Julia Stringfellow

This is an important day in Lawrence’s history, this is the 160th anniversary of the first day of classes at Lawrence! On November 12, 1849, the first day of class at Lawrence took place in the Academy building, a site now occupied by the downtown Appleton Y.M.C.A. The student body included males and females, as did the faculty. While Lawrence has had a long history, the Academy building has not. It was destroyed by fire in January 1857, while the Lawrence community was in the Main Hall chapel for Sunday services. This day marks yet another important anniversary for Lawrence.

A reminder that the annual Haunted Lawrence tour is this Sunday, October 25, starting at 7pm. We’ll meet at Memorial Hall (formerly Memorial Union) and go through buildings and tunnels as Lawrence archivist Julia Stringfellow and Security officer Dell Cook share stories about ghosts and other creepy events that have occurred at Lawrence throughout its history.

For questions regarding this tour, visit the Archives on Level B of the library or e-mail archives@lawrence.edu .

The annual Haunted Lawrence tour will take place Sunday, October 25, starting at 7pm. We’ll meet at Memorial Hall (formerly Memorial Union) and go through buildings and tunnels as Lawrence archivist Julia Stringfellow and Security officer Dell Cook share stories about ghosts and other creepy events that have occurred at Lawrence throughout its history.

For questions regarding this tour, visit the Archives on Level B of the library or e-mail archives@lawrence.edu .

The Summer/Fall 2009 issue of Voyageur magazine features an article on the founding of Lawrence, written by University Archivist Julia Stringfellow with assistance from LU history professor Jerald Podair. The article includes pictures of the first graduating class of 1857 and other early pictures of Lawrence. A copy of the magazine is available on Level A of the library and in the Archives on Level B.

The Buildings of the Past digital collection has been updated and includes photographs, correspondence, and programs of nine buildings that are no longer part of the Lawrence campus. Take a look at the link below. For questions or to see the originals of these items, visit the Archives on Level B of the library.

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

The Midwest Trivia Contest

The exhibit contains materials from past Trivia Contests, including letters, newspaper articles, and photographs. The Trivia Contest, known by some as the “World’s Longest-Running Trivia Contest,” began in 1966. Sample questions from past contests are included in the exhibit, such as…

“What did Michel Lotito, Mr. Eat Everything, consume to gain his world record for the largest meal ever eaten?”

For the answer, visit the exhibit on the first floor of the library. The exhibit was created by Rebecca Hayes, Archives student worker.

The Artist Series at Lawrence, 1908-2008: A Look at 100 Years of History

This exhibit features programs, season announcements, and photographs documenting the past 100 years of the Artist Series program. The program was created by William Harper, Dean of the Conservatory of Music, to bring outside performers to Lawrence. The exhibit is located in the display cases on the first floor of the library and will be up through December.

A digital collection on the Artist Series is at the link below.

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

On Monday evening, November 2, 1908, the first performance of the Artist Series program at Lawrence took place. The performer was David Bispham, a baritone, and the concert took place in Appleton Theatre. According to the Lawrentian,

“Once did not listen to the voice or its production but rather to the vocal picture he was painting. Lawrence University students should be thankful that they have the opportunity of hearing these world renowned artists.”

The annual Haunted Lawrence tour is this Sunday, November 2 at 7:00 pm and starts at the Union Info Desk. Stories of Lawrence’s haunted and creepy past will be shared as we visit campus buildings, including the tunnels under the Union and library, the attic of Ormsby Hall, and the Main Hall cupola where everyone will have an opportunity to ring the bell. The tour will be given by Julia Stringfellow, university archivist, and security officer Dell Cook who has witnessed some creepy things in her time at Lawrence.

Welcome to the Milwaukee-Downer Reunion and to the Mudd library and University Archives! Feel free to visit the reference desk or University Archives with any questions you may have. And take a look at the Milwaukee-Downer College digital collection, the Elizabeth Richardson digital collection, and oral history transcripts from Milwaukee-Downer Reunion 2006.

Special guests this weekend include Charles Richardson, brother of the late Elizabeth Richardson, and James Madison, author of the biography on Elizabeth Richardson, Slinging Doughnuts for the Boys: An American Woman in World War II.