Using a technique called high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM), researchers in China have visualized the molecular structure of a hydrogen bond:
http://io9.com/the-very-first-image-of-a-hydrogen-bond-1426759827
New from the International Dada Archives
Three major new acquisitions from Dada’s transitional period of 1919-1920 document that movement’s spread beyond its World War I origins in neutral Switzerland to the key cultural centers of Europe during the early postwar era.
Francis Picabia was one of the chief agents for the propagation of the Dada movement, and his periodical 391 was a key vehicle for spreading Dada beyond its origins in Zurich. Picabia published the first four numbers in Barcelona, then took 391 with him to New York, Zurich, and finally Paris. Special Collections owns ten of the nineteen issues, representing all four cities. Our latest acquisition is Number 9 (November 1919), the first issue to be published in Paris (following the single Zurich number), just as Tristan Tzara, Dada’s self-proclaimed leader, was preparing to move to the French capital. With a cover featuring one of Picabia’s famous machine drawings, and with texts by Tzara, Picabia, and future Parisian Dadaist Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes, this issue anticipates the founding of the Paris Dada movement.
Published shortly after the author 
had established himself in Paris, Cinéma calendrier du coeur abstrait; Maisons (1920) completes our collection of Tzara’s three books of poetry in the series “Collection Dada.” The first two were published in Zurich, and this third collection marks the full fruition of Dada in Paris. Illustrated with nineteen original woodcuts by Jean Arp, this masterpiece of Dada book art is signed by the author and the artist.
Die Schammade (also known as Dadameter) is the seminal publication of the short-lived branch of the Dada movement in Cologne, Germany. Edited in early 1920 by Max Ernst and Johannes Baargeld and printed on multicolored paper with magnificent woodcuts and drawings by Ernst, Arp, and others, Die Schammade typifies the international nature Dada, and includes texts in German and French, including some of the most important Dada writings of Arp, Ernst, and Baargeld.
In addition, we recently acquired the one issue of the Dada publication 291 not previously in the collection, making a complete set.
All four items will be scanned for the Digital Library of Dada.
I recd. a letter from you on my return yesterday from Stevenson
Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol.
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 29th 1863
My Dear Wife
I recd. a letter from you on my return yesterday from Stevenson & looked for another this morning but was disappointed.1 I am happy to know that you continue to enjoy such good health. You wrote upon the eve of Frankie’s first birthday, I doubt not, as your letter intimates you have upon reflection found the past year full of trial, care & trouble.
I have very often thought of your difficulties & wished that the exigencies of the case were not so urgent, so that I could in some way justify myself in returning home. But at present that must not be; & I believe God in his manifestations of love and mercy has given no evidence of his approbation. May we always prove deserving.
I had a rather tedious journey through this time but no accidents. I learned but little; it appears the farther one gets from a battlefield the more they can learn. The report of killed, wounded, and missing reported falls far short of the true amount. The lowest estimate is little short of 15,000.2 Another battle is impending. New troops are being sent forward, and, while thousands pass through here, we are still left behind.3 It is doubtless best so, but we feel that we are able to do more than stand guard all the time. It is possible that our opportunity will yet come; when we hope to be found among the first in our Country’s Cause.
I have not learned anything from Bro. Johny yet, save that the Battery was on the Battlefield, & that is only surmise.4 I know nothing definite. The Artillery took but little part in the action; the nature of the country would not permit them. It is reported that Seigel’s [sic] Corps will pass through the city this evening on their way to reinforce Rosecrans.5 I hope it is true. Another great Battle is impending. The Rebels must either fight or retreat.
My health is quite good. I am happy to hear that Frankie is improving in disposition.6 I will try and pray that God will give us wisdom to train him aright. I know your responsibilities are great, but I feel assured that you will be happy in the efforts you may make to lead our dear boy to Jesus. May God give you grace & strength.
I have received no letters from any source since I last wrote. My friends seem to have forgotten me. I intend to write to Sister Maggie [Utley] this evening. I wrote to Sarah Williams this afternoon & sent her a Photograph. I will send one to Maggie also.
I informed you in two former letters that Luther Van Doren’s body never was found. We made diligent search for it. Christ Yetter has not been on duty yet, but I think is quite well. All the rest enjoy good health.
I hope your visit to Lizzie’s [Zug’s] may be pleasant. Tell me all you know about Anna’s husband.7 How is Mother’s health? Why has she not written? Write to me as often as you can. I am always very happy to hear from you. Give my love to all the family & Remember me kindly to all our friends.
May the riches of God’s grace dwell with you & his blessings ever rest upon you.
Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver
- The letter referred to, written on September 20, is missing from the Culver Collection.
- See J.F.C.’s letter of September 19, 1863, for data on Union casualties at Chickamauga.
- To recover the initiative and drive the Confederates from the approaches to Chattanooga from where they invested Rosecrans’ Army of the Cumberland, the War Department on the 22d called on General Grant at Vicksburg and General Meade in Virginia to rush reinforcements to the point of danger. General Grant was to send four divisions by boat from Vicksburg to Memphis. The troops would then be shuttled by rail to Corinth, Miss., and from there to march east to Bridgeport, repairing the Memphis & Charleston Railroad as they advanced. General Meade was to detach two corps, the XI and XII, from his Army of the Potomac and send them by rail from Manassas, Virginia, to Bridgeport by way of Washington, Louisville, and Nashville. This latter massive troop movement was carried out with efficiency and dispatch. The first of the 15,000 men being rushed to Middle Tennessee from the Army of the Potomac left Washington, D.C., on September 25, and the first four troop trains with units of Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard’s XI Corps rumbled through Nashville on the evening of the 29th. O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXX, pt. III, pp. 812, 841-842, 862, 920, 947.
- Company M, 1st Illinois Light Artillery, had supported Steedman’s division in the fight for the gorge on the afternoon of the 20th, and the next day was engaged near Rossville, where it shelled Rebel cavalry that appeared in the valley beyond. On the 22d the battery had retreated into Chattanooga, closely followed by the Confederates. Adjutant General’s Report, State of Illinois, Vol. VIII, p. 665.
- Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel, a popular figure in Missouri and Illinois and with the Germans, had formerly led the XI Corps. General Howard had commanded the corps since late spring, having led it at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
- Mary Culver in her letter of September 7 had complained of Frankie’s conduct. In her letter of the 20th, she must have made reference to an improvement in his behavior.
- Annie was the 19-year-old daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Zug of South Middleton Township, Cumberland County. She had recently married. Eighth Census, Cumberland County, State of Pennsylvania, NA.
Don’t Procrastinate– Get Organized with Our Workshop Tomorrow!
Are PDFs scattered all over your computer with names that you cannot pronounce? Want to create an organized, clearly named, and Internet-accessible personal library? This hands-on session will show you how using free tools such as Mendeley and Dropbox as well as commercial tools such as EndNote and RefWorks. Attendees are encouraged to bring a selection of PDFs with them.
Our next session is:
Tuesday, October 8th, 10-11 am (Location: East Information Commons)
Register online here or by calling 319-335-9151.
No time for a class? Contact your librarian for a personalized session!
New Leigh Hunt Manuscripts
This past spring was a good season for acquisitions in Special Collections, Leigh Hunt material not least among them. Not only did we pick up Percy Shelley’s personal copy of Hunt’s Feast of the Poets—a spectacular association copy, as Hunt and Shelley were remarkably close friends—but we acquired four Leigh Hunt manuscripts.
Two of these are copies of his most famous poems: “Abou Ben Adhem” and “Rondeau.” Perhaps the poem most beloved by posterity, “Rondeau” (more commonly known as “Jenny Kissed Me”) shares the poet’s excitement after having kissed Jane Carlyle, wife of the archetypal Victorian Thomas and neighbor of the Hunts.
The third manuscript is a draft fragment of The Palfrey. Only a few of the lines from this draft found their way into the published version, betraying the significant revisions the poem underwent at the author’s hand.
A transcript of “Velluti to his Revilers” is perhaps the most interesting manuscript in the lot. 
It’s not one of Hunt’s best known poems, but the transcript is thought to be in the hand of Julia, the author’s eighth child. While “Velluti” may not make the cut for the latest Norton anthology, Leigh Hunt writes at the end of these lines, “I think them the best (in rhyme) that I ever wrote—if I am old enough to be allowed to talk of my ‘best.’”
Get Organized Workshop
Do you struggle to stay organized as the semester progresses? Are your notes and files scattered about in notebooks, folders, and various electronic storage devices? Would you like to share your own tips and tricks for staying organized with others? Join us for a Get Organized workshop to learn about free software tools you can use to get organized and stay organized all semester long and share your organization solutions with the chronically disorganized.
Lunch @ the Sciences Library
Get Organized
12:30 – 1:20 pm, Wednesday, October 2nd
102 SL (Sciences Library Classroom)
In this workshop, you will learn how to use free software such as Evernote and Dropbox to:
- Take notes electronically using text, audio and images;
- Keep your notes organized and sync across all your devices;
- Access your notes and files from any computer with an Internet connection;
- Share your notes and files with others.
This workshop is free and open to all UI students, faculty and staff. There is no need to register. You may bring your lunch if desired. Free coffee will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Scheib at sara-scheib@uiowa.edu or (319) 335-3024.
Perhaps something will turn up in our favor
Carlisle Penn Sept [25?] 1863
My Dear Husband
Yours of Aug. 27 & 28 I received tonight, also one from Bro Jonnie. I am so much disappointed to hear that there is so little prospect of your getting home I cannot give it up yet perhaps something will turn up in our favor Is there any difficulty now about ladies getting passes at Louisville. You have not told me if the women of the 129th went home or to Nashville, I am very glad to know that Mrs Smith is so far recovered as to be able to travel Do they hope for her entire recovery? Father is very poorly tonight, has suffered intensely all day. The Dr. told Jennie that with the fall of the leaves he would probably pass away, though he might live much longer.
Kate Hanna & Charley are sitting around the table variously employed. Kate is teasing Hanna about always wanting “[?]” and wearing a “Hood” She has just had company Some of the students were here with Harry last evening and some tonight Frankie is better today than he has been for some time past. In your next letter tell me if you can, something more definite about my coming to you I am all impatience Good night Thursday Eve. I closed in haste last evening & will try to finish now Father is no better but rather worse today He cannot eat anything at all & of course he grows weaker Kate is here yet. Frankie continues better but is very fretful he occupies my time entirely when he is not asleep and I cannot bear to go away & leave him for Mother or Hanna to see to when they have so much to do consequently I have been about but very little I went down town with Mother this morning to help do a little shopping Wes. & little Willie was up this afternoon Wes expects to report to Washington soon He is quite lame yet & Mother thinks he never will entirely recover the use of his ancle.
You say you are very anxious to know how I like Carlisle & your folks. As much & many as I have seen I like very much but you must wait till I become better acquainted before I tell you farther. The ruins of the Barracks are plainly to be seen from my window & it looks quite natural to see the white tents of the soldiers clustered around them Kate & Harry sketched it all yesterday I sent to Remick for $25 before I left N.H. as I told you in a former letter & it came just before I left I forgot to mention the receipt of it I thought that with that I should have enough to carry me home but if I stay here long shall not have enough Mother & the rest insist on my staying till Spring unless I go to you but I hardly think I shall stay that long “When shall we meet again?” I think it so often Frankie has four teeth with two others just ready to come through What do you do for preaching now & will you have another Chaplain? I should be glad to hear of your preaching, but I know it is a hard task when you have so many others duties to perform. Good bye May the Comforter ever be with you to guide & bless in every hour of temptation & trial. I hope to hear from you to morrow. Frankie sends a kiss to papa I will save mine for fear it be lost on the way. Accept much love from us both. Remember me kindly to all who inquire for your Wife
Mary
MSNBC’s Morning Joe Discusses Big Data, Open Access, and Cancer Research
Kathy Giusti, co-founder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), was featured on MSNBC’s Morning Joe this week to talk about how the open sharing of data can improve cancer research. The MMRF recently launched the MMRF Research Gateway to serve as an open access portal for data on Multiple Myeloma, a common form of blood cancer. The goal is to make the data openly available so that progress in cancer treatment can be accelerated. The MMRF Research Gateway requires registration, however non-profit academic, private, and governmental users can access the data free of charge. Watch the clip.
A New World Record In Solar Cell Efficiency
Researchers just hit a new world record in Solar Cell efficiency:
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/09/26/2681701/super-efficient-solar-cells/
Find Relevant Articles Fast with PubMed Express 1/2 hour class Tuesday, October 1
PubMed is the National Library of Medicine’s index to medical literature and includes over 22 million bibliographic citations in life sciences. This 30-minute session will show you how to find relevant articles fast using some of the basic features in PubMed.
Our next session:
Tuesday, October 1 12-12:30 pm (Location: East Information Commons, Hardin Library)
Register online or by calling 319-335-9151.
No time for a class? Check out our PubMed tutorial.
