News and more from ZSR’s Special Collections & Archives
Of the five Christmas books that Charles Dickens published in the 1840s, the first, A Christmas Carol (1843), is by far the most famous. The following year Dickens came out with The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. Although the book sold well... Continue reading “Rare Book of the Month: The Chimes: A Goblin Story, by Charles Dickens” ›
The new Documentary Film program at WFU has proved to be a natural match for our archival collections. Students from Dr. Cara Pilson’s graduate research seminar and first year seminar have frequented Special Collections for instruction and research this semester. The FYS: History Through the Lens of Documentary Film students, pictured above, are working on... Continue reading “Wake Forest History on Film” ›
Over 200 audio files of A.R. Ammons reading his poetry are now available in ZSR;s newest digital collection, the A. R. Ammons Audio Collection (http://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/jspui/handle/10339/30030). The first and longest set of readings were performed in 1975 and professionally recorded under the auspices of Thomas F. Gossett, former professor of English at Wake Forest University, and... Continue reading “ZSR Special Collections Makes Over 200 Audio Recordings of Ammons Reading His Poetry Available Online” ›
*Note: most of this post is duplicated at the ZSR Professional Development blog. From 10 am this morning until 3 pm this afternoon, Z. Smith Reynolds Library was inhabited by 50 excited archivists and librarians (from across the state and as far away as Texas) to learn about Archivists’ Toolkit. The workshop, sponsored by the... Continue reading “Hosting the NCLA Archivists’ Toolkit Workshop” ›
According to the May 7, 1927 Old Gold and Black, available in DSpace, the incoming Freshman class of 1927 was the largest class to date, with 118 men. They expected respect. What they got was the traditional treatment by the upperclassmen, including hazing and freshman rules. The “Freshman-Sophomore Smoker” was a men’s meeting group where... Continue reading “Freshman-Sophomore Smoker” ›
I have gone through every folded poster in the Hoffman collection. There are numerous duplicates, but many really nice surprises. The majority of the posters were from engagements in France by “The Hoffman Girls.” Almost none of the posters have a year (with the exception of one 1911 and one 1934). These posters range in... Continue reading “Gertrude Hoffman Theater Posters – the totality” ›
I have made a very interesting discovery while accessioning the 1937 Howler “markup” from Charlotte Engraving Company, Charlotte, NC. Perusing the hairstyles and facial expressions of the male graduates of the senior class of 1937, I came across the angelic face of a young woman, Ruth Pritchard of Wake Forest, North Carolina. According to the... Continue reading “Who Is Ruth Pritchard, B.A.?” ›
We are proud to announce the Theater Actor Prints and Photographs Collection, representing early stage and film actors and actresses, performers, directors, and royalty from the 1880s through the 1930s. The collection includes engravings, etchings, prints, cabinet photographs, cartes-de-visite, postcards, and other photographic materials from England and the United States. The collection includes actors such... Continue reading “Theater Actor Prints & Photographs Now Online!” ›
We are proud to announce the Theater Actor Prints and Photographs Collection, representing early stage and film actors and actresses, performers, directors, and royalty from the 1880s through the 1930s. The collection includes engravings, etchings, prints, cabinet photographs, cartes de visite, and other photographic materials from England and the United States. The collection includes actors... Continue reading “Theater Actor Prints & Photographs Now Online!” ›
While re-housing the William Gaston Simmons Papers, one of our students discovered this small piece of Wake Forest’s past: This receipt from Simmons, the former Bursar, notes payment for tuition, room rent, and servant hire for Spring Term, 1872. Total cost: $3.00. Continue reading “Tuition in 1872” ›