Lawrence Archives

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Conservatory of Music Artist Series. The program was started in 1908 by William Harper, Dean of the Conservatory at the time. The series consists of outside performers of national and international acclaim coming to campus and giving concerts.

In honor of the centennial, a list of the performers from the last 100 years is now on the Archives’ website at

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/artistseries.shtml

Throughout 2008, a digital collection and exhibit will also be done on the history of the Artist Series. For further information on the history of the Series, visit or e-mail the University Archives.

Lawrence International Cabaret and Dinner

This exhibit on display in the cases on the first floor of the library features photographs, programs and newspaper articles from the International Cabaret and Dinner of years past. The first Lawrence International Dinner and Cabaret took place in 1976 and was hosted by Lawrence faculty and staff. Since then the dinner and Cabaret have been popular annual traditions and are now hosted by the students of International Club.

The Beginning of Freshman Studies and Freshman Studies of the Modern Age

This exhibit on display in the cases in Riverview Lounge documents the beginning of Freshman Studies in 1945 and looks at how it has evolved in recent years. Syllabi and reading lists, correspondence from other colleges regarding the program, and photographs of the first professors of the program and recent photos of Freshman Studies classes are included. A look at what life was like at Lawrence in the 1940s is also provided. The exhibit was done in honor of the Freshman Studies party that took place at the end of Winter Term. The exhibit will be up through April.

Do you have questions about the history of Freshman Studies? Visit the Archives on Level B of the library.

Treasured objects and artifacts held by the Lawrence Archives will be preserved for future generations with help from the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books, DVDs, and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal funding of the nation’s museums and libraries. IMLS and its cooperator, the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), will award a total of 2,000 free sets of the IMLS Bookshelf by the end of 2008.

The Lawrence Archives is among the first to receive this essential set of resources based on an application describing the needs and plans for care of its collections. The IMLS Bookshelf focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries’ special collections, with an added selection of texts for zoos, aquaria, public gardens, and nature centers. It addresses such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues.

Citations read at Commencement for retiring faculty receiving the honorary degree Master of Arts ad eundem are now on the Archives website at the link below.

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/honfac.shtml

The citations cover the 1978-2007 Commencement ceremonies. Citations for the Excellence in Teaching and Young Teacher awards also given at Commencement will soon be available on the website.

Winter Traditions at Lawrence

This exhibit on display on the first floor of the library covers traditions of the winter season. Photographs, programs of the Winter Carnival, and newspaper articles are included. The important art of snow sculpting and the tradition of sledding down Union Hill and not going into the Fox River (a tradition still practiced today) are documented. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Winter Carnival.

The exhibit will be up through the end of February.

The Annual Great Midwest Trivia Contest

This exhibit on display in Riverview Lounge in Memorial Union documents the history of the 42 year-old trivia contest and includes photographs, letters, shirts, and questions from previous contests. A look at how the trivia contest made it to the Wall Drug Store in South Dakota is also included. The 2008 trivia contest was held from January 25-27.

A digital collection featuring items from past contests is located on the Archives website at the link below.

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/contentdm/archives/about.html

The exhibit will be up through February.

Holiday Traditions at Lawrence and Milwaukee-Downer College

Photographs, programs, and other items of holiday traditions at Lawrence and Milwaukee-Downer College are on display in Riverview Lounge in Memorial Union. Traditions shown in the display include the different Christmas cards sent by Lawrence presidents. Traditions celebrated at Milwaukee-Downer College include lantern night and plays put on during the Christmas season. Come and learn about how the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was brought to the United States by a Milwaukee-Downer professor, and why one year it was reported there were no virgins at Milwaukee-Downer College.

The exhibit is up through the month of December.

A finals week stress relief event will take place Monday, December 10 from 7-9 pm in Riverview Lounge in the Union. The event will include snacks, chair massages, a fire, games, and puzzles. The event is sponsored by the Celebrations and Traditions Team and the Wellness Committee.

ALEXANDER GYMNASIUM: A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THIS AWARD-WINNING BUILDING

Fox Cities Magazine has named Alexander Gymnasium this year’s “Great Spaces Great Places” award recipient for “Best Historic Landmark Building.” In honor of the award, this exhibit features photographs and other items documenting the history of the first Alexander Gym, located where Youngchild Hall now is, and the current Alexander Gym located across the Fox River.

The exhibit will be up through the month of December.