Patrick Olson joined us at the beginning of last semester as a new Special Collections Librarian in charge of collections analysis and acquisitions. Patrick was most recently a rare book cataloger at M.I.T and came to Special Collections librarianship via the rare book trade. Stop by and ask him about rare books or climbing mountains!Continue reading “Looking Back on a Semester of New Acquisitions”
Author Archives: Colleen Theisen
1878 Dante: Smallest Movable Type
This is the first of a long string of announcements of new acquisitions that we will be announcing, so follow our blog to hear all the latest! Tiny is the only word to describe this 58mm volume La divina commedia di Dante. This is the second smallest edition of Dante ever printed and is notableContinue reading “1878 Dante: Smallest Movable Type”
One Week Only! Introduction to Book History Class Exhibition
The Introduction to Book History course taught by Gregory Prickman, Head of Special Collections & University Archives, curated this exhibition as a group to showcase their research. This week only it will remain on display outside Special Collections & University Archives’ reading room on the 3rd floor of the Main Libary. Stop by to seeContinue reading “One Week Only! Introduction to Book History Class Exhibition”
Earliest Known Simon Estes Recording Restored
This story starts in 1959 when a UI undergraduate student from Centerville, IA, named Simon Estes auditioned for, and joined, the Old Gold Singers, a university chorus made up of non-music majors. The Old Gold Singers was a new organization, formed just two years before. It quickly established itself as a highly-talented goodwill ambassadorContinue reading “Earliest Known Simon Estes Recording Restored”
Iowa City Meteor in 1875
Last night a meteorite slammed into the Russian countryside, as captured in many videos and photographs. 138 years ago in 1875, nearly to the day, a very similar event occurred in Iowa, when a meteorite disintegrated almost directly above Iowa City. It was documented by C.W. Irish, a local surveyor and astronomer. These images areContinue reading “Iowa City Meteor in 1875”
New Artist’s Books from UI Center for the Book Faculty
Our two newest book arts acquisitions both come from instructors from the University of Iowa Center for the Book. Romeo and Juliet (Naughty Dog Press) is a new book from Emily Martin, who teaches bookbinding and book arts classes here at the Center for the Book. Romeo and Juliet includes one line of dialogue to represent theContinue reading “New Artist’s Books from UI Center for the Book Faculty”
An Artistic Test from Norman Meier
By Denise Anderson During this week of final exams, perhaps a more enjoyable test to engage in might be one that measures your artistic ability? Professor Norman C. Meier, of the UI Department of Psychology, developed the Meier Art Tests, which evolved from his Ph.D. dissertation at Iowa in 1926, “The Use of Aesthetic JudgmentContinue reading “An Artistic Test from Norman Meier”
New Acquisition to the University Archives – George Ludwig Papers
We depend on weather satellite images daily for our forecasts and travel plans. Without the groundwork laid by the National Earth Satellite Service beginning in 1972, though, these images would not be possible today. A distinguished UI alumnus, George H. Ludwig (BA ’56, MS -59, Ph.D. ’60) was a founding director of NESS and ledContinue reading “New Acquisition to the University Archives – George Ludwig Papers”
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Display in Special Collections
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was an instant publishing success, and it remains a beloved piece of literature today, celebrated during the Christmas season around the world. The first edition, printed in 1843, includes four hand-colored steel engravings by John Leech. Our copy of this work comes from the collection of James Wallace, a collectorContinue reading “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Display in Special Collections”
Van Allen Explorer I Data Tapes: Preservation and Digitization
The UI Libraries has been awarded $200,000 from the Carver Trust to digitize the data tapes from the Explorer I satellite mission that led to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts. These tapes were recovered from the basement of Maclean Hall through the outstanding efforts of our Preservation Dept. in 2010-2011. During thatContinue reading “Van Allen Explorer I Data Tapes: Preservation and Digitization”