebrated and prolific photographers. as an art form. the gallery to create an unprecedented “We have been particularly pleased to Since 1970, Friedlander has also directed resource for scholarship about one of work so closely with the Beinecke Library his creative energies to the printed page, America’s foremost visual artists,” notes to secure this monumental acquisition,” conceiving and supervising the production noted Jock Reynolds, the Henry J. Heinz II of over 30 distinct monographs to date. George Miles, the William Robertson Director of the Yale University Art Gallery. Among other honors, he has been Coe Curator of the Collection of Western “Together, the Friedlander Archive and the recipient of multiple Guggenheim Americana at the Beinecke Library. master prints form an unmatched resource Fellowships, a John D. and Catherine T. Founded in 1832, the Yale University for those interested in the life and work MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, and the Art Gallery has more than 185,000 objects of one of photography’s most ambitious Foundation International Award in its collections, spanning the globe and masters.” in Photography. Friedlander received an ranging in date from ancient times to Selected from Friedlander’s past two honorary doctorate from Yale in 2004, and the present. In addition to its celebrated decades of work, the master prints — his work was the subject of a major traveling collections of American paintings and 1,800 of which will reside at the Yale Art retrospective organized by the Museum of decorative arts, the gallery is noted for its Gallery — include examples of every image Modern Art in 2005. important holdings of Greek and Roman published in Friedlander’s monographs of “Friedlander’s pictures from the past art, early Italian paintings, later European new work since 1996. The archive, housed two decades playfully exploit the medium’s art, Asian art, African art, art of the ancient at the Beinecke along with a smaller group still-thrilling ability to create fresh and Americas, Impressionist, modern and of master prints of Western landscapes, unexpected relationships out of the things contemporary works. includes all of the photographer’s negatives, we see every day,” observes Joshua Chuang, The Beinecke Rare Book & Manu- contact sheets, journals, monographs, cor- the Yale Art Gallery’s Assistant Curator of script Library is Yale University’s principal respondence, books featuring his images Photographs. “Even if you think you’ve seen and preliminary work prints corresponding it all, they make it easy to become ecstatic repository for literary papers and for early to Yale’s master prints. about the possibilities of photography all manuscripts and rare books in the fields Born in 1934 in Aberdeen, Washington, over again.” of literature, theology, history and the Friedlander began his deep engagement At the core of the Beinecke’s Friedlander natural sciences. In addition to its general with photography as a teenager. He studied Archive are more than 40,000 rolls of film collection of rare books and manuscripts, photography at the Art Center College of and associated contact sheets representing the library houses the Yale Collection of Design in Pasadena, California, and moved the artist’s creative output since the mid- American Literature, the Yale Collection to New York in the mid-1950s to begin 1950s, including his wide-ranging portrait, of German Literature, the Yale Collection his career taking portraits of jazz musicians landscape and still-life work. Also included of Western Americana, and the for record covers. In the 1960s, he emerged are a vast array of the photographer’s Osborn Collection. –db

Library Helps Yale Mark 40 Years of Coeducation

A small exhibition in the Sterling Memorial the impact of coeducation four Library’s Memorabilia Room helped mark decades later. the fortieth anniversary of coeducation The exhibition was organized by Kelly at Yale. Drawn from the collections in Barrick, Coordinator of Reference and Manuscripts and Archives, the exhibition Instruction and Librarian for Women’s, explored the timeline leading up to Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and A female coeducation, the first day on campus for undergraduate on Psychology at the Social Science Library, the Old Campus, female undergraduates, residential and in conjunction with the WGSS & LGBTS September 1969. social life, women’s athletics, and Anniversaries Conference. –gl Records of Bloodroot Collective Donated to Manuscripts and Archives

