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Special Collections & Archives (SCA), in the Z. Smith Reynolds Library, recently completed a very successful year, 2014-2015. Here is a brief listing of accomplishments and activities. For further information, please contact Tanya Zanish-Belcher, Director: zanisht@wfu.edu

Departmental Accomplishments:

Stephanie Bennett joined SCA as the Department’s new Collections Archivist. Her responsibilities focus on collections management, accessioning, and processing collections.

Preservation Librarian Craig Fansler completed a conservation assessment of the SCA Folio Collection. He reviewed nearly 3,000 oversized volumes, making recommendations in regards to their physical condition and need for conservation work or rehousing.

Conservator Claudia Walpole visited the Department, and assessed SCA’s Philomathesian banner, named an Endangered Artifact by the North Carolina Preservation Consortium.

Funded by a National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assessment Grant, consultant Thomas Wilsted visited SCA to assess its facilities and make recommendations for the future.

SCA began an oral history project for the History of Wake Forest University, and the following individuals were interviewed: Tim Auman, Sandra Boyette, Leon Corbett, Herman Euré, Sam Gladding, Beth Hopkins, Bill Leonard, Tom Mullen, Barbee Oakes, Jenny Puckett, Margaret (Peggy) Smith, Harold Tedford, and Ken Zick.

Religion in North Carolina, a 3-year LSTA Grant with Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, was completed. Megan Mulder, Special Collections Librarian, was the Principle Investigator.

Working with Michele Gillespie, Presidential Endowed Professor of Southern History, SCA collaborated on the St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church 75th Anniversary Project. St. Benedict (Winston-Salem) is organizing a number of events for the anniversary of its founding, including the creation of an archives, collecting of materials, and oral history interviews with members of the congregation. A web site is currently being developed, with additional resources available.

Collections:

SCA accepted 80 donations of materials, from a wide variety of donors, including Baptist churches in North Carolina, Wake Forest University offices, the Alliance of Baptists, Mac Bryan (the Bryan family), Ed Christman, Andy Heck, Doris Walters and books donated by Jan Hensley, Jonathan Mandelbaum, and J. Daniel Vann.

Books cataloged and records updated: 21,126 by Cataloging Assistant, Beth Tedford

Archives collections processed: 207 linear ft.

Collections digitized by ZSR Digital Initiatives and UNC-CH NC Digital Heritage Center: Baptist Biographical Files; University Photographs; Wake Forest Student (10 years)

Public Outreach:

SCA hosted 41 classes and groups, totaling 649 students. SCA Instructors include Megan Mulder, Rebecca Petersen, and Tanya Zanish-Belcher.

SCA answered 634 reference questions, provided 1,926 scanned reproductions for patrons, and hosted 779 visitors to the Research Room (Room 625, Z. Smith Reynolds Library). SCA continued its efforts on Social Media, including 26 blog posts, 118 tweets, 296 followers, and 120 other posts. This work was coordinated by Rebecca Petersen, Public Services Archivist.