Gilbert E. Griswold – Carved Cane

What’s new in the library? Whether you’re stopping by Millie’s or coming in for a class, take a moment to look at our newest display. In the case in front of John Menihan’s portraits of the Wilmots is a carved wooden cane. But not just any cane. Look again. The cane consists of beautifully carved animals rendered in fantastical style.  The handle is crowned with a mythological hybrid horse but other creatures emerge as you look closer.

The cane was carved by Gilbert E. Griswold (1857-1947). Griswold was a sculptor originally from Pennsylvania who moved to California, first to San Francisco and then to Los Angeles in 1907. He was active in his field until his death in San Bernardino, CA.

The cane was donated to Nazareth College’s Art Department in 1994 by Kenn Scullin, a California native who had relocated to Rochester. It came into his family’s possession along with a table also carved by Griswold. A note states that it was given to the donor’s uncle by the artist for “helping him in time of need” after the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

The library staff is very excited to have this carving on permanent display for our community. It really is a wonderful piece of Americana for everyone to enjoy and is quickly becoming a treasured addition to the library’s growing art collection.

Deborah Janetos, Reference Librarian and College Archivist

Historical posters from the Archives

This week's post comes to you via one of our Library Archives Student Assistants--enjoy!

Over the years the Arts Center at Nazareth College has been home to countless productions and performances. Students, faculty, and the public alike have enjoyed the entertainment fostered by the Arts Center since it was first built in 1967. Keep reading to see how productions at the Arts Center have been presented throughout the years.

I think it’s fascinating to look at the productions that have come through the Arts Center. As I was sorting through the theater production posters in the Nazareth College Archives, I found some that caught my eye! From famous musicians and dancers to our own Nazareth College Drama Club, the stage has seen many wonderful performances.

It's funny to think that in 1973 students were still on campus for New Year’s Eve! Now that is right in the middle of our winter break. Imagine ringing in the New Year with your friends while watching this exciting performance!

The bright pink and green color on this poster really caught my eye.This poster is one of the many that advertised a production presented by the Nazareth and St. John Fisher Drama Club. Hopefully the Naz-Fisher rivalry didn’t get in the way!

This poster describes the 70’s to a tee! I love the groovy vibe that is captured in the wavy graphics and warm colors. Not to mention tickets were only $1.00!

The color of this poster is so bold! Created in 1994, this poster is evidence that graphics and design have certainly improved throughout the years. This poster is for the production of a classic, William Shakespeare's The Tempest, presented by our very own Nazareth College Theatre League!

This poster advertises one of the many dance performances and recitals here at the Arts Center! Aside from theater productions, the Arts Center has seen many dancers over the years! The Murray Louis Dance Company performed at Nazareth in 1975!

If you are interested in these or any other theater production posters, please visit the New York Heritage digital site to see the Nazareth College Poster Collection or contact the Nazareth College Archivist, Deborah Janetos at djaneto1@naz.edu.

Christiana Rowlands ‘21

Serendipity: Women’s Suffrage and African American History Month

Serendipity is a wonderful word, one I think about a lot in my library research setting. Although librarians use designated subjects heading to help delve into research topics, oftentimes we find ourselves following the unexpected, and off we go on tangential threads. These excursions can lead to surprises, some helpful to our research, others just plain interesting. You learn a lot along the way. That’s what happened when it was time to arrange books for the library’s February display.

First up, books on women’s suffrage. It’s been 100 years since New York State finally granted women the right to vote after decades of struggle. We all know about Susan B Anthony’s role in the movement. Hopefully you have visited her home in Rochester as well as the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in nearby Seneca Falls, New York. If not, add them to your list of must-dos.

But while thumbing through books for the display, I came across names and photos of women not as familiar to me. I was struck by the beautiful photo and inspiring story of Mary Church Terrell, an early African American advocate of both women’s suffrage and civil rights. So serendipity struck and led me to discover others including Ida B. Wells, weaving a beautiful thread to and throughout the African American History Month display in the adjoining large case.

Ida B. Wells

Mary Church Terrell

So next time you’re in the library, please take a look at some of the interesting and relevant books we offer on these subjects, and  pause to learn a little about the many courageous and inspiring women who paved the way for all of us. Serendipity...

--Deborah Janetos, Reference Librarian & College Archivist

Selected Books at Nazareth Library:

Terrell, M. (1996). A colored woman in a white world (African-American women writers, 1910-1940). New York : London: G.K. Hall ; Prentice Hall International.

Lorette Wilmot Library   Nazareth Main Collection   323.092 Ter  

Jones, B. (1990). Quest for equality : The life and writings of Mary Eliza Church Terrell, 1863-1954 (Black women in United States history ; v. 13). Brooklyn, N.Y.: Carlson Pub.

Lorette Wilmot Library   Nazareth Main Collection   973.0496073 Ter, Jon  

Wells-Barnett, I., & Royster, J. (1997). Southern horrors and other writings : The anti-lynching campaign of Ida B. Wells, 1892-1900 (Bedford series in history and culture). Boston, MA: Bedford Books.

Lorette Wilmot Library   Nazareth Main Collection   323.092 Wel  

Thompson, M. (1990). Ida B. Wells-Barnett : An exploratory study of an American Black woman, 1893-1930 (Black women in United States history ; v. 15). Brooklyn, N.Y.: Carlson Pub.