The Bloodroot Collective grew out of a women’s cooperative exchange hosted by Miriam in her Westport, Connecticut, home in the mid-1970s. The collective opened Bloodroot, a vegetarian restaurant and feminist bookstore, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in March 1977. In the 1970s and 1980s the restaurant was a hub for feminists and lesbians and hosted many performers and writers including Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, Mary Daly, Kay Gardner, Chrystos, and Dorothy Allison. In 1980 the Collective organized a feminist press, Sanguinaria, to publish The Political Palate, one of the first cookbooks to advocate seasonal recipes and cuisine. Today, Bloodroot is an iconic bookstore, vegetarian restaurant, and feminist space. The records include correspondence, writings, and creative works by Collective members and other feminist thinkers; oral histories of Selma and Noel; photographs by Noel documenting Bloodroot activities; and legal, financial, and promotional records and The Bloodroot Collective circa 1977. Manuscripts and Archives. ephemera of the bookstore and restaurant. The Bloodroot Collective records are part of a growing col- The records of the Bloodroot Collective, an important feminist lection of primary source material in Manuscripts and Archives work collective formed in Connecticut in 1977, have been donated documenting gender and sexuality at the local, national, and to the University Library’s Department of Manuscripts and international levels. A description of the Bloodroot Collective Archives by collective members Selma Miriam and Noel Furie. Records is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1955. Miriam and Furie have also donated their personal papers to –mc the Library.

Chopin, Schumann Honored at Gilmore Music Library

Frédéric Chopin was born on March 1, follows Chopin on the Music Library’s 1810, and the Gilmore Music Library is calendar as well, with an exhibition called celebrating his birthday with an exhibition Robert Schumann: Composer, Critic, entitled “Hats Off, Gentlemen, a Genius”: and Correspondent. A central figure in Chopin at 200. The son of a French father the romantic movement in Germany, and a Polish mother, Chopin was a native Schumann concentrated on piano music in of Poland, but left Warsaw shortly before the early phase of his career, but eventually the unsuccessful revolution of 1830, and came to excel in genres ranging from the he spent most of his adult life in France, song to the symphony. Perhaps the most where he performed, taught, and composed Composer important music journalist of his era, a long series of masterpieces, nearly all of Frédéric Schumann edited an influential journal them for solo piano. On view from March Chopin and wrote reviews heralding the arrival of through May, 2010, the exhibition features not only Chopin, but also the 20-year-old the manuscript of the F Minor Polonaise Alley hit “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” Johannes Brahms. Clara Wieck Schumann (Op. 71, no. 3), a letter Chopin wrote a few Eddie Sauter’s arrangement of that song for (1819–1896), Robert’s wife, was one of months before his untimely death in 1849, Benny Goodman’s big band, and a ballet the greatest pianists of the century, and a and a set of his piano exercises in the hand (choreographed by Jerome Robbins) that notable composer as well. The exhibition of his sister. It includes a variety of other used Hershy Kay’s orchestral versions of a will include music manuscripts and letters treasures, such as early printed editions, dozen pieces by Chopin. The exhibition’s by both Robert and Clara Schumann, engravings, a concert program of Hans title is drawn from the famous article early printed editions and engravings, von Bülow performing Chopin in New in which Robert Schumann introduced and Robert’s most famous reviews. It also Haven in 1875, and even a postage stamp the young Polish composer to a German features the manuscript of a piano piece bearing Chopin’s likeness. In the century audience in 1831; that review is also on by Brahms, given to Clara on her wedding and half since Chopin’s death, his melodies display. “Hats Off, Gentlemen, a Genius” anniversary. The exhibition will be on have been repurposed in many ways, and can also be viewed online at: http://www. display from June through August, and several of them are seen in the exhibition: a library.yale.edu/musiclib/exhibits/chopin. will also be available online, at http://www. sentimental Victorian song in manuscript, Born just three months after Chopin, library.yale.edu/musiclib/exhibits/schumann. the colorful sheet music of the Tin Pan Robert Schumann (1810–1856) naturally –rb Divinity Library Acquisitions Document Christianity in Tibet and Nepal

