Nancy Drew – Girl Detective and Cultural Icon

If you have not had a chance to get by the Nancy Drew exhibit in the Jackson Library Lobby – please do so!

Perhaps more than any other book series, the Nancy Drew mysteries have captured the hearts and imagination of generations of young adults. First published in the 1930s, the books featured the adventures of the independent, plucky daughter of widowed attorney Carson Drew. With her best pals Beth Marvin and George Fayne in tow, Nancy Drew constantly finds herself in the middle of thrilling mysteries which were inevitably solved by the last chapter. The first three books were published in April 1930 and The Secret of the Old Clock, The Hidden Staircase, and The Mystery of Lilac Inn were immediate successes. By the seventh installment, Ned Nickerson is introduced as Nancy’s love interest, often tagging along on her adventures.

Nancy Drew Exhibit!

Originally penned by Mildred Benson under the pseudonym of Carolyn Keene, later volumes were ghostwritten by various other authors, keeping a relatively consistent style. Through the many decades of publication, Nancy and her friends saw numerous updates. In the first books, Nancy sported pearls and pumps and drove a “roadster.” By the 2000s, her look was modernized and she drove a hybrid electric car and handily used her cell phone for quick calls and information queries. These updates have been reflected not only in the style of the characters, but also the framework of the books. In 2003, publishers Simon & Schuster concluded the format of the original series and featured her character in the new series, Girl Detective. By 2013, the publishers again changed the format of the books into The Dairies, further updating the character and her adventures.

The enduring worldwide appeal of Nancy Drew has been a result of engaging plot-lines and characters, as well as the successful marketing of the brand through the decades. Lunch boxes, cookbooks, games, and paper dolls have kept the characters active and relevant. This exhibit reflects the popularity of the Nancy Drew franchise by incorporating books and artifacts from the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives!

A MLIS Graduate Student’s Perspective: Interning with UNCG’s Special Collection and University Archives

During my final semester in the Masters of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program at UNCG, I chose to do my practicum with the Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA). My educational background is in humanities (especially art and philosophy), so I already had a love for history, cultural heritage, manuscripts, and so forth. I was also impressed and curious after hearing a number of SCUA staff give presentations and talks to some of my classes. Kathelene McCarty Smith (Instruction and Outreach Archivist and SCUA practicum supervisor) greatly helped me - through class presentations and personal meetings - to recognize my passion and calling to do archival/special collections work. The SCUA team at UNCG has been very successful in promoting and implementing instructional outreach. This is done through a creative combination of interactive lessons (instruction in primary source, information, and digital literacies), exhibits, blogs, and social media posts, among other methods.

 

The exhibit required me to conduct archival research
with primary sources (photographs, textual documents, artifacts),
as well as digital materials (digitized facsimiles and born-digital files)

After meeting with my LIS and SCUA supervisors, we decided upon an exhibit project which would both meet my learning objectives (in research, instruction, and outreach) and fit into the semester’s time frame. The project involved highlighting the history of library education at UNCG; the pop-up exhibit itself was showcased for the occasion of the LIS department’s re-accreditation at the end of March. The practicum required 120 hours of work experience for the semester. Generally, my time was divided into research, digitization, selection of materials, and constructing, arranging, and displaying the exhibit. My practicum also included chronicling the exhibit’s preparation processes. Thankfully, my efforts were able to add upon and pull from the in-depth research already conducted by Professor James V. Carmichael Jr.

A curated exhibit is a perfect example of outreach fused with instruction.
It is outreach because of the aesthetic advocacy of collections and services, and it
is instruction through conveying narrative (interpretation) and description (metadata).

Of course, there are highlights to share from my learning experiences. First, archival research is both satisfying and exciting; it requires an investigative and nuanced mode of inquiry into both primary sources (photographs, textual documents, artifacts), as well as digital materials (digitized facsimiles and born-digital files).  The finding aid for the LIS Department Records guided much of my research and led me from concepts and collection descriptions to the access of the actual sources and items. Second, there is creativity in archival instruction and outreach (including curation); it requires an improvisational touch because of variable audiences, timelines, resources, and space limitations. There is also an aesthetic component as the arrangement and display of an exhibit contributes to the narrative in a visual and tactile way. Third, as archivists select, arrange, and narrate their research, they become influential storytellers. Fourth, refining my archival-library writing skills has been vital; it has required my documentation and description to be clear, succinct, and functional (in communicating relevant information and the significance of collections and services).

