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”
Category Archives: News
In Memory of George Ludwig
The U.S. launched its first satellite, Explorer I, on this day 55 years ago, on January 31, 1958. Under the direction of Prof. James A. Van Allen of the University of Iowa’s Department of Physics, the satellite carried a payload of data-gathering equipment which eventually revealed the presence of radiation belts encircling the earth. OurContinue reading “In Memory of George Ludwig”
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”
Historic Foodies, Talk of Iowa, and Marlborough Pudding/Pie
Thank you to all who attended last week’s first meeting of the Historic Foodies! For those of you who missed the meeting, Kathrine’s Moermond from the Old Capitol Museum told tales of tracking down the variations of Marlborough Pudding. I’ve included her account here and hear her tell some of the tale on this week’sContinue reading “Historic Foodies, Talk of Iowa, and Marlborough Pudding/Pie”
Happy Thanksgiving!
This morning I was a guest on Iowa Public Radio’s Talk of Iowa program, where we discussed Thanksgiving recipes, cookbooks, and traditions. You can listen to an archived version of the program here. Below are links to some of the items from Special Collections that were discussed on the show. Szathmary Culinary Manuscripts: http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/cookbooks DIYContinue reading “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Want to Make Historic Recipes?
Want to make historic recipes? Or how about reading handwriting, converting measurements, recreating historic cooking implements, food photography, or writing and blogging? 300+ years of handwritten cookbooks with thousands of recipes from Chef Louis Szathmary’s culinary collection from Special Collections & University Archives are now online in DIY History, the newest transcription project from theContinue reading “Want to Make Historic Recipes?”
Unboxing the Hevelin Science Fiction Collection on Tumblr
The time has come! The James L. “Rusty” Hevelin Collection of Pulps, Fanzines, and Science Fiction Books is being unboxed and processed. Special Collections & University Archives is pleased to welcome long-time student worker and avid researcher Peter Balestrieri who is joining our staff as a Processing Librarian and taking on the task of making the collection ready for researchers. Continue reading “Unboxing the Hevelin Science Fiction Collection on Tumblr”
Who Am I?
Do you know this man? Or perhaps you know this lovely girl with her bicycle? This mysterious item has a series of six photographs printed on fabric and bound together on a wooden holder. Based on clothing and hairstyle the photos seem to be from different time periods. Are they all different people? Did oneContinue reading “Who Am I?”
150 Years Later a Civil War Story Unfolds
In celebration of the U.S. Civil War Sesquicentennial, The University of Iowa Libraries is bringing to life the compelling story of Civil War soldier Joseph F. Culver and his wife, Mary, featuring letters held in Special Collections in the J.F Culver Papers. Letter by letter their story will unfold over the next three years published onContinue reading “150 Years Later a Civil War Story Unfolds”
Book Tasting Event Results
Last weekend at the Iowa City Book Festival, Special Collections & University Archives hosted a Book Tasting event in the Old Capitol. As a closed stack library usually researchers and readers already have an item in mind when they come to see us. “Search” will turn up very different results from “browse” as a strategy andContinue reading “Book Tasting Event Results”