Lorette Wilmot Library   Nazareth Main Collection   323.092 Wel, Tho  

Winter at Nazareth College

Librarians spend a lot of time thinking about ways to get students inside the library, teaching them about our resources and services - which are extensive and wonderful. Even with campus-wide access available, we really like to see them come through our doors. With that said, sometimes it’s good to go outside, look beyond our usual confines and embrace how winter, especially this year, has transformed the campus into a wintry wonderland. Really photo worthy!

This weekend Campus Activities Board, Student Activities & Leadership and the Undergraduate Association will be hosting the annual Winter Wonderland event, reminding me of winter festivals I’ve read about in the college Archives.

Beginning with winter picnics at Powder Mills Park in the ‘30’s, the festivals became popular annual events after the college moved to our present location in 1942. Highlights included snow sculpture competitions among the classes, sledding and ice skating, dances, concerts, and, of course, a Winter Weekend Queen.

We may not crown a court anymore, but the college’s Winter Wonderland event will still be lots of fun and good way to start off the new semester. And don’t forget to bundle up and get outside and take a few minutes to enjoy our beautiful campus.

-Deborah Janetos, Reference Librarian and Library Archivist

The Archives: A Student's View

The Nazareth Library archives offer researchers a space for study and a safe environment to store valuable artifacts for future generations. The collections include catalogs, department and college newsletters, The Gleaner, hundreds of photographs, memorabilia, newspaper clippings and much more. We are excited to be able to share the history of Nazareth College, and look forward to assisting in any way we can.

Recently, one of our library student assistants wrote up a description of the Archives and how they've played a role in her academic work here at Naz:

From Dana Teets, Museums, Archives, Public History & Legal Studies Major

"Did you know that Nazareth has a Museums, Archives and Public History major? Well, now you do. I was the first person to declare that major here at Nazareth and I have done a couple of cool things since declaring it. One being, helping Deborah Janetos down in the college archives in the basement of the Lorette Wilmot Library.

The archives hold old school records, photos, department t-shirts, old banners, posters, diploma cases, alumni memorabilia that was donated, etc. I focused mostly on the oversized boxes that needed to be cataloged and organized.

 

While this experience may sound boring to some, it is actually quite enriching when you’re going into the field that I am. I encourage anyone who wants to have a future in museums, archives or public history to seek out any opportunity that they can! Any experience is good experience; you learn from it all whether it be good or bad."

For more information about the Archives, contact Deborah Janetos, our Archivist.  

Nazareth College History: A Peek Into the Archives

Welcome to a new year at Nazareth College! If you’re new to campus, be sure to check out the Archives page on the library’s website. There you’ll find a brief history of the college which might fill in some details not covered in a campus tour. Nazareth College has a proud heritage spanning 93 years of educational excellence - and a home away from home for students from near and far.

The Gleaner, available online from 1926 to 2007, was the college newspaper published by and for students, and provides a wonderful glimpse into college life over the years. By reading The Gleaner you can see what was important to students at various times in our history, and learn how they reacted to issues important to them.

In the 1960’s a number of Nazareth students responded to the call to join President Kennedy’s Peace Corps.  We have some wonderful letters in the archives written by volunteers from overseas.

The Gleaner also documents how students perceived the Vietnam War, national elections, and other events over the years.  On a lighter note, they also wondered if the library was open late enough!

The Gleaner also offers glimpses of historical fashion: a Nazareth coed even made national news when chosen as one of the nation’s best dressed in 1963!

So if you have a moment, check out The Gleaner. Having such a resource really does give us a chance to peek into past college life, which in many ways was not so different from ours.

If you have any questions, or would like to see The Gleaner and other archival materials in person, please let us know!

Summer in the Library

The library is here to support you in your summer reading and research!

Starting next week we will begin our regular summer hours.

Remember, even when we're not open, all of our electronic resources (including ebooks, journal articles and streaming video) are available online from anywhere with your NazNet ID and password.

Now is a great time to pick up some fun new summer reading!  We have some great bestseller titles available now that there are fewer people on campus.

We also have some fun displays up right now that you might want to take a peek at:  some Commencement-related items from Archives in our basement display, and some gardening books in the browsing lounge (including a number of titles on Frederick Law Olmstead).

The Reference Desk is open year-round, including the summer!  That means we are here to answer any questions you have about using the library, finding resources for your research, or citing sources in your papers.

You can also send us an email anytime and a librarian will get back to you within roughly 24 hours.

And of course, we have quiet and calm study spaces, like our rare book room.  Perfect for summer studying!

Later this summer we will also be introducing a new catalog and discovery system, which will make it easier than ever for you to find books, articles, and more.  Stay tuned for more information!

Some historical graduation photos from the Archives

Commencement is just around the corner!  There is no better time to look back on some Nazareth College commencement photos from years past.  They are presented here in chronological order.

1928

1929

1937

Class of 1938

1930's (exact date unknown)

1940's Grads Looking to the Future

1957 Nursing Capping Ceremony

2013

2013

2013

2014

2014

All photos courtesy of Lorette Wilmot Library Archives.  Contact answers.naz.edu for more information.