Special Collections & Archives

News and more from ZSR’s Special Collections & Archives

Creating Clamshell Boxes for Samuel Wait

In October, 2015, I attended a Clamshell Box-making workshop at Cat Tail Bindery in Winchester, Virginia. The workshop was excellent and immediately useful. When I returned, Tanya gave me six books that once belonged to Samuel Wait and asked me to make boxes for them. This provided a great opportunity to go over what I... Continue reading “Creating Clamshell Boxes for Samuel Wait”

Closing soon: What’s in a Name? The Legacy of Ed Christman

The Special Collections & Archives exhibit “What’s in a Name? The Legacy of Ed Christman” will be closing on March 29. The exhibit charts the life and work of longtime Chaplain Christman, who matriculated at Wake Forest College in 1947 and worked for the University for most of his life in various capacities, from Baptist... Continue reading “Closing soon: What’s in a Name? The Legacy of Ed Christman”

Locating Primary Sources Through ArchiveGrid

Archives and primary resources are more important than ever for historical research and instruction. But key to utilizing these unique resources is locating the repository where they are located, in order to visit or to access digitized content online. As many institutions have limited resources for caring and preserving collections and records, many archives rely... Continue reading “Locating Primary Sources Through ArchiveGrid”

Orlando Furioso in English Heroical Verse, by Sir John Harington (1607)

The Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto’s epic Orlando Furioso first appeared in print exactly 500 years ago. Taking inspiration from the French Chanson de Roland, Ariosto recounted the fantastic adventures of one of Charlemagne’s knights, Roland (Orlando) and his associates. The main stories concern Orlando, who has been driven mad by his unrequited love for the... Continue reading “Orlando Furioso in English Heroical Verse, by Sir John Harington (1607)”

Elizabeth Rivers, An English Artist in Ireland

This installment of Irish Ink is introducing Dolmen Press artist, Elizabeth Rivers. Rivers contributed a number of illustrations to the Dolmen Press oeuvre, which ZSR Library Special Collections and Archives is proud to house. Elizabeth Joyce Rivers was born in Little Pennys, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire on August 5, 1903. She was English, not Irish, which was... Continue reading “Elizabeth Rivers, An English Artist in Ireland”

Color Our Collections

Inspired by the recent popularity of coloring books for grownups, the New York Academy of Medicine is sponsoring Color Our Collections week. Libraries all over the country — including ZSR Special Collections & Archives — are offering free, printable scans of their illustrated materials for your coloring pleasure. ZSR’s coloring pages are available in a #ColorOurCollections... Continue reading “Color Our Collections”

African American Poetry Pamphlets

In honor of Black History Month, ZSR Special Collections & Archives has opened a tabletop exhibit of selected items from our African American poetry pamphlets collection. Purchased by ZSR Special Collections in 1994, this collection of over 300 books, pamphlets, and broadsides was assembled by an anonymous collector. The bulk of the collection dates from... Continue reading “African American Poetry Pamphlets”

Special Collections & Archives acquires the George McLeod Bryan Papers

Special Collections & Archives is excited to announce the acquisition of the papers of longtime Religion professor and civil rights activist George McLeod (Mac) Bryan (1920-2010). Our collection, totaling more than 10 linear feet, contains correspondence, course materials, subject files, writings, artifacts, photographs, and other items that document Bryan’s teaching, preaching, and civil rights activism.... Continue reading “Special Collections & Archives acquires the George McLeod Bryan Papers”

Report on Meteorology to the Secretary of the Navy, by James P. Espy (1850)

Weather forecasts are something that we take for granted in the 21st century. Most of us don’t give much thought to the science behind our weather apps, websites, or 24-hour television channels. But in fact the science of meteorology is a fairly recent one. Two hundred years ago there was very little understanding of the... Continue reading “Report on Meteorology to the Secretary of the Navy, by James P. Espy (1850)”

Wake Forest Oral History Project

In 2013, Special Collections & Archives began an oral history program to more fully capture the varied experiences of the Wake Forest community. The goals are: To better document those who have been traditionally underrepresented To capture unique perspectives across the Wake Forest community To fully engage the participants as part of Wake Forest history... Continue reading “Wake Forest Oral History Project”