Notes from the Special Collections Classroom

This week’s news from Instruction Librarian Amy Chen.

Latin Classes

On Monday, four sections of Marcia Lindgren’s Latin I came to Special Collections to learn how Latin circulated in the early modern period with either Acquisition Librarian Margaret Gamm or Instruction Librarian Amy Chen. Students rotated among eight books (or, technically, seven books and one manuscript!) completing worksheets that directed them to find unique features in the texts such as bookplates, guide letters, and worm holes. This curricula is new and represents our shift toward student-centered classes. By all means, it was a success, and we look forward to continuing and refining these sessions in the future.

Image of a class of students examining books

Student Exhibition

English Department Professor Adam Hooks has been working with the UI Libraries’ Special Collections and Digital Scholarship and Publishing Studio for a project with his students creating a group exhibition utilizing the open source exhibition software Omeka. You can view the students’ online exhibition, “Renaissance Texts as Technology” here: http://rentexts2015.omeka.net/

Event Recap

Lunch with the Chefs

Acquisitions Librarian Margaret Gamm and University Archivist David McCartney created a pop up exhibition for this semester’s Caribbean-themed Lunch with the Chefs event.

Image of people looking at the exhibition

Iowa Bibliophiles

Arthur Bonfield spoke about 17th century voyage and travel books from the publisher John Ogilby, and brought stunning examples from his own collection including one of the earliest images of New Amsterdam (New York City) and the first English road atlas. Iowa Bibliophiles is on hiatus through the winter break and will return February 10th.

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Arthur Bonfield teaching the Iowa Bibliophiles

17th century image of a Chinese man from Ogilby's book "Description of China"

map of north america with california as an island

From the Web and Social Media

Manuscripts Processing Coordinator Jacque Roethler wrote a blog post, Dora Lee and Arthurine: A Story of Two Black Women in 1955-1956

Outreach & Engagement Librarian Colleen Theisen was interviewed by SAGE for Library Journal.

The Hevelin Collection Tumblr was celebrating the birthday of the “Queen of the Pulps” Margaret Brundage. Digital Projects Librarian Laura Hampton has created a posts here and an in-depth post here.