Rare Book Conservation

In the spring of 2014, AU Library hired Matt Johnson, from ECS Conservation, to perform an assessment of the Artemas Martin Collection in particular the books that were published prior to 1700. He identified a number of books that would benefit from boxing or conservation treatment.

The first two works were sent to ECS Conservation in August and returned from the lab earlier this month. Here are before and after pictures of our copy of Billingsley’s 2 volume Euclid’s Elements of Geometry published in 1570:

After                               Before

Billingsley After           021edited

Both the conservation assessment and the treatments were paid for with proceeds from AU Library’s Roger Brown Preservation Fund. In September, AU Library held a fund raising event in support of our initiative to get as many of the books on the list conserved as possible. The monies raised at our September event will be used in 2015 to cover the costs of conservation treatment of additional items from the Martin Collection. For more information on this initiative, please contact the University Archivist at archives@american.edu.

 

Turtle International

The first Turtle International was held on February 28, 1964. Water turtles six inches long and under competed in a 35 foot “dash” on a plywood ramp leading from the stage in Clendenen. 51 entries competed in two heats. A variety of private and state schools as well as Oxford University sent turtles. “Tuffy” from Tufts was the winner. AU’s “General Ike” was eliminated in the heats. The race raised $440 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

AU’s “Goy” won the second Turtle International in 1965 beating out the Vassar and Simmons turtles. When the race was moved to May in 1966, AU won for a second year in a row with “Tricky Dick.” AU raised $1500 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1968 when Western Washington State College won the race over a huge field (80 entrants).

After skipping a year, the race resumed in 1970 and ran annually through 1973. Over the years the ramp was lengthened to 50 feet and the number of turtles in each heat was reduced. Humorist Art Buchwald served as Master of Ceremonies for the race in the 1970s.  The image below is from the 1970s.

Turtle International

Veterans Education at American University

In honor of Veterans Day, here are few facts about veterans on campus from AU’s student newspaper:

  • The Veterans’ Administration contracted with AU to train Regional Service Officers for duty throughout the country. A twenty week academic program at AU was followed by 18 month internship with the VA. AU admitted a new group every ten weeks. The program was co-educational and was specifically for disabled veterans. As there was no available dormitory space on campus, the men lived at the YMCA. The first class graduated on March 12, 1945. The 22 members of the graduating class attended a reception at the White House hosted by Eleanor Roosevelt.
  • To accommodate the growing number of veterans attending AU, the Federal Government built barracks style and Quonset hut dorms. Once built the buildings were transferred to AU. Two room apartments for married veterans opened in the summer of 1946. On the map below from 1948, you will find two locations designated as veteran’s apartments.
  • In the fall of 1949, AU’s School of Social Sciences and Public Affairs set a new enrollment record. The boost was credited to an increase in the number of veterans registering for classes. G.I. students represented 55% of SSPA’s student body.

Campus Map 1948 Yearbook

Jack Child Digital Slide Collection is complete

The final digitized image from Jack Child’s Slide Collection went online earlier this week. Jack Child maintained an extensive library of visual images that he regularly used in the classroom. The digital version of the slide collection focuses on the images taken by Child and his companions on his travels – approximately 50 percent of his library. Child visited every Latin American country at least once. He served as staff lecturer and guide aboard expedition cruise vessels to Antarctica and sub-Antarctic islands on fourteen trips. The strengths of the digital collection are as follows: Antarctica; Argentina; Colombia; Cuba; Falklands/Maldives; Mexico; Nicaragua; and Peru. All Latin American countries are represented in the digital collection. Of note are a selection of images from his two tours of duty in Vietnam.

“How Many More?” American University Students Reaction to the violence at Kent State (Film Viewing)

In May of 1970 in the heat of the campus protests over the events at Kent State, Professor Glenn Harnden, from AU’s Department of Communications, pulled all the old film on hand and sent several students off with cameras to shoot activities both on and off campus. Professor John Douglass re-discovered this film as he was preparing for the move into the School of Communication’s new building. He transferred the film to the Archives and we used the Library’s Roger Brown Preservation Fund to conserve and digitize the most significant rolls from the set. To celebrate the completion of this project, we will be holding a viewing of clips from the film on Wednesday November 12 in the Library’s Training and Events Room. The event will run from 5 to 6pm with the viewing starting at 5:15pm. All are welcome.

Jack Child Collection Stamp Albums

The second and final installment of the Jack Child Stamp Collection, the albums, went online earlier this month. The subjects of the stamp albums are diverse and include current and historic figures and events, buildings and landscapes, military, native flora and fauna, space, sports, and transportation. The oldest stamps date from the mid-nineteenth century. As with the rest of the Child Collection, the bulk of the stamps relate to Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Falkland Islands with particular strengths in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba and Ecuador.

 

Aquiana

Water Ballet Group

Aquiana, American University’s synchronized swimming and water ballet group was officially organized in 1950 and its final show was in 1959.  It was under the direction of AU’s swimming coach, Robert Frailey.  The coed group did an annual spring show with titles such as Waruna of Bali (1950-52), Fiesta del Aqua (1953-1954), Aquatic Fantasy and Wild West Show. Starting in 1952, Ed Walker from the campus radio station created a recorded soundtrack which was played using underwater speakers. The group was filmed on three occasions and was featured on the Dave Garroway Show twice.

Currently on Display – Winning Directions: The Art of Direct Mail for Political Campaigns 1997-2012

In honor of the mid-term elections, AU Special Collections is highlighting one of its more recent acquisitions, The Anthony J. Fazio Direct Mail Archive, with an exhibit on the third floor of Bender Library.

Winning Directions is an award winning Democratic direct mail firm which was started in 1989 by Anthony J. Fazio. It offers a variety of services including campaign planning, fundraising, polling, voter database design, and a photo studio. Winning Directions works for individual campaigns as well as PACs and labor unions. The exhibit features examples of attack ads, candidate bios and endorsements, and hot topic pieces and will be on display through the end of the fall semester.