University Libraries

Chattanooga Tenn. 6 Oct. [sic] 1863.

Dear Sister Mary:

I have just received from Mr. Culver a letter with the sad intelligence of Frankie’s death. Mary I know that I can not reallize to its full extent your great bereavement, but feel deeply for you and mourn with you. Heaven grant you comfort and give you strength to bear up under your affliction. I was much surprised to receive this painful intelligence, for only day before yesterday I was gladdened by the reception of your letter of 13. Oct. and one from Brother Frank of later date letting me of Frankie’s improvement in health.

I will write to Frank, this morning. He tells me that he has sent for you to come without delay to Nashville. When you get there, I will try to go up to see you.

With your letter day before yesterday, came one from Brother Thomas and one from Sammy. Both are well, and also are the folks at home so far as I can learn.

This I will direct to Carlisle though you may have left there before it reaches you. I can spare but a moment this morning, Mary. I will write you soon again.

With love I am as ever
Your Affectionate Brother
W J Murphy

P.S. Address
W J Murphy
Battery “M” 1st Ill. Artillery
3 Brig. 2 Div. 4 A.C.
Chattanooga Tenn.

Welcome to Women’s History Wednesday!

In 1924, the Iowa High School Athletic Association decided that organized basketball was “unhealthy” for girls and announced their decision to eliminate the girls’ state championship tournament. In response, female athletes statewide took action; that included members of the Newhall team, pictured here, who rode on horseback from farm to farm to win their neighbors’ support.

Those efforts paid off big for Newhall’s players, who in 1927 won the first-ever girls state championship under the newly-founded Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. After a breathless night following the game remotely — it wasn’t broadcast on the radio, so fans gathered at a Newhall restaurant where the tournament plays were called out via a long-distance phone call — the whole town turned out the next morning to welcome their champions back home.

As one newspaper report described it, “The Newhall Girls of 1927 have given the town a place in the sun.”

Newhall items from the Rural Women Digital Collection

*This post is duplicated from the Iowa Women’s Archives Tumblr.

The American Chemical Society announced an expansion of its open access publishing options, designed to assist authors. The expansion includes a new open access, peer-reviewed journal, ACS Central Science, to be launched in 2014, plus more licensing choices for authors and a stimulus program to support authors who select ACS journals when seeking to publish their work open access.

For more information, please visit http://acsopenaccess.org/. If you have any questions about scholarly publishing or open access, please contact the Sciences Library at 335-3083 or lib-sciences@uiowa.edu.

This workshop provides an introduction to standards and specifications. Learn how to access a wide variety of standards including ASTM, ISO, ADA, NFPA (Fluid), and the US Code of Federal Regulations. Featuring a new database, TechStreet, and more. This session will be led by Kari Kozak, the head of the Lichtenberger Engineering Library.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Submitted by Brenna Campbell

Many of the books in the Wunderkammer show at Grinnell had elaborate foldout illustrations, which required custom supports. These were typically made separately from the cradle, and were often strapped into place once the book was in its display case. It was important to strap the book so that the illustration was easy to see, but also to allow the book to open naturally, without putting strain on the binding.

The show opened on October 4th, and will remain up through December 15th. More details can be found here: http://www.grinnell.edu/about/offices-services/faulconer-gallery/exhibitions/wunderkammer

The NIH Public Access Policy, which ensures that all articles arising from NIH-sponsored research are freely available within a year after publication, is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to changes in scholarly publishing. Participants will learn more about these trends and discuss experiences with publishing.

Our next session is:

Thursday, November 7, 10-11 am

Register online here or by calling 319-335-9151.

No time for class?  Ask your librarian for a private consult.

Friday, November 1, 2013
Submitted by Brenna Campbell

Headqrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol. Infty.
Nashville, Tenn., Octr. 31st 1863

My Dear Wife

Enclosed find your pass from Louisville to Nashville. Telegraph from Louisville to me telling upon what train you will come. Should you arrive here in my absence, which is very probable, take a carriage at the Depot and go to the next to the last house on the right hand side of the South End of Summer Street (Mrs. Wilkinson’s). It is within a few feet of the Col’s. Headqrs. If either of our Co. officers are in camp, I will request them to meet you in my absence. You will board at our Headqrs. till I can make other arrangements.

Let us put our trust in God and submit cheerfully to his wise decrees. May he bless you.

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

P.S. By mistake the pass is for Mrs. Capt. Culver instead of Lieut. The Provost Marshall said it would pass thus.

J.F.C.

Headqrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol. Infty.
Nashville, Tenn., Octr. 31st 1863

My Dear Wife

I recd. your despatch this evening informing me of Frankie’s death.¹ Let us cheerfully Submit to the will of him who doeth all things well. I telegraphed in reply to bury him in a zinc lined coffin, so that if we should ever wish to remove him, it could easily be done.² If my despatch arrives too late, do not be worried about it.

I send you a pass from Louisville here to the United States Hotel. It is good for 20 days from this date. I thought you might wish to come immediately. If not and you come within the 20 days, it will still be good.

You will be short of money unless Remick has sent more. If so, tell Father or Mother to give you $50 or more if necessary, & I will forward it as soon as we are paid off, which I think, will be very soon. It is past due, & the paymaster has promised to pay in a few days. If he should fail, I will still send it shortly after your arrival if necessary.

I will write to Mother [Murphy] that in the event you wish to come direct here to express what things you need, waiting for you to name the articles.

I must go on duty in the morning again & will be absent a couple of days. I have made arrangements for you should you arrive during my absence at Mrs. Wilkinson’s.³ It is the next to the last house on the right hand side, on the South end, of Summer Street & easily found. Take a hack at the Depot. Telegraph to me from Louisville what train you come on.

Should you wish to go to Pontiac first, you will have time to hear from me again. Though God’s ways are mysterious, yet he has given us so many evidences of his love and mercy that we should not murmur. Give my love to all. I should like to get your letter which I think will come in the morning, but must wait until my return. May God abundantly bless you.

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

1. Mary Culver’s telegram read, “Frank C. died last night, eleven o’clock. Bury here on Sunday [November 1].” Mary Culver to J.F.C., October 31, 1863, Culver Collection.
2. The telegram sent by J.F.C. to his wife on October 31 is missing from the Culver Collection.
3. Mrs. Wilkinson’s house was within a few feet of regimental headquarters. Mrs. Culver was to take her meals with the officers until J.F.C. could make other arrangements.

Linda Roth (of Library Information Technology), Shane Wallace and Eric Rumsey (both from Hardin Library) had an article published in Journal of the Medical Library Association recently:

Responsive web design for an academic health sciences library website

Much of the credit for the article is due to the pioneering work in responsive design that Linda has been implementing on the UI Libraries’ and Hardin Library’s website. At the time that Eric was asked to contribute the article in February, Hardin was the only medical/health sciences website that used responsive design.

Thank you, Linda, for making us all look good!