Issue 4 2019 The magazine of the UMass Amherst Libraries COVER STORY Libraries Acquire Historic Collection of Whistleblower DANIEL ELLSBERG Visibility for Know The Du Bois Falcons Mural PLUS Disability Public Domain Free to Fly (R)Evolution1 BOOKMARK 2019 AN EVENING OF About the Cover Conscience & Courage aniel Ellsberg’s conscience and courage as the father of American FOLK MUSIC ON THE COVER whistleblowers still echoes across Daniel Ellsberg speaking at Dgenerations, and his insights and his JOIN LIBRARY DONORS AND FRIENDS FOR A a press conference following inspiration are invaluable for the moment PRE-CONCERT RECEPTION AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCE the Supreme Court decision of political crisis in which America finds to allow publication of the by artists Pentagon Papers, 1971. itself today. Photo by Jeff Albertson. At age 88, Daniel Ellsberg’s words ring strong Colorized by Rob Cox, JIM KWESKIN Special Collections and and true. It was a tremendous honor and University Archives. privilege to moderate a conversation with and Ellsberg at WGBH’s Yawkey Auditorium in DEAN OF LIBRARIES Boston. Watch the video. Simon Neame GEOFF MULDAUER With UMass Amherst acquiring the archive EDITORIAL DIRECTOR of Ellsberg’s papers—some 500 cardboard Saturday, March 14, 2020 Carol Connare boxes of journals, letters, legal documents, 6-9 p.m., Old Chapel intelligence analysis from Vietnam to CREATIVE DIRECTOR more recent insights into America’s nuclear Leslie Schaler ’81 program—the door is open for scholars, On October 23, alumnus Charles M. Sennott ’84 (left) conversed with whistleblower and Celebrating the journalists, and the public to explore the social change activist Daniel Ellsberg (right), whose papers are now installed in Special Folk New England Collection in DESIGN importance of his life and its resonance today. Collections and University Archives and are being digitized for worldwide access. Special Collections and University Archives Robert S. Cox Leslie Schaler ’81 Since he revealed the Pentagon Papers in democracy. There were Katherine Gun newspapers to keep the story going. 1971, Ellsberg’s contribution to American and Chelsea Manning during the Iraq For me, that was a major takeaway CONTRIBUTORS democracy is legendary. With great War, Edward Snowden during the height from the conversation with Ellsberg: Madeleine Charney moral courage, he brought to the public’s of NSA data gathering, and, now, the whistleblowing, as a safety valve for Carol Connare attention how the war in Vietnam was unidentified whistleblower who exposed Robert S. Cox democracy, requires a strong and strewn with “broken treaties, falsehoods, Trump’s potentially impeachable actions independent press to bring government Nicole DeFeudis ’19 stupid, stupid judgments,” as he put it, in withholding a security aid package to Kim Fill ’01 wrongdoing to the public’s attention. which cost thousands of American lives–– Ukraine until an investigation was opened Adam Holmes As Ellsberg recalled, he brought the Nathalie McCormick ’89 and would have cost untold thousands into Trump’s main political rival, former papers first to a select group of Aaron Rubinstein ’01 more had he not risked life in prison to Vice President Joe Biden. Charles M. Sennott ’84 reveal the document. The 7,000 pages progressive senators, but they sat on As Daniel Ellsberg explained, whistle- the information, instead waiting for Lauren Weiss of internal government documents blowers are just one “link in a chain” Caroline White Ellsberg to do it himself. he released to the press, known as the of actions that expose government Pentagon Papers, sparked a landmark wrongdoing. “There’s millions of people “And ultimately… I came to a point that court case with the Nixon administration, Chelsea Manning and Ed Snowden… PHOTOGRAPHY who marched against the war who and Nixon’s attempts to silence him were contributed in this context,” he said. came to express 30 years later, in almost Ben Barnhart central to the Watergate impeachment Joanna Chattman “But there were dozens to hundreds of the same words that came to me: ‘This Thom Kendall ’83 hearings which ultimately led to Nixon’s people who each took an action that was information should be out. No one else John Solem resignation in 1974. necessary without which it wouldn’t is going to do it. So, I’ll do it,’” Ellsberg “I’ve been saying for many years to others, have happened.” recalled. He went to the newspapers with the story and changed the course ‘Don’t do what I did—don’t wait till Newspapers like The New York Times, ILLUSTRATION the bombs are falling and another war of American history. Chloe Deeley ’18 The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe, is started in Iran or elsewhere,’” Ellsberg whose editors had great courage to publish And our nation is better for it, and warned. “If you have documents that can the Pentagon Papers, are no small link in owes Daniel Ellsberg an enormous debt reveal this lying or wrongdoing, consider the chain. of gratitude. at whatever cost to yourself… consider BOOKMARK An example was long-time Boston Globe Charles M. Sennott ’84 is CEO and Editor-in-Chief is the magazine of the putting them out in a timely way that reporter Tom Oliphant, sitting just a few of The GroundTruth Project, based at WGBH in UMass Amherst Libraries. could make a difference, a war’s worth of Boston, which is dedicated to supporting the lives could be at stake.” rows from the stage, where Ellsberg and next generation of journalists through global I sat that night. Oliphant’s scoop on the fellowships and a new, local news initiative called Nearly a half century after Ellsberg’s secret government papers, Ellsberg said, Report for America. Sennott founded and directs courage changed the course of history, inspired him and his wife, Patricia Marx- The GroundTruth Project which seeks to restore journalism from the ground up by supporting the whistleblowers have more recently Ellsberg, to make copies of the papers, played an important role in American next generation of journalists in field reporting Registration info and details to come. which, in turn, made it possible for the from underserved corners of the world. For more events, visit: library.umass.edu/libraryevents 1 BOOKMARK 2019 2 BOOKMARK 2019 FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC contents FALL 2019 FORE WORDS FEATURES AFTER WORDS Also in this issue 4 Around the Libraries 14 Libraries Aquire Historic Collection of Whistleblower 47 Sowing Change 22 A Cultural Heritage Research 6 Radical Gratitude Daniel Ellsberg Launching the Mass Aggie Seed Library Center 8 Recent “Alums” In Conversation 24 Invasion of the Habitat Snatchers 52 Paperbark Literary Magazine UMass Amherst researchers publish the 38 Artwork in Progress first global meta-analysis of the impact of Excerpt 10 Visability for Disability invasive species Quotable Du Bois Documenting Disability in America 44 54 Honoring Generosity 2019 Andrew W. Mellon Fellows share Library Legacies 28 Caws to Celebrate their favorite Du Bois words 12 Five things to know Falcon Season 2019 about the Public Domain 50 Year in Review 32 The Mindful Librarian How You Made a Difference For extra digital content, visit: By making time in our lives to pay bookmark.library.umass.edu. attention, on purpose, and without judgment we can change our brains for the better 10 47 6 52 12 22 38 32 14 32 Back Cover 3 BOOKMARK 2019 2 BOOKMARK 2019 FORE WORDS FROM THE ROAD StoriesKen Gloss ’73 and Joyce Kosofsky ’75 regaled Library friends with tales from their travels with Antiques Roadshow and other fun-filled adventures in their 40+ year stint as owners of the Brattle Book Shop. The couple, who met through UMass Amherst connections, described aspects of their business during a Library event at the UMass Club in Boston. From making house calls all over New England to decades-long relationships with quirky collectors, the stories flowed. Following the talk, Above: In October, Library student workers had the run of the Du Bois Library for two hours; staff volunteered to Joyce and Ken offered on-the-spot appraisals of close the building for the party, where students were treated like VIPs and encouraged to tour library spaces and services as well as play games, nosh on pizza, and catch the first glimpse of the Libraries’ falcon mascot (inset). items guests had brought with them. Ken and Joyce will come to Amherst in the spring, stay tuned! What a difference new paint and furniture make to this open study space on Floor 9, which has become quite popular with students. Top: Ken Gloss and Joyce Kosofsky speaking, Ken conducting free appraisals. Middle right: Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy visits the Du Bois Library’s Procrastination Station Café; Middle left: Dean of Libraries Simon Neame is now on Twitter. Follow THEN AND NOW him for Library news. Bottom: This year marks the 45th anniversary of the dedication of the “Tower” Library, later 1974 named the W. E. B. Du Bois Library. 2019 5 BOOKMARK 2019 4 BOOKMARK 2019 radical gratitude Left: Brother David Steindl-Rast; Below L to R: A Network for Grateful Living’s executive director Kristi Nelson ’03 and panel members: Mirabai Bush; Lucas Johnson; The Rev. Dr. Gregory Ellison II; and Rachel Bagby. Love, “come around here. hose” words wove a melodic incantation The longstanding collaboration between the Libraries’ that reverberated throughout the Fine Arts Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) and Center as Rachel Bagby, award-winning A Network for Grateful Living continues to bear fruit. performance artist, author and poetic The organization founded by Brother David Steindl-Rast, innovator, gave the moving invocation to whose papers are in SCUA, co-sponsored this symposium open the Radical Aliveness and Belonging Symposium in highlighting SCUA’s many collections that document TSeptember.