The Yale Divinity Library recently acquired and western development regions of the leaders to research and collect materials four substantial collections that document country. Detailed records document relevant to the history of Christianity development work and religious activity in initiatives such as the Rural Development among the Nepali peoples. The objective Nepal and Tibet: the archives of the United Centre established in Pokhara in 1981. of the Project was to preserve, maintain, Mission to Nepal, Nepal Church History This center provided consultancy and and update a comprehensive, organized Project, International Nepal Fellowship, training in animal health and husbandry, documentary record of the Nepali Church and Central Asia Fellowship. Online find- horticulture, forestry, drinking water from its inception, and to make available ing aids are now available for the first two systems, organizational development, documents and information as appropriate of these collections. and training of trainers. Another area of to researchers. Because of political dis- The portfolio of forty posters for focus for the UMN has been specialized ruptions in Nepal, it was considered wise The United Mission to Nepal (UMN) health programs related to mental health, to house the original archives in the West. has supported medical services, educa- nutrition, oral health, rehabilitation of the Substantive portions of the documents tion, skills training, engineering, industry, disabled, tuberculosis, reproductive health and photographs in the archives have been hydro power development, agriculture, and HIV/AIDS. digitized in order to make them more and rural development in Nepal from The Nepal Church History Project began available to researchers worldwide. –ms the mid-1950s, mainly in the central in 1985 as an initiative by local church

New Group Study Space Opens in Medical Library

Given the transition from print to e-journals, use of the Cushing/ Whitney Medical Library’s photocopy room has declined greatly over the past several years. When staff considered the need for more student study space, the centrally located photocopy room seemed like an ideal candidate for repurposing. A generous gift from Sara Wilford, Dr. Harvey Cushing’s granddaughter, provided the fund- ing to renovate the room, which was divided into three study areas. Two small rooms have large tables and chairs, a 46˝ wall-mounted LCD monitor with Internet connection, sound, HDMI (High- Definition Multi-media Interface for transmitting digital data), and video. The larger room has ten comfortable chairs with laptop tableaux, and a fully connected 52˝ wall-mounted monitor. The rooms, which opened in February, are in constant use by second- year medical students who are studying for the Medical Licensure Students in the new group study room in the Cushing/Whitney Examination which they take in the summer. –ls Medical Library.

Mobile Technologies at the Beinecke

Five hundred years after Johannes Gutenberg rotating exhibition cases display hundreds ushered in a technological revolution with of rare and unique books, manuscripts, the production of the first book using mov- and objects. But with only a small security able type, the Beinecke Library has adopted staff on hand to guide the roughly 100,000 another transformative technology — cell annual visitors, the modern mobile equiva- phones and mobile devices — to inform and lent of the museum headphone audio tour teach visitors about Yale University’s copy of turned out to be an ideal outreach solution the Gutenberg Bible along with other library for the library’s exhibition spaces. materials exhibited throughout the building. To offer these cell phone tours, the Since the Beinecke opened in 1963, library Beinecke contracted with Guide By Cell, a treasures such as the Gutenberg Bible and San Francisco-based company that provides John James Audubon’s oversize volumes of tours for over six hundred clients, including Birds of America have been on permanent museums and universities. Other library public display. Additionally, the library’s An example from the Beinecke Library’s customers include the Library of Congress, new cell phone guided tour. the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the 1,200 to the Gutenberg Bible tour alone. 2 #: Gutenberg Bible, Dr. William Dartmouth College Library. In the past And you certainly don’t need to have Whobrey, Lecturer in Germanic year, Yale faculty, alumni, and staff have a cell phone to listen to the recordings. Languages and Literatures contributed over twenty recordings related Simply dial (203) 672-4380 and enter 3 #: Birds of America, Antiquarian to topics as far ranging as Harry Potter, the the following numbers from your bookseller William Reese, Yale Sex Pistols, Modernist architecture, and office or home: Class of 1977 –ri Sir Isaac Newton’s thoughts on alchemy. 1 #: Architecture of the Beinecke During this time, over 2,700 cell phone Library, Robert A.M. Stern, Dean calls have been made overall, with over of the Yale School of Architecture

New York Times Sports Editor Visits Manuscripts and Archives

Do Nota Bene readers know that the Yale mascot and memorabilia and shared many engaging got his name from taking a bath? Or, that facts and stories. The group also viewed a Notre Dame once asked legendary Yale football Tiffany trophy and dinner invitations in the coach, Walter Camp, for advice on how to play shape of footballs, and a selection of early Yale the game? Or that the legendary University of football programs. Jolly’s visit to Yale also Chicago football coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg, included a Master’s Tea at Davenport College. was a “Yale man,” and had a hand in popular- And Yale’s mascot? It turns out the first izing the game of basketball? On a recent visit bulldog was a very dirty stray. After a bath, to Manuscripts and Archives by Tom Jolly, his handler declared, “Well, aren’t you a Sports Editor for and Handsome Dan!” –kh Ellen M. Iseman, ’76, a member of the University Librarian’s Development Council, (featured left) Tom Jolly looks on as Judith Ann Schiff Chief Research Archivist Judith Ann Schiff describes an item from the sports collections interpreted a treasure trove of sports history in Manuscripts and Archives.

Preservation Department In Newly Renovated Spaces

The Library’s Preservation Department take advantage of an existing sink area, an reconfigured their layout to better reflect has recently completed a successful reno- improved layout, and brighter lighting. the nature of their current work and to vation of its facilities and spaces in Sterling Special Collections Conservation (SCC) anticipate new work streams such as audio Memorial Library. Notable improvements moved its housings and exhibit preparation format conversion. in workflow and efficiencies are anticipated work into Room B-5 and created larger Preservation Department staff have as a result of this project, undertaken space for photographic documentation invited their Library colleagues to view the over several months, to reorganize the work. SCC’s primary treatment laboratory renovated space and learn more about the workspaces, create new space for shared on the 1MB stack floor was also renovated. Department’s services through its regularly access to equipment, and upgrade lighting, This work centered on increasing work scheduled series of tours which will begin electrical power, and data lines. surfaces, improving object storage, and this July. –kp, cm General Collections Conservation (GCC) revamping the wet treatment facilities. moved from Room B-18 to Room B-5 to Reformatting and Media Preservation

Library Implements Skills Inventory

The Library’s Staff Training and Organ- and will be used to capture information to gathering information will facilitate izational Development Committee pertaining to each employee’s education, the Library’s eventual inclusion in the (STOD), in partnership with Library knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience. University’s Talent Planning Process. Human Resources, recently launched a new It will be administered on an annual basis STOD designed the inventory with end skills inventory to help staff take advantage and each time a new employee is hired. The users in mind, keeping the content simple of growth opportunities and training data captured is modeled on that which and the time commitment to a minimum. and to ensure a flexible workforce and Central Human Resources is beginning to The inventory consists of a combination working environment. The inventory was compile as part of the University’s Talent of 35 forced choice and free text items in a introduced to the Library in January 2010 Planning Process. This proactive approach Microsoft SharePoint environment. –es Exhibit Showcases Medieval Fragments Found in Law Books

