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Announcing ArchivesSpace!

The Msgr. William Noè Field Archives & Special Collections Center at Walsh Library is excited to announce the launch of its new searchable archival database, ArchivesSpace.

ArchivesSpace searchable database

Researchers can now use ArchivesSpace to discover what the Center has in its holdings. Digital archival content will be available through ArchivesSpace in the coming months.

Begin your ArchivesSpace search!

Browse our digital collections!

Archives News: Conservation of Notes on the State of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson

The Archives and Special Collections Center recently had conservation work performed on some important pieces from the collection. One of these is a 1787 edition of Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia. This edition was the first English-language edition of the text that was made widely available. (Its very first printing in 1785 was a small run of only 200 copies, which Jefferson distributed himself to friends and colleagues.) Notes on the State of Virginia was the only one of Jefferson’s books to be published in his lifetime, under his supervision. The copy held by the Archives and Special Collections Center still contains the fold-out maps and tables, which were frequently removed from this type of work in the past and are rarely found intact.

Notes on the State of Virginia before treatment, showing the fold out map settled at a slight angle and damage to the leaves, especially near the bottom of the spine.
Notes on the State of Virginia before treatment, showing the fold out map settled at a slight angle and damage to the leaves, especially near the bottom of the spine.
Notes on the State of Virginia after treatment, showing the leaves and cover attachment mended and the map re-attached to sit correctly in the volume.
Notes on the State of Virginia after treatment, showing the leaves and cover attachment mended and the map re-attached to sit correctly in the volume.

While the book is overall well-preserved, at 230 years old it was in need of some conservation treatment in order to make it stable enough for handling and display. In particular, the leather covers were desiccated and especially worn around the corners. The covers had detached from the text block, and were reattached at some point in the past with black cloth tape. These types of repairs can often do more damage than good, and in this case the tape had discolored the leather on the spine and left adhesive residue. The large map at the front of the volume had a tear running from its attachment to the text block to its first vertical fold, and many of the pages had small tears, creases, and surface staining. To address these issues, we took the volume to the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) in Philadelphia.

Damage caused by the use of adhesive tape to reattach the book's covers.
Damage caused by the use of adhesive tape to reattach the book’s covers.

Conservators at CCAHA used a variety of techniques to correct the condition issues while preserving as much of the original binding as possible. The desiccated leather was consolidated—a technique in which a solution is used to penetrate the leather and adhere the leather fibers together. The black tape was removed from the book’s spine along with the spine leather, which was too damaged to salvage. The spine was then cleaned and re-covered with new leather dyed to match the existing covers. New endbands, additional sewing supports at the top and bottom of the spine, were also added to match the style of the old ones. They surface-cleaned accumulated dirt from the pages and mended the tear in the fold-out map. The covers were humidified and flattened, then re-attached to the text block. A custom clamshell-type box was created for the book, using archival materials.

Before treatment: abraded covers and amateur tape repair.
Before treatment: abraded covers and amateur tape repair.
After treatment: leather consolidated and spine repaired, with the leather toned to match the new material to the original covers.
After treatment: leather consolidated and spine repaired, with the leather toned to match the new material to the original covers.

Now that the volume has undergone treatment, the book can be handled and displayed without fear of causing further damage to the volume. Since care was taken to match the original materials and style, the repairs made to the binding keep the original character of the volume while greatly improving the book’s stability. With these measures, we will be able to have this treasure of American history in our collection for the next 230 years!

The Newark Uprising of 1967 – An Exhibit Overview and Resource Leads

The Advocate_Newark RiotingThis period of civil unrest occurred between July 12 and July 17, 1967, was a protest by African-American residents in response to various discriminatory practices.  The causes associated with this event can be traced back through a long history of uneasy relations between lawmakers, law enforcement, and local citizens.  As Dr. Larry Greene, Professor of History notes in regard to the Newark Uprising that it “was a result of a city administration following a policy of exclusion from Newark civic life, denial of black input into public policy decisions, and the creation of a profound sense of disillusionment with the new northern promise land.”  This frustration manifested itself in regular cases of racial profiling, lack of political representation, lack of meaningful job opportunities, and an overall state of economic and social poverty that led to the events of July 1967.