My SCUA experience has given the confidence and perspectives necessary to continue learning and growing into the profession! In the future, I am looking forward to performing reference services, creating finding aids, conducting and transcribing oral history interviews, and planning literacy lessons.

Anthony Arcangeli - UNCG SCUA/LIS - Spring 2018

SCUA is Hiring for Student Employee Positions - Undergraduate and Graduate UNCG Students

 SCUA is currently hiring for the following positions:

Positions Available April 2017

Literary Map - Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives Graduate Student Assistant

Greensboro, North Carolina - On-Campus - Non FWS

Description

The Graduate Assistant/s will be working with the Literary Map of North Carolina (http://library.uncg.edu/dp/nclitmap). This online map reflects North Carolina’s rich literary heritage and serves as a geographic guide to both famous and little-known writers, of any and all literary genres, who were born here, who moved here, who retired here, who were educated here, or who wrote about the area. The works represented on this map include novels, biographies, historical works, poetry, plays, short stories, children’s books, and young adult literature.

The Graduate Assistant/s will be responsible for researching information concerning North Carolina authors and inputting corresponding names and bibliographical information into the Literary Map of North Carolina database and other related projects.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated research skills
• Knowledge of current web technology
• Superior communication skills

How to apply:  Search SpartanCareers

Oral History Transcriber - Women Veterans Historical Project, Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections & University Archives

Greensboro, North Carolina - On-Campus - Non FWS

Description

The Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives department within University Libraries is seeking to hire a motivated and resourceful individual to assist in the transcribing, researching, and editing of oral histories. The successful candidate is expected to work 8 hours per week and directly report to the curator of the Women Veterans Historical Project and the Assistant Dean.

Job Description:
Successful candidate will edit, research, and transcribe audio interviews from the department’s Women Veterans Historical Project and University Oral History Collection. These interviews were collected on audio tapes and digital files. The employee will also assist in metadata creation. The focus of this position is to make the oral history collections more accessible to the research community.

Position is available to begin summer 2017.

Responsibilities:
• Transcribe oral history interviews from audio files (using relevant style guide); (60%)
• conduct research in order to add, clarify, correct historical information; (5%)
• edit transcriptions for accuracy; (25%)
• metadata creation: (5%)
• provide weekly updates to supervisor. (5%)

Qualifications

• must be dependable, adaptable, detail oriented, and able to follow instructions;
• excellent keyboarding skills and good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and databases;
• good organizational skills and the ability to multi-task;
• ability to work under own initiative and as part of a small team;
• methodical approach, with an eye for detail and ability to concentrate for long periods;
• ability to handle and respect sensitive and confidential information. 

How to apply:  Search SpartanCareers

Positions Available May 2017

Special Collections, Manuscripts, and University Archives [Jackson Library] Student Assistant Position

Greensboro, North Carolina - On-Campus - Non FWS

Description

The Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives [ http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/ ] at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro relies on the skills and energy of its student employees to perform the necessary work in supporting research and learning.

SCUA currently has openings for students interested in working with University Archives and UNCG-related collections. Positions are available beginning summer 2017.

