Monday, August 29, 2016

U.S. Government Publishing Office official visits UK Libraries


Cynthia Etkin, senior program planning specialist with the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), recently visited UK Libraries. She met with Dean Terry Birdwhistell, Senior Associate Dean Mary Beth Thomson, and the Federal Regional Depository Unit staff, and talked about new GPO initiatives. Etkin visited the UK Law Library, toured the SCRC digital library services in M.I. King, and attended the National Archives, UK Libraries Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award presentation with Sandra McAninch, head of the Federal Depository Unit and Regional Depository Librarian, and Amy Laub-Carroll.

As the Federal Regional Depository for U.S. Government Publications in Kentucky, the UK Libraries unit also assists 19 other libraries across Kentucky with the management of their federal depository collections, including the UK Law Library. Etkin described new GPO initiatives that will help McAninch and her staff to more effectively manage their more than three million federal depository items. And, Etkin conveyed GPO’s appreciation for the work the UK unit is doing, including creating and digitizing their Works Progress Administration and Appalachian Regional Commission collections, both Association of Southeastern Research Libraries Centers of Excellence.

UK Libraries hosts IFLA post conference tour for international librarians


UK Libraries hosted a group of 35 librarians representing libraries from six continents as part of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Bluegrass Library Tour. The librarians, who were were part of the 82nd IFLA Conference held in Columbus, received a welcome by Shawn Livingston, director of William T. Young Library, and a tour of the library before a meet and greet event with library staff.

Several faculty attended a variety of section meetings at the IFLA World Congress.

Prior to the conference, UK Libraries hosted the IFLA News Media Satellite Session at the Hilton Downtown Lexington. Keynote speakers include Patrick Fleming, of the British Library at St. Pancras Campus, and award-winning newspaper columnist Tom Eblen, of the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Curator of Newspapers and Oral History Archivist Kopana Terry chaired the local IFLA News Media committee that included Deirdre Scaggs, Toni Grieder, Judy Sackett, Jen Bartlett, and Director of Keeneland Library, Becky Ryder. Terry and Weig were members of the international News Media committee that included Frederick Zarndt of Digital Divide Data, Ana Krahmer of the University of North Texas Libraries, and Niels Bønding of the National Library of Denmark. Sponsors included Keeneland, Buffalo Trace Distilleries,
Kentucky Press Association, University of North Texas Libraries, Ninestars, Zeutschel, Backstage Library Works, and Thoroughbred Daily News.

The black & white photos are from Kopana Terry.

Historic Maps of Kentucky available again


In 1979, University Press of Kentucky published Historic Maps of Kentucky by Thomas D. Clark. Clark, Kentucky’s most eminent historian, personally selected each of the ten maps included in the collection for their historical significance in depicting the emergence of Kentucky, as well as for their stunning representation of the cartographer’s art. The set was accompanied by a booklet including an illuminating historical essay, as well as notes on the individual facsimiles along with illustrations of numerous details from other notable Kentucky maps.