A history of prior police-citizen confrontations became a regular source of concern.  Dr. Greene further stated that “for the 1967 Newark riot . . .  African-Americans were arrested and physically mistreated by the police (including the deaths of Lester Long, Bernard Rich, and Walter Mathis between 1965-1967) prior to the arrest of John Smith. It should be noted in the exhibit that a pattern existed in Newark, as in other cities, of police mistreatment of African Americans which contributed to Newark uprising.” With this historical context in mind, the spark for the events of mid-July came when a pair of white Newark policemen, John DeSimone and Vito Pontrelli, arrested an African-American cabdriver, John Weerd Smith who drove past their double parked police cars after signaling for a lane change.  He was stopped, arrested, beaten, and charged with assault of a police officer.  Witnesses recounted that an injured Smith was dragged into a local station house and his lawyer secured release from the jail later that evening.  However, rumors spread that Smith was killed while in custody, which resulted in a series of bricks, bottles, and other objects being thrown at the station building.  This also led others to protest at City Hall, set off fire alarms, or attack local businesses on Belmont Avenue and the vicinity.  Police in riot gear responded to these demonstrations, but this only led to further confrontations over the next few days.

The following day, a group of rioters broke all of the windows of other police stations and further defacement was reported on Springfield Avenue, the main shopping district in the African-American section of Newark at the time.  This was succeeded by other acts of protest, including destruction of property, theft, and bloodshed that resulted in a call to the New Jersey State Police and the National Guard who were enlisted to help restore the peace.  Gradually, the uprising was suppressed, but not before resulting in a total of 26 dead, 727 wounded, 1,500 arrests, and over $10 million ($73.3 million = 2017 dollars) in property damage.

This exhibit will be on display on the first floor of Walsh Library through the Spring of 2017 features various published articles from the Archives & Special Collections Center at Seton Hall University including a number of examples from our 1967 Newark Riots Newsclippings Collection (1967-1987).  The display attempts to show the story of this conflict from different media perspectives and illustrates the importance of remembering this protest and its powerful legacy.  There are several resources available that provides more detail on the Newark Uprising.  For further information please consult the following select list of websites for more details and perspectives about the Newark Uprising of 1967 . . .

After The Riots: The Search For Answers (Los Angeles Times)

40 Years On,  Newark Re-Examines Painful Riot Past (National Public Radio)

49 Years Later . . . (nj.com)

Newark Riot 1967 (Black Past)

Siegel, Kimberly – Silent No Longer: Voices of the 1967 Newark Race Riots (University of Pennsylvania)

Spahn, Jule (Newark Memories)

For more about the exhibit and additional information leads in relation to the Newark Uprising contact Alan Delozier, Education Coordinator at – <archives@shu.edu> or (973) 275-2378.

Acknowledgements – Thank you to Dr. Mary Balkun, Professor of English; Dr. Larry Greene, Professor of History; and Dr. Vanessa May, Professor of History for their contributions to this project.

Women of Setonia 1937 – Ever Forward . . .

Women of SetoniaThis year marks the 80th anniversary since Women first attended lectures or taught courses at Seton Hall.  These trailblazers were part of the now defunct Urban Division established by then College President Monsignor James F. Kelley who provided a more inclusive educational experience for all qualified applicants.  Women became a fixture in the classroom from the start of the Spring 1937 semester onward at the extension schools in Newark or Jersey City.  In addition, students could opt to attend Summer School on the South Orange campus which served as a prelude to full Co-Education that began here in 1968 and has grown ever stronger to this day.  This exhibit showcases documentation from the Seton Hall University Archives & Special Collections Center in order to show the historical evolution and contributions made by the Women of Setonia from its origins onward.