Student will be working on a variety of projects which may involve Special Collections and University Archives. Duties include, but are not limited to:
• assisting in the organization and inventorying of material which includes but is not limited to Women Veterans Collection, rare books, manuscripts, cello music, and/or artifacts
• labeling processed and unprocessed collections
• packing/unpacking archival records, manuscripts, rare books, cello music, and related materials
• completing additional projects as needed

See our collections here:
Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project: http://libcdm1.uncg.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/WVHP/

Rare Books Collection:
http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/collections/rare_books/index.aspx

Cello Music Collection:
http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/collections/cello/index.aspx

Manuscripts:
http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/collections/manuscripts/index.aspx

University Archives:
http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/collections/university_archives/index.aspx

Qualifications

Student must be dependable, adaptable, detail oriented, able to follow complex instructions, work with diverse colleagues, and lift boxes weighing up to 40 lbs. This position will call for repetitive bending and lifting. The successful candidate will have excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills and familiarity with MS Office software. Library or Archives experiences helpful, but not required. Knowledge of Library of Congress classification system helpful, but training will be provided. Strong interest in archival management, books, the books arts, preservation, history, and violoncello music appreciated and encouraged.

How to apply:  Search SpartanCareers

Positions Available Beginning in August 2017

University Archives and Manuscripts Federal Work Study Student Assistant

Greensboro, North Carolina - Federal Work-Study (FWS)

Description

The Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives [http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/ ] at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro relies on the skills and energy of its student employees to perform the necessary work in supporting research and learning.
Student will be working on a variety of projects including, but not limited to, Manuscripts, University Archives, and the Women Veterans Historical Collection. Duties may include processing and writing finding aids for a backlog of small collections, assisting in the re-organization and inventorying of materials, processing, labeling, sleeving historical photographs, editing and creating abstracts for oral history interviews, and completing additional projects as needed.

Student may interact with researchers and be required to answer basic reference questions or direct them to information resources.

Qualifications

MUST HAVE FEDERAL WORK STUDY AS PART OF FINANCIAL AID. Student must be dependable, adaptable, detail oriented, able to follow complex instructions, work with diverse colleagues, and lift boxes weighing up to 40 lbs. This position will call for repetitive bending and lifting. The
successful candidate will have excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills and familiarity with MS Office software. Library, archives, or museum studies experiences helpful, but not required. Strong interest in preservation and history appreciated and encouraged.

How to apply:  Search SpartanCareers

An Archival Experience

*This blog post was written by Salem Academy student Alexaya McKelvey who spent her January Term working on a project at the University Libraries at UNCG.


For my January Term at Salem Academy, I chose to work with the Special Collections and University Archives and Digital Projects departments within the University Libraries at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). I was required to work for three weeks with six hours per day recorded. I was nervous to find an internship completely independent of my school. Was it going to spark my interest? Would it make me discover a calling I would have never considered before? Would the staff welcome a lowly intern that would only be temporarily remaining in their care? Luckily, the answer to all of these raging questions was yes. When I walked into the doors of the Special Collections and University Archives department, I knew I was where I was meant to be. I was greeted with open arms, bright minds, and thankful hands.

 First meeting with the UNCG librarians, Kathelene Smith and David Gwynn

Growing up in Greensboro, I thought I knew a lot about UNCG. I was in constant attendance on Tate Street. Friends and co-workers had become strong and proud Spartans and continue to do so. Walking into the archives, I thought I was coming in with an advantage. However, I was largely mistaken! Upon further research, I learned many things I had never known. In 1892, the State Normal and Industrial School, now UNCG, was open only to women. The school held amazing pageants and festivals and gave students the opportunity to learn about the subjects women had been denied for centuries. Literary societies maintained a strong hold over the social structure of the students’ lives.

 

Entering metadata for archival images

I learned all of this by researching the history of the school and by participating in various projects. I helped digitize a group of artifacts, ranging from 1876 to 2001, that are related to school literary societies and special occasions on the campus of UNCG. This included photographing pins, necklaces, badges, medals, letters, and even the famous May Day tiara. After taking the photos of the objects, they were uploaded to a hard drive where I organized them into folders with their corresponding identification numbers. I got to work with the Kathelene Smith, the Instruction and Outreach Archivist and David Gwynn, the head of the Digital Projects Department.

Literary Society pin worn by early UNCG student

Though this project was completely out of my comfort zone, I have loved getting to work in the archives and delving into the mysterious and beautiful history of one of Greensboro's oldest women’s colleges. From these discoveries, I have been able to compare them to my own experiences attending a strictly female school. I am so thankful for this opportunity to learn about an essential aspect of a library. I cannot wait to further pursue digital archiving in my upcoming college career!