When the set was declared out of print in the late 1990s, extra copies of the maps remained in the press’s basement. Those maps are once again available. Kentucky for Kentucky is offering a very limited quantity of these prints for sale beginning Friday, August 26th, exclusively in the online shop and in the Fun Mall, 720 Bryan Ave. in Lexington. They have selected five designs to offer. Each print will retail for $20 each. The selection includes:
1. North America, Thomas Conder
“A New Map of North America agreeable to the most approved Maps and Charts, By Thos. Conder.” Size: 37.3 x 33.5 centimeters. In: R. Wilkinson, A General Atlas Collection of Maps of the World and Quarters, the Principal Empires, Kingdoms, e’c. with several Provinces, & other Subdivisions, currently delineated. London, 1794. Map in Special Collections, Margaret I. King Library, University of Kentucky.
3. Kentucky, from Elihu Barker, W. Barker
“Kentucky, Reduced from Elihu Barker’s Large Map. W. Barker Sculp.” Engraved for Carey’s American Edition of Guthrie’s Geography improved. Size: 50.9 x 23.8 centimeters. In: William Guthrie, A New System of Modern Geography; or, A Geographical, Historical, and Commercial Grammar. 1st American edition, corrected, improved, and greatly enlarged. Philadelphia, 1794-1795. Map in Special Collections, Margaret I. King Library, University of Kentucky.
4. Kentucky with Adjoining Territories
“The State of Kentucky with, the adjoining Territories from the best Authorities 1800. Engraved for Payne’s Geography Publish’d by I Low New York.” Size: 21.4 x 18.6 centimeters. In: John Payne, A New and Complete System of Universal Geography; ... Describing Asia, Africa, Europe and America. ... New York, 1798-1800. Map in The Filson Club, Louisville.
5. Kentucky, John Melish
“Kentucky.” Size: 36.3 x 18.4 centimeters. In: John Melish, Travels through the United States of America, in the years 1806 & 1807, and 1809, 1810, & 1811; Including an Account of Passages betwixt America and Britain, and Travels through Various Parts of Great Britain, Ireland, and Upper Canada. . . . Philadelphia, 18 12. Map in Special Collections, Margaret I. King Library, University of Kentucky.
7. Kentucky & Tennessee, John Bartholomew
“Kentucky and Tennessee. Drawn and Engraved by J. Bartholomew. EdiRburgh. Published by A. & C. Black.” Size: 38.5 x 26.9 centimeters. In: Black’s General Atlas of the World. New edition, containing the latest discoveries, new boundaries and introductory description. Edinburgh, 1867. Map in Special Collections, Margaret I. King Library, University of Kentucky.

Monday, August 22, 2016

UK Libraries’ invites campus on ‘Road Trip’ through time


With UK students returning for the fall semester from all over the commonwealth, the country and the world, a new free public exhibition on various journeys through the Bluegrass can help students familiarize themselves with their old Kentucky home. UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center will open “Road Trip!,” a show featuring archival photographs, historic maps and postcards, with an open house featuring free ice cream and giveaways from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 24, in the foyer of the Margaret I. King Library Building. 

“Road Trip!” includes scenes from Lexington and the Bluegrass that illustrate the evolution of transportation and the ways in which journeys have changed over time. The campus community can see fascinating examples of streetcars, trains, airplanes, horse and carriages, motorcycles and more. Historical scenes from around campus and the city will allow viewers to see how much these have changed over time. In addition, students to the exhibit are asked to pin a map at the exhibition to show how far they have traveled on their journey to Lexington.

The exhibition, which is open to the public, will remain on display through September. It can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

UK Special Collections Research Center is home to UK Libraries' collection of rare books, Kentuckiana, the Archives, the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, the King Library Press, the Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center, the Bert T. Combs Appalachian collection and the digital library, ExploreUK. The mission of the center is to locate and preserve materials documenting the social, cultural, economic and political history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

For more information on “Road Trip!” contact Matthew Strandmark, education archivist at Special Collections, 859-257-1941 or mstrandmark@uky.edu.

W.T. Young Library Cake featured at Student Welcome


A fabulous cake of the W.T. Young Library took center stage for the recent Singletary and Patterson Scholar Welcome. “We have had Brandi (Happy As a Lark Cake Creations) create various cakes for us over the years for this event,” said Kelley Bozeman, UK marketing director. “W.T. Young Library is one of our iconic buildings and the place where our students spend so much of their time.”

Christy Peters selected for UK Chairs’ Academy


Christy Peters, head of the Science and Engineering Library and eScience Initiatives coordinator, has been selected into the Fall 2016 cohort of the UK Chairs’ Academy. A joint initiative of the Provost’s Office and the Office of the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, the purpose of the academy is to encourage faculty to consider leadership career paths. The academy also provides guidance to new and prospective chairs and academic directors in developing skills that are requisites for effective institutional leadership. Peters will join participants from 11 colleges at seven academy workshop sessions.

Seth Wilder is new Library Technician for the Medical Center Library


Seth, who received his master’s in Library and Information Sciences from UK, worked at the Medical Center Library as a graduate assistant and for three years as an undergraduate while he worked on his classics degree. Prior to beginning his work as a Medical Center Library technician, he worked for AmeriCorps as a VISTA, Volunteers In Service To America.  

Brenda Depp retires from UK Libraries


Brenda joined UK Libraries in January 2007 as the third shift supervisor in the Circulation Department. According to head of Circulation, Terri Brown, “Brenda has always been dependable, has a wonderful work ethic and a wide variety of interests, and can give advice on almost anything. Her night shift students have always loved working with her. It’s hard to imagine how we will get by without her.”

Prior to joining Circulation, Brenda worked as a weekend security guard at the W.T. Young Library from June 2000 until January 2007. She retired from teaching middle school art at Clark County Public Schools after 20 years. “I have really enjoyed working with Young library staff and the many student workers for all these years and I’ll miss seeing everybody,” says Brenda.

Thank you Brenda for your service and best wishes for all your future endeavors.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Six UPK books released in paperback


William Lynwood Montell taught in the folk studies program at Western Kentucky University from 1969 to 1999. He graduated from WKU in 1960, and received an M.A. and Ph.D. from Indiana University. In addition to WKU, he taught at Campbellsville College and briefly at UCLA and the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of 22 books, including Singing the Glory Down: Amateur Gospel Music in South Central Kentucky, 1900-1990; Killings: Folk Justice in the Upper South; and Ghosts across Kentucky. In the summer of 2001, he was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, located in Renfro Valley, Kentucky, and in March 2003, he received the Governor’s Award in the Arts.
A master story collector, Montell has travelled across the commonwealth interviewing ordinary people about their lives and experiences. While he no longer teaches, he continues exploring the state, collecting tales, writing books, presenting lectures, and giving storytelling presentations. “As I tell people, I could care less writing about kings, queens, and presidents,” said Montell. “I write about local culture, life, and times as described by persons whom I interview.” A constant topic of conversation is work, and Montell specifically collected stories from six different professions to collect into books. Now, all six have been released in paperback:
   Tales from Kentucky Lawyers
   Tales from Kentucky Doctors
   Tales from Kentucky Nurses
   Tales from Kentucky One-Room School Teachers
   Tales from Kentucky Sheriffs
   Tales from Kentucky Funeral Homes 

Each book contains over 200 first-hand accounts handed down to Montell in the oral tradition. The stories are relayed nearly verbatim, maintaining the language each interviewee used. In addition, each book groups thematically similar stories and contains an introduction by Montell, which explains his process and gives background information on the projects. He also meticulously documents when and where he recorded each story and includes biographies of his subjects.
 
Ranging from wildly funny to deeply tragic—often at the same time—these tales make up an uncommon and invaluable addition to Kentucky’s rich local history. The stories he collects represent every part of the state, from Pikeville to Paducah, and the experiences he records range from the early twentieth-century to the present. Together, they preserve a meaningful record for future generations, and entertain while they do so.

SCRC releases digitized collections


The following collections have been digitized and are now available on ExploreUK and the Kentucky Digital Library. Sarah Dorpinghaus, director Digital Services, says this brings the total number of unique items/pages that are digitized and available online to 1,123,568. And, she thanks all of those who played a role in providing access to this content.

Appalachian Leadership and Community Outreach Inc. (ALCOR) records (finding aid only, part of the Action in Appalachia project)  
The Appalachian Leadership and Community Outreach Inc. (ALCOR) records contains documents and some audio/graphic materials related to the educational and recreational programs sponsored by the organization in Eastern Kentucky. The collection has administrative office files, partnered college files, development fundraising files, Coordinated Consumer Health Education Project Files. File topics also include those on board members, contracts, equipment, program planning and policy, campus directors, college programs, and program training. Photographs document the programming organization by ALCOR.
 
     
Means family papers (part of the Coal, Camps and Railroads project)
The Means family played a dominant role in the development of the iron industry in the Hanging Fork region of southern Ohio and in eastern Kentucky. They also played a prominent part in the development of both river and rail transportation in the area and in the formation of Ashland, Kentucky as an industrial city. These papers include both personal and business-related correspondence, financial records, legal documents, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, journals, scrapbooks, and photographs.

Harkins family papers (part of the Coal, Camps and Railroads project)
Walter S. Harkins, Sr. (1857-1920) was a lawyer and entrepreneur active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Floyd County, Kentucky. By the 1920s his sons, Walter S. Harkins, Jr. (1898-1936) and Joseph Davidson Harkins were practicing in the Harkins law firm and also participating in the development of coal and gas in eastern Kentucky. Materials primarily include business papers, including a large amount of the correspondence and case files relating to legal cases handled by the Harkins and Harkins law firm.


The Montgomery County Historical Society Anderson Chenault papers (1826-1878; 0.23 cubic feet; 1 box) comprises slave bills of sale, letters, receipts, contracts, and powers of attorney. The papers primarily relate to Chenault's activities as a slaveowner.

The H.H. Downing autobiography, "Trickles" Sixty Years on the Same Campus (dated circa 1950s; 0.23 cubic feet; 1 box) consists of a typed draft of H.H. Downing's autobiography which details his association with the University of Kentucky from his time as a student through his tenure as UK's tennis coach and a mathematics professor.
     
The Henry Lewis Martin, Jr. diary (dated 1906-1920; 0.15 cubic feet; 3 items) consists of digital surrogates of Martin's farm diary for Calumet Farm in Woodford County, Kentucky. 
    
The John M. McCalla Mortuary of Lexington, Kentucky scrapbook (dated 1802-1869, bulk 1802-1846; 0.16 cubic feet; 1 item) comprises a scrapbook of funeral notices and obituaries published in Lexington newspapers, many printed with black patterned borders.

The Calvert McCann photographs (dated 1961-1964; 3.7 cubic feet; 7 boxes) consist of 20 black and white photographic prints depicting the Civil Rights Movement in Lexington and Frankfort, Kentucky. The photographs show sit-ins at lunch counters, demonstrations in downtown lexington, Louis Armstrong refusing to cross a picket line at the Phoenix Hotel, and the March on Frankfort led by Martin Luther King, Jr, Ralphy Abernathy, Wyatt Tee Walker, and Jackie Robinson. In 2004, Calvert McCann gave University of Kentucky faculty member Dr. Gerald L. Smith his undeveloped negatives from the 1960s. Smith used these images in his book Black America Series: Lexington, Kentucky. These particular prints originally hung in UK's Martin Luther King Center housed in the Student Center. The photographs provide a glimpse into the Civil Rights Movement which was seldom covered by local newspapers and media.

The Lexington and Eastern Railway Company (L&E) was initially incorporated as the Kentucky Union Railway Company in 1872 and was later purchased by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company (L&N) in 1910. This collection contains case files for lawsuits filed against the L&E and L&N in eastern Kentucky in the early twentieth century. Materials include correspondence, legal documents, maps, sketches, and a few newspaper clippings and photographs relating to the cases.

Wheelwright Collection  (part of the Coal, Camps and Railroads project)
Wheelwright, located in Eastern Kentucky's Floyd County, is a town created by the coal industry. This collection contains records from three of the companies that owned Wheelwright: Inland Steel, Island Creek, and Mountain Investment. 

The Caroline Cox Morgan family papers (dated 1839-1863, undated; 0.45 cubic feet; 82 items) comprise correspondence between various Cox and Morgan family members in Kentucky and Texas relating to the Texas Revolution, the Mexican War, and the California Gold Rush as well as daily life.

Trainwreck at Whites Station, Kentucky photographs (1910; 0.09 cubic feet; 4 items) includes four mounted silver gelatin prints of the train crash that occurred in Richmond, Kentucky, on March 31, 1910.

The Josephine Russell Erwin Clay family papers (dated 1823-1901; 0.45 cubic feet; 2 boxes) consist of letters, receipts, a slave deed, and a scrapbook, documenting the Clay, Erwin, and Russell families of Kentucky.
     
The Hanson family photographs (undated; 0.1 cubic feet; 8 items) comprises 8 photographs depicting the Hanson family of Winchester, Kentucky.

The Lyne-Smith family papers (dated 1820-1932, undated; 3 cubic feet; 10 boxes, 2 items, 1 folder) comprises correspondence, ledgers, photographs, financial papers, legal papers, maps, and printed material, which documents the business and personal lives of the Lyne family of Kentucky and the Smith family of Columbus, Texas.

The Steamboat photographs (1905-1923; 0.1 cubic feet; 8 items) comprise 8 prints of steamboats along the Ohio River.

The College of Pharmacy papers and prints collection contains correspondence pertaining to the college honorary fraternity and the business of the college, clippings, reports, photographic prints, plans / blueprints, and teaching materials. Materials from a woman's honorary fraternity named the Ring of Hygeia (1967 & 1985) is also included in this collection.

The Cowherd Family photographs (dated undated; 0.02 cubic feet; 22 items) includes 8 postcards, 3 cabinet cards, 3 tintypes, and 7 silver gelatin prints belonging to the Cowherd family of Greensburg, Kentucky.

The Henry Clay account book (dated 1797-1847; 0.23 cubic feet; 1 box) consists of a bound volume of contracts and transactions maintained by Henry Clay and various Kentuckians.

The Carolyn Murray-Wooley color transparencies collection (dated 1972-2006, bulk 1975-1988; 0.90 cubic feet; 4,013 items) consists of slides that document stone houses and stone fences, built by local craftsmen, in Kentucky’s Bluegrass region, including many Bluegrass Trust buildings.    

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

National Archives, UK Libraries present Earle C. Clements Award to Scott County educator


The National Archives and the University of Kentucky Libraries Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center presented the second Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award to UK College of Education doctoral student Margaret Lynn Brewer, a world civilization teacher at Scott County High School in Georgetown, Kentucky. The award was presented by U.S. Archivist David S. Ferriero at a ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Special Collections Research Center Great Hall, in the Margaret I. King Library Building. A reception followed the event.

The Clements Award honors the life and career of the Earle C. Clements and his lifelong commitment to education and public service. Clements’ political career included service as a county sheriff, clerk and judge; terms in the state senate and as governor; and terms in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, where he was a close colleague to future President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Selected from high school history and/or civics (social studies) teachers throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Brewer was selected by an independent review panel for the Clements Award for demonstrating a teacher’s knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the subject and commitment to increasing student awareness of the importance of public service; expertise in civics and history content and the ability to share it with students; impact on student success; and evidence of creativity and innovation.

Originally from Worthington, Ohio, Brewer holds a bachelor's degree from Transylvania University and a master's degree in secondary education and social studies from Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). Prior to working at Scott County High School, where she teaches arts and humanities and advanced placement human geography, as well as world civilization, she taught at West Jessamine Middle School, Mercer County High School and Boyle County High School.

Brewer, who has been teaching for 16 years now, is currently working on her doctoral degree in instruction and administration with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction at the UK College of Education. Content area literacy is one of the educator's passions, and she spends a lot of time working with the Writing Projects at EKU and University of Louisville, as well as the National Writing Project. In addition, Brewer works with the Kentucky YMCA and helps sponsor the Y-Club at Scott County High School.

Many students, colleagues and supervisors praised Brewer for her work in and out of the classroom, including one student who wrote, "Ms. Brewer is far and away the most thoughtful and caring teacher I have had the pleasure of having class with."

Brewer was presented with the Clements Award by National Archivist David S. Ferriero, the 10th Archivist of the United States.

UK President Eli Capilouto and Provost Tim S. Tracy also participated in the award presentation, as well as Bess Clements Abell, Earle Clements' daughter and a member of the UK Libraries National Advisory Board. Bess and her husband, Tyler, made a gift to the National Archives to support the award.

UK Special Collections Research Center is home to UK Libraries' collection of rare books, Kentuckiana, the Archives, the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, the King Library Press, the Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center, the Bert T. Combs Appalachian collection and the digital library, ExploreUK. The mission of the center is to locate and preserve materials documenting the social, cultural, economic and political history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Monday, August 15, 2016

UK Libraries welcomes students to campus and hosts K Week activities


UK Libraries has planned activities with a “Survivor” theme for K Week and beyond to welcome students to campus. There will be a staffed “Survivor” inspired information desk on the first floor of the Young Library from Wednesday, Aug. 17 through Friday, Sept. 9. Students are encouraged to stop by for “Ask Us! Live!” – a live edition of helpful answers to questions with a prize wheel, memory games and treats.

Survival Skills! Finding Your Way around UK Libraries – Monday, Aug. 22, 11am-noon and Tuesday, Aug. 23, 3-4pm. Begins at the Young Library first floor “Way Station.”
On the Hunt: Librarians As Your Guide – Tuesday, Aug. 30, 4-4:45pm, The Hub@ W.T.s
Bagging the Big Prize:  How to Approach College Level Research – Wednesday, Sept. 7, 4-4:45pm, Young Library Room 1-78