This new Extension Division was conducted under the provisions of the original Seton Hall College Charter of 1861.  From here, the first catalog(ue) and press coverage came soon thereafter to provide details of the educational plan that awaited the 321 new students and recently hired faculty that included Professors Blanche Mary Kelly (English), Dorothy I. Mulgrave (English), Mary C. Powers (History), and Aileen Reilly (English) among other instructors hired by the school. Mary Grace Dougherty was the first acknowledged co-ed, but she shared this distinction with others who attended the Newark (St. Patrick’s School) during the Spring of 1937.  This also included those who enrolled at the Summer School held in South Orange and/or those on site in both Newark or Jersey City (St. John’s School) from the Fall of 1937 over the next few decades.  The first graduates of the Urban Seton Hall's first co-ed, interviewed by The SetonianDivision were recognized during commencement exercises held in June of 1938.  Counted among those who received diplomas at this ceremony include: Virginia Farrell (Hoboken), Gertrude Isaacson (Bayonne), Catherine Netzel (Irvington), and Rita Murphy (Jersey City) [Pictured on the Right] who went on to be connected to Seton Hall for many years to come.

Women continued to succeed in the Urban Division through the 1940s-1960s in a wide range of fields from Academics to Nursing to Law and others.  Co-Education came in full to the South Orange campus in 1968 and from this point onward success has been proven through the student body, faculty, administrators, and alumni who have contributed to the benefit of the Seton Hall University community continue to make a difference.  The full exhibit will be on view in the Archives & Special Collections Center Reading Room from January-March, 2017.  For more information please feel free to contact Alan Delozier, University Archivist via e-mail at: <Alan.Delozier@shu.edu> or by phone: (973) 275-2378

Adopt a Book: I fioretti di S. Francesco

The Archives and Special Collections Center is launching a new Adopt a Book program! This program gives donors the opportunity to contribute to the conservation of specific items from our collection that interest them. Each month, we will feature a different adoptable book here on our blog. To learn more about the program, or to make a donation, please visit our Adopt a Book page.

I fioretti di S. Francesco, Il can del sole, Le considerazioni svlle stimmate by Duilio Cambellotti, 1926

I fioretti di S. Francesco translates to Little Flowers of St. Francis. It is a collection of readings about St. Francis, compiled by an unknown author in the 14th century. The Archives and Special Collections Center holds a 1926 copy of Little Flowers that is one of a limited run of the text which features illustrations and covers created by Italian Art Nouveau artist Duilio Cambellotti. The distinctive wooden front cover is milled to give it a curving shape, and is inset with metal decoration. Striking, brightly colored illustrations depict scenes from the text.

Wooden front cover with metal inset design.
Wooden front cover with metal inset design.

Duilio Cambellotti was born in Rome in 1876. He originally studied accounting, but soon turned to the arts. He became involved in many aspects of the arts, including painting, sculpture, theater, and design, and was influential in the Italian Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movements. Cambellotti was especially well known for his Art Nouveau style illustrations and his furniture design.

Illustration depicting St. Francis surrounded by animals and nature.
Illustration depicting St. Francis surrounded by animals and nature.

The Archives’ copy of I fioretti is in need of conservation work to repair damage to the spine resulting from stress on the heavy wooden cover, and mending of minor tears and losses to the leaves of the volume. You can help support the conservation of this important work! Any donation toward preservation of this rare volume would be gratefully accepted. To donate, please visit our Adopt a Book page.

The Leab Legacy at the Archives & Special Collections Center

The staff of the Archives and Special Collections Center were saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Emeritus Daniel J. Leab. Dr. Leab had a great impact on the University, devoting thirty years to Seton Hall’s History Department and serving as founder and director of the University’s Multi-Cultural Program.

Daniel J. Leab, By Aboudaqn (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Daniel J. Leab via Wikimedia Commons
Dr. Leab was a strong supporter of the Library and the Archives. In 2015 he donated a collection of his research materials to the Archives and Special Collections Center. The collection consists of books, publications, and photocopied material relating to his varied research interests, which included the Cold War, American communism, the American Labor movement, the history of the FBI and the CIA, and the history of film. Notable in the collection is a nearly complete run of House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) reports, including reports on the controversial Hollywood investigations.

Dr. Leab’s contributions to the Archives are just one way that his legacy will live on at Seton Hall. To learn more, view the list of books and the finding aid for the collection.

Adopt a Book this Giving Tuesday!