types of manuscripts include a sermon, a fragment of Cicero and two Hebrew manuscripts. One of the fragments is the oldest item in the Law Library’s collection, dating from around 975–1075. “While most of An example the fragments are identified and tentatively of medieval dated, a couple remain mysteries,” note manuscripts the organizers. incorporated into an early The exhibit coincided with the annual printed book. meeting of the Medieval Academy of America, March 18-20 at Yale. The exhibit was curated by Benjamin Nearly one hundred and fifty early printed reused the strong, flexible and expensive Yousey-Hindes, a doctoral candidate at books in the Yale Law Library have bindings parchment in their bindings. These scraps Stanford University, and Mike Widener, that incorporate visible pieces of medieval reveal information about the distribution and Rare Book Librarian at the Lillian manuscript. A number of these are featured popularity of medieval texts, the evolution Goldman Law Library. in the latest exhibit from the library’s Rare of scripts, and the history of printing and The Rare Books Exhibition Gallery Book Collection, Reused, Rebound, Recovered: binding. A precious few of them preserve the is located in the lower level of the Lillian Medieval Manuscript Fragments in Law Book only surviving fragments of long-lost texts.” Goldman Law Library (Level L2), directly Bindings. The exhibit is on display through The exhibit reflects the diversity of med- in front of the Paskus-Danziger Rare May in the Lillian Goldman Law Library. ieval material in the Law Library’s bindings. Book Reading Room. For those unable “In 15th- and 16th-century Europe, re- These include numerous Bible and liturgical to visit the exhibit in person, it will appear cycling was second nature,” write the manuscripts, some with early forms of in installments on the Yale Law Library curators. “Bookbinders, for their part, cut musical notation. Four of the law books Rare Books Blog, at http://blogs.law.yale. apart discarded medieval manuscripts and contain legal texts in their bindings. Other edu/blogs/rarebooks. –mw trustee’s corner Founded in 1930 by an eminent group of bibliophiles, the Yale Library Associates provide support and visibility for Yale’s libraries. Their forty-member Board of Trustees includes Ellen M. Iseman, the focus of this Trustee’s Corner. Ellen M. Iseman ’76, Yale Library Associate and Member of the University Librarian’s Development Council Ellen M. Iseman ’76, a Trustee of the this past year for The New York Times, as Yale Library Associates and a member of the well as op-eds for the The Wall Street Journal, University Librarian’s Development Council, and is currently working on a number of her is an honors graduate of Yale College and own projects relating to foreign policy issues. recipient of Yale’s Bildner Prize in Spanish Iseman serves on the boards of the New Language and Hispanic Literature. She York Society Library, the Yale Club of received a master’s degree from Columbia , CEC International Partners, University’s School of International and Signature Theatre Company, and has been Public Affairs in public administration, with active in the Democratic Party, having a focus on international economic policy. attended five Conventions in official She speaks French and Spanish; has studied capacities. Upon graduation from Yale, Portuguese and Japanese; and worked in Ellen worked on the National Security more than 15 countries as Vice President for Council Transition staff in the Carter Corporate Affairs and Communications at administration and in the State Department’s American Express Company and as president Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Ellen M. Iseman of Issues Management International, a New Ellen is a widow raising an 11-year-old son. York-based communications consulting firm Her late husband was a graduate of Yale Law she founded. She has written more than 30 School and the Yale School of Forestry & articles for publication, including two pieces Environmental Studies. –ap, kh Arts Library Receives Hand Bookbinding Collection

The Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library married James A. Valentine in 1910 has received a significant and generous and continued to produce bindings gift of hand bookbindings from Sarah into the 1920s. Valentine Nerber, daughter of bookbinder The Valentine Collection consists Mary Ellet Kendall Valentine and James of full leather bindings with gold- A. Valentine. Ms. Nerber donated the stamped decorations that showcase collection in honor of her father, a mem- both the technical and design skills ber of the Yale Class of 1902. of Mary Valentine and Sarah Kendall. Mary Ellet Kendall Valentine and her The intricate patterns are influenced by sister, Sarah Ellet Kendall, traveled to their Arts and Crafts training, yet also s England in the early years of the twentieth how a tendency toward Art Deco and century to study bookbinding with other modern influences. The collection T. J. Cobden-Sanderson, proprietor includes bindings executed jointly by of the Doves Press and Doves Bindery. the sisters, as well as solo work by Mary Cobden-Sanderson founded the Doves Valentine. Many of the bound books were Bindery in 1893 and it produced over gifts to the sisters from Cobden-Sanderson one thousand bindings before closing in and are inscribed. The 23 bindings in the 1922. The bindings were mainly designed This bookbinding featuring gold-stamped collection are in exquisite condition and are by Cobden-Sanderson and executed by decorations was executed by Mary Ellet Kendall the best examples of fine binding by a single professional binders. An early supporter Valentine. artist in the Arts of the Book Collection, of women’s rights, Cobden-Sanderson took part of the Robert B. Haas Family Arts a young American woman as his first pupil Library Special Collections. in 1895 at a time when it was unusual to The Kendall sisters trained with Cobden- For more information on the Valentine find a woman working in the bookbinding Sanderson from 1907 to 1909 and on Collection or the Haas Family Arts Library trade. His political sympathies led him to returning to America they opened the Special Collections, contact Jae Rossman at train a series of female students and his only Golden Bindery in the Fine Arts Building [email protected] or (203) 432-4439. requirement was that they dedicate a year in Chicago. Sadly, Sarah Kendall died a few –jr to learning the art and skill of bookbinding. years later. Her sister Mary Ellet Kendall

no·ta be·ne News from the Yale Library Updated Selector’s Directory For requests for new materials as well as reference or instruction inquiries, please refer to the current list of the library’s subject specialists at: http://resources.library.yale.edu/online/selectors.asp

Bookplate for the Morse Fund Yale University Library