Special Collections Blog
March 12, 2008
Irish Connections
March 17, St. Patrick's Day, originally dedicated to the Christian saint, has become a celebration of Irish culture in general, and the BU LIbraries Special Collections has a special connection to the day. The Irish playright, Padraic Colum (1881-1972), drew heavily upon Irish history and legend ito create his works, which included numerous plays, poetry and children's stories. In 1965, the University Libaries acquired his papers, and also those of Mary Colum, his wife, author and literary critic in her own right. The collection includes manuscripts of his works and, most interestingly, numerous notebooks in which he sketched out his ideas. There is also a voluminous correspondence, which includes exchanges with many other leading literary figures of the 20th century. The collection can be accessed through the finding aid, created by former Binghamton English professor, Zack Bowen.
Posted by cspiese at 10:59 AM
January 03, 2008
Civil War Manuscripts Archives Now Searchable.
The Civil War Manuscripts Archives collection includes approximately 30 linear feet of personal letters, mainly from soldiers serving in Union regiments from Central Upstate New York. It also includes photographs, diaries and other papers from the period. A database has been created that allows researchers, using keyword searching, to identify the location of content among the more than 16 individual collections.
The materials are a rich source of information on a turbulent period in U.S. history.
For example, letters from Ten Eyck Fonda, great-grandfather of Henry Fonda, shed light on the importance for war communications of telegraphers, a job that was often more dangerous than that of the regular army.
Materials from the Maurice Leyden Collection includes diaries. And one entry indicates that a number of women in Rochester, NY, Leyden's wife Margaret and Susan B. Anthony, actually registered to vote and did so in 1872, almost 50 years before the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920. Maurice and Margaret attended Miss Anthony's subsequent trials and he has short entries about the trials in his 1872 and 1873 diaries.
Leyden also coordindated post-War reunions of his regiment, and the collection includes many letters from wives, or other relatives, of veterans explaining why the former soldiers would not be able to attend. They afford a telling glimpse into the challenges that faced men returning from the fighting.
Posted by cspiese at 01:44 PM
December 12, 2007
History of Medicine
If you are interested in the history of medicine in New York you may want to look at the Broome County Medical Society Collection. The Society began in 1806 and will have their bicentennial celebration next year. In the collection are materials from their Centennial and Sesquicentennial (150 years) celebrations, including a ticket for the Sesquicentennial dinner.
The BCMS collection has biographical information on several 19th century local physicians, included Dr. Nathan Smith Davis, the founder of the the American Medical Association. The are also minute books from 1806 to 1943, photographs, glass magic lantern slides, medical diplomas and certificates, 19th century medical journals, and much, much more.
Posted by Melody at 02:05 PM
Civil War Manuscripts Archive
The Civil War Manuscripts Archive now consists of sixteen individual collections. Primarily the collections are letters and/or diaries. Two of the "collections" consist of a single diary each. All sixteen collections have been cataloged and can be found in infoLINK under the collective title: Civil War Manuscripts Archive.
Posted by Melody at 02:02 PM