This Giving Tuesday, consider making a gift to support the conservation of rare books in our collections. Our new Adopt a Book program gives donors the opportunity to contribute to the conservation of specific items from the collection that interest them. Adopting a book is a great way to honor a loved one or commemorate an occasion while supporting the preservation of rare materials for generations to come. To learn more about the program or to make a donation, please visit our Adopt a Book page.

Primo volume dell’vso et fabbrica dell’astrolabio, et de planisferio by Ignazio Danti, 1578

Ignazio Danti (1536-1586) was an Italian priest, astronomer, mathematician, and cosmographer. Born to a wealthy family in Perugia, Italy, he grew up surrounded by artists and scholars. His father and grandfather were both architects and engineers, and his older brother Vincenzo Danti became a famous sculptor.

Raised in an environment that fostered his love of science and mathematics, Danti went on to make significant contributions to those fields. At the age of 18, he entered the Dominican Order and began studying philosophy and theology, but also continued learning about mathematics, astronomy, and cartography.

danti_illustration_cropped_blog
Illustration from Primo volume dell’vso et fabbrica dell’astrolabio, et de planisferio

In 1562, he moved from Perugia to a monastery in Florence and began to work on many scientific and cosmographic projects. He painted maps and globes, created architectural plans for various buildings, and published over a dozen scientific treatises. These include Trattato del’uso e della fabbrica dell’astrolabio which was the first Italian work on the astrolabe, an early scientific instrument that enabled astronomers to calculate the position of the Sun and prominent stars with respect to both the horizon and the meridian.

danti-cover_cropped_blog
Front cover of Primo volume dell’vso et fabbrica dell’astrolabio, et de planisferio, showing losses and water damage.

The Archives and Special Collections Center holds a rare copy of Primo volume dell’vso et fabbrica dell’astrolabio, an expansion of Danti’s first work on the astrolabe. This important work is an early example of instruction in the use of scientific instruments in Italian, and it provided an important resource for Italian astronomers. This copy is in need of conservation treatment to clean and repair its leaves, replace its badly damaged cover, and reinforce its binding. You can help support the conservation of this important work! Any donation toward preservation of this rare volume would be gratefully accepted. To donate, please visit our Adopt a Book page.

United Nations, UNA-USA, and Archives & Special Collections Center Celebrate New Book

wurst-coverThe Archives & Special Collections Center is proud to announce the publication of a new book by Jim Wurst entitled: The UN Association-USA: A Little Known History of Advocacy and Action (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2016) which drew in large measure upon resources within UNA-USA Papers  located within our repository combined with research collaboration efforts made with the Whitehead School of Diplomacy on campus.  The timing of the book is opportune as the United Nations proper has passed its 70th anniversary since the ratification of its Charter on October 24, 1945.

The UNA-USA itself is an  organization and advocacy group which supports initiatives dealing with Human Rights and connections to the General Assembly along with the establishment of local chapters nationwide to support their mission which states: “We are dedicated to educating, inspiring and mobilizing Americans to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system and achieving the goals of the United Nations Charter.”  The issue of international welfare combined with historical preservation offers our research community the opportunity to learn more about how the UNA-USA developed over time and continues to move forward into is seventh decade of activity.

For more information about our collection related to the new book and/or further details about the UNA-USA Papers please feel free to contact us at: Alan.Delozier@shu.edu / (973) 275-2378.

Easter Rising Commemoration Conference at Setonia

Who fears to speak of Easter WeekSeton Hall University is hosting a one-day conference in honor of the centenary of the Easter Rising (Éirí Amach na Cásca) which signified a major milestone in the history of Irish independence. Panelists will explore the history, personalities, music, art, and theatre that defined this pivotal event in the Irish experience, and its impact worldwide. Speakers include historian Lorcan Collins, author of Easter 1916 and 1916 The Rising Handbook, who will give the keynote, prize-winning Irish poet Micheal O’Siadhail, and other noted experts in the field. The program will conclude with a performance of excerpts from Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars by Professor Daniel Yates and troupe of Seton Hall student performers prior to a day ending reception.

This event will take place on Friday, October 21st starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Chancellor’s Suite, