T h e L i b r a r i e s a t MASON• WINTER 2014 PEOPLE • RESOURCES EVENTS Welcome to the George Mason University Libraries Mason Family Account Book Documents Northern Virginia History The University Libraries acquired a rare The University Libraries purchased the 220-year-old Mason Message from the In This Issue late 18th-century manuscript with hand- family account book through an antiquarian dealer in Boston, written entries by members of George Massachusetts. The acquisition of the manuscript was made University Librarian 3 Mason Family Account Book Mason’s family. Previously, the university possible in part by the generosity of the Washington and Data Services owned only three single-page original Northern Virginia Company of The Jamestowne Society, an he Mason IDEA (innovative, JCL Learning Commons documents directly related to its name- organization dedicated to preserving the diverse, entrepreneurial, accessi- sake, George Mason IV. early history of Virginia. Paden Africana Collection ble), the core institutional charac- 4 Armstrong Book Covers Tteristics of George Mason University, The family account book includes detailed records about the “The Mason family account book not Mason family plantation, Raspberry Plain Farm, located near only is an important historical speaks to Mason’s central purpose and its Livable Communities Collection 5 Leesburg in Loudoun County. resource, but it has immense symbolic aspiration of “being the best university for Hollin Hills Collection significance for Mason,” notes John the world.” The book documents the business and personal accounts of Fenwick Fellow 2012 Lecture Zenelis, university librarian. “We are 6 Stevens Thomson Mason (1760-1803) and his son Armistead In pondering what this means—particularly for the university’s Grant Awards thrilled that this important Virginian Thompson Mason (1787-1819), the nephew and grandnephew library system—we immediately recognize that accessibility, inno- manuscript has been returned to Warfield Endowments of George Mason IV. Stevens Thomas Mason fought in the vation, diversity (of ideas and people), and, yes, entrepreneurship 7 Northern Virginia where the extended American Revolution as a colonel in the Continental Army itself are core characteristics of our professional practice and ethos 8 Randolph Lytton Collections Mason family lived.” at Mason. The concept of “the world” is also very familiar and cen- and served as an aide to George Washington during the Battle tral to the traditional mission of a university research library such 10 Legacy Members of Yorktown. Armistead Thompson Mason served as a general The Mason Family Account Book can be viewed in the Special in the War of 1812 and as a U.S. senator for one year. He was Collections & Archives in the Fenwick Library. This key as Mason’s. As guardian of specialized information and recorded Honor Roll knowledge, the library fulfills a dual and interrelated purpose: it 11 later killed in a duel with his cousin, John M. McCarty, over a acquisition has been digitized and is available for viewing enables one to go out into the world to conceptually explore, experi- contentious election. online at images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/s/rxfpbb. ence, and learn, and at the same time, it is society’s mechanism for preserving and bringing known facets of the world to the individu- The Legacy Society al, or to groups of people, at a place and at a time. At Mason, the Legacy Society honors alumni, Interactive Data: The Data Services Lab faculty, staff, friends, and contributors who have That’s what we do, and the Mason IDEA helps provide a renewed included the university in their estate plans or Today, researchers are confronted discovery and use of numeric, geospatial, and qualitative data,” focus as we build for the future: continuing to develop and sustain other deferred gift arrangements. with the problem of big data or says Mann. The Data Services Lab, located in Fenwick Library, a very capable organization that performs at high levels for the uni- the “data deluge” in most fields. provides networked computers with both statistical and The following Mason Legacy Society members versity’s students, faculty, and staff, and to perform as a reliable and have named the University Libraries as beneficiary: “We help students, faculty, and geographic information system software, such as SAS, SPSS, productive partner to the associations and consortia of which we staff with most data-related NVivo, Stata, ArcGIS, and more—along with data sets—in a are active participants. Beyond that, we endeavor to serve and con- Anonymous things,” says Wendy Mann, head supportive learning environment. Data Services staff also offer *Marjorie D. Atkins tribute to the domain of scientific and scholarly research. Our of the Data Services Group. training workshops for students, faculty, and staff. To learn Fabrizio Colombo progress is possible because of prevailing teamwork, broad innova- *Sam A. di Bonaventura, PhD “Specifically, we assist with the more about Data Services, visit dataservices.gmu.edu. tion, professional focus, and results-oriented efforts. In these pages, Howard V. Kurtz I hope you will see evidence of such dedication and accomplish- *Carol D. Litchfield, PhD ments of our library faculty and staff. Randolph H. Lytton, PhD, and Ellen N. Lytton Patrick F. McIntyre, ’70, and Félice L. McIntyre New Spaces in Familiar Places: JCL Learning Commons The crucial generosity of our friends multiplies our efforts *Hermine O’Reilly and guarantees that we perpetuate the IDEA of George Mason The Johnson Center Library (JCL) is being remodeled and • Partnerships with other university units such as the Irene Sabadini retooled as the Learning Commons—an active, comfortable Writing Center University. We value and thank you for your continuing support! *Darlene M. Scott space in which students can discover, create, and collaborate, Anita M. Taylor, PhD Bringing together services to support students in their learning, *deceased and be inspired to be more productive and successful. writing, research, and use of technology, “the new Learning John G. Zenelis Commons is in high demand by students and always busy,” If you would like to explore becoming a member Some features of the Learning Commons include says Dot Lockaby, JCL director. of the Legacy Society for the University Libraries, • Services and programs for undergraduate and other novice please contact Kathleen Kehoe at kkehoe@gmu. users of the University Libraries edu or 703-993-8740. • A combined reference and circulation desk for one-stop help • More than 75 computer workstations New Learning Commons at • Flexible group work areas, furnishings, and study spaces on the Johnson About the Cover first and second floors Center Library A sketch of the courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, where Captain Marr became the first Confederate officer killed in the Civil War. The • “Recommended Reads,” a circulating book collection of drawing, circa 1863, is attributed to Eugene B. Hovey, who served as a sergeant with Company I of the Massachusetts Infantry. The recent titles that have received favorable reviews original is from the Randolph H. Lytton Fairfax and Northern Virginia Collection. 3 Partners collected data on Paden Gift Shares Well Studies Path to Understanding Africana Partners for Livable Communities Wheeler Farm in Salt Lake. “A traveler who never tires of ask- that was made into a movie in 2004, is significant today as the Documents Innovative Places ing questions will never lose his work of an early feminist, Olive Schreiner. The collection also Partners for Livable Communities, the Washington, D.C.- created to directly address way.” This African proverb aptly includes another 100-year-old imprint, a leather copy of In based national nonprofit organization, recently gifted to the issues related to livability called expresses how John N. Paden, a Darkest Africa, written by Henry M. Stanley of “Dr. University Libraries the organization’s research resources on the Partners for Livable Places, noted Africanist, has managed to Livingstone, I presume” fame. The majority of the collection restoring and renewing communities. The collected materials which was officially incorporat- travel so far. It also demonstrates supports study and understanding of modern-day Africa. represent more than three decades of studies and related doc- ed in August 1977. how generous Paden is with the A professor at Mason for 25 years, Paden currently teaches umented experience in solving community problems by pro- answers he has gathered so that “The Partners for Livable comparative government, international development, and viding leadership that helps communities help themselves. others may find their way. Communities Archives will be conflict resolution. Paden says, “My hopes for Africa have More than 30 years ago, at a meeting of the National invaluable in understanding how Partners carried out its mis- Paden, a Robinson Professor of always been for a peaceful and democratic rise into the com- Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the idea of what would sion as well as in understanding many of the projects International Studies at Mason, munity of nations. My concerns at present have focused on the become Partners sprang from a question posed by Nancy throughout the country it has undertaken in the past 33 gifted to the University Libraries need for conflict resolution as a precondition for rapid devel- Professor John Paden Hanks, then chair of the NEA. She asked the representatives years,” states Yvonne