Sheet music. Recordings. Videos. Personal papers. All stored neatly in rows of boxes — like the warehouse of artifacts at the end of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.”"

Among the top "5 things you didn't know are in Greensboro" the News and Record  included the UNCG Cello Music Collection. You check out the article here:

5 things you didn't know are in Greensboro - Greensboro News & Record: News

Exhibit - Maud Gatewood: Sketches

Maud Florance Gatewood was a widely recognized Southeastern artist and painter. Her most familiar work is known to feature natural landscapes and botanicals as well as figurative designs that depict various aspects of the human experience. Gatewood's artwork currently resides in several public and private collections, including the Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro, NC.

Gatewood was born on January 8, 1934 and raised in Yanceyville, North Carolina. In 1954, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (now The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) and, in 1955, a Master's Degree from Ohio State University.

In 1963, Gatewood was awarded a Fulbright scholarship with which she studied in Austria under Oskar Kokoschka. Also among her awards and recognitions, she received the 1984 North Carolina Award in Fine Arts, the American Academy of Arts and Letters painting award in 1972, and an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from UNCG in 1999.

In addition to painting, Gatewood was also a very active member of her community, elected as the first female member of the Caswell County Board of Commissioners with which she served for several years. She became a faculty member at UNC Charlotte in 1964 and a founding head of the university's Art Department. She passed away November 8, 2004 in Chapel Hill at the age of 70.

This exhibit featuring select drawings from Maud Gatewood's sketchbooks is on display in the Hodges Reading Room from August 31, 2015 to January 31, 2016.

Our exhibit is part of The Maud Gatewood Trail.  Check out this brochure for more locations to see Maud Gatewood's art on display.

A Flair for the Dramatic: Early Campus Theater Productions,1896-1916

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1912

The students of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro claim a rich history of dramatic performance. From the campus’s earliest years as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women, the student body has authored plays, created stage sets, sewn costumes, and performed both male and female roles. The first theatrical performance was County Fair in 1894, and each subsequent year saw an increase in the dramatic repertoire enjoyed by students, faculty, and the public. As there was no drama program at the time, student groups, such as the campus literary societies (predecessors of the modern sorority), the YWCA, specific classes, and the Dramatics Club (beginning in 1912) organized and performed for the pleasure of the campus.

An exhibit featuring photographs of student dramatic productions dating from 1896 to 1916 is on display in the Elliott University Center connector from September 1st until November 1st.

A Portable Likeness: Selected Portrait Miniatures and Their Literary Context

The Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives is pleased to announce a new exhibit in the Hodges Reading Room. A Portable Likeness: Selected Portrait Miniatures and Their Literary Context, features selected portrait miniatures, both in the portable form as well as in a literary context.

Portrait miniatures emerged from the pages of manuscripts and appeared in portable form during the early 16th century. They were originally painted on vellum, card, wood, or copper and were considered a luxury item, often framed in precious metals or jewels. The images were painted with watercolors, oils, and enamels. Ivory became a more popular surface for artists around 1700, but portraits continued to appear on paper and card as well.

The earliest miniatures depicted royalty and were given as signs of favor and patronage. The late 16th century saw loyal, wealthy subjects wearing the images of Queen Elizabeth I of England as a sign of fidelity. Attempting to imitate the royals, members of the nobility began to commission miniature portraits to commemorate births, marriages, deaths, or the long departure of a loved one. By the 18th century, they were widely available to the rising middle class. These portable items were owned and carried by men and women alike, often on rings, in lockets and cases, on chains, and
incorporated into pins, necklaces, bracelets, and hair pieces.  Larger images were often displayed in a cabinet or “treasure room.”  While portrait miniatures usually show only the upper torso of the sitter, hairstyles, hats, and jewelry are often prominently featured and can help date paintings that have no provenance.

This exhibit will be featured in the Hodges Reading Room from May 12 until August 28. The Reading Room is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday