New Finding Aids Online

The Special Collections staff are finishing up 2013 with a flourish of activity improving access to a number of collections. New and updated finding aids just published include:

Donald C. Henderson Papers - This collection of papers of librarian Donald C. Henderson includes correspondence, articles, newspapers, diplomas, publications, artifacts, catalogs, photographs, and articles.

Brent Wilson Papers - Brent Wilson joined Penn State's faculty in 1974 as a professor of art education as well as head of the art education program in the School of Visual Arts (1983-1985; 1989-1999). The collection reflects Wilson's participation in implementing National art education policies and document his service as an administrator and art education faculty researcher on children in art education.

Eighth Air Force Archive - The Eighth Air Force archive documents both the fighter and bomber groups that served in Europe and Africa during World War II and the Eighth Air Force veterans organizations nationwide. It contains books, photographs, audio-visual materials, oversize graphic materials, artifacts, memorabilia, microfilm, and organizational records donated by veterans and their families.

Hudson Coal Company Records - The Hudson Coal Company was a subsidiary of the Delaware and Hudson Company, which changed its name in 1899 from Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. The collection consists of microfilms of office files generated by the Hudson Coal Company of Pennsylvania for anthracite coal mines located in Lackawana and Luzerne counties, and microfilms of payroll records for mines located in Luzerne County. There are also several photographs.

James T. Stuart Family Papers - The collection documents multiple generations of the Stuart family, with a strong focus on the life of Civil War veteran James T. Stuart. The family resided in central and western Pennsylvania, and the collection consists of correspondence, photographs, family records, and other related materials.

Dickinson School of Law Student Records -  The Dickinson School of Law, founded in 1834 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is the sixth oldest law school in the United States, and the oldest in Pennsylvania. The school operated independently until 2000, when it merged with the Pennsylvania State University, and since 2005 the school has operated in dual locations, in Carlisle and University Park.

And more to come in 2014!

New Collections Available for Research!

The collections below represent new collections or collections with newly updated finding aids --

-Anne Dummett Papers (RBM 9466)  - Ann Dummett (1930-2012) was a British campaigner for racial justice and an expert on immigration and nationality law. This collection consists of research notes; drafts of books and articles; documents from organizations dealing with issues of race, immigration, and nationality; copies of British government acts related to these topics; correspondence; periodicals; and books.

-Michael Dummett Papers (RBM 9526) - Michael Dummett was an advocate for racial justice, and worked extensively on issues of immigration. This collection includes materials related to the 1956 Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott and race and immigration in the United Kingdom.

-Robert P. Casey Papers (HCLA 1467) - Robert Patrick Casey, Sr. (1932-2000) served as 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from January 1987 to January 1995, previously having served as Pennsylvania State Senator (1963-1968) and Auditor General (1969-1977). The Robert P. Casey papers document Governor Casey's administration through issue papers, daily schedules, budget proposals, speeches, newspaper clippings, press releases, artifacts, and audio-visual materials.

-Pennsylvania State University, Graduate School Records (PSUA 402) - The first graduate students at the Farmer's High School earned their degrees in 1863; the Graduate School was established in 1922. This collection of records from the Graduate School documents the School's students, faculty, and personnel.

-HUB-Robeson Galleries Records (PSUA-457) - This collection documents the history of exhibitions at the HUB Robeson Galleries through extensive artist files and contracts, correspondence, publicity and gallery management materials, as well as scrapbooks.

-Swigart-Shedd family collection on Pennsylvania iron furnaces (HCLA 6093)- This collection concerning iron furnaces primarily in the Juniata River valley of Pennsylvania. Materials include labeled photographs, National Register of Historic Places site inventory forms, papers, articles, and research files. The materials were compiled by Nancy Shedd, her father John Swigart, and her grandfather W. Emmert Swigart.

Archive Adventures: Celebrate!

October is my favorite month for a variety of reasons: the crisp air and vibrant costumes of the trees, the way the sun slants across the Valley just before dusk, and Halloween. Add this to a certain celebration across America this month and it's a bit like opening my Christmas gift a couple months early!

From basic "What is an archive?" lessons to in-depth lectures on records managements, we take this time to say it loud and proud to the public..."Archivists make it last longer!" It's all about making the artifacts and records we hold more visible, more accessible, and safeguarded for future generations. And we're not just talking to the public about it! The celebration is also dedicated to collaboration between archives, sharing information to help each other provide better services and practices. Though it's already the end of the month, archives are always around so it's basically a year-long thing!

This year, Pennsylvania is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, making it the focus for our state's Archives Month.  Though it was in its infancy at the beginning of the war, Penn State has a great collection of Civil War papers from around the state. The James C. Stevenson papers provide unparalleled documentation in the form of diaries kept during his four years of service. He talks about everything from his fellow soldiers' experiences to life after the war. And if you are a photo hound, you'll get plenty of pictures of his regiment, the (PA 100th Volunteer Infantry) Roundheads!

We also have Asa Martin's (founder of the Pennsylvania Historical Society) collection, which includes letters from the time of the Civil War, land records, and documents from the early-mid 19th century. You'll have to come in to find more on the Civil War and explore the archives a bit. It's scary (good)  how much you can find!

From all of us in Special Collections (dressed up as our Records Management mascot REMSBY), Happy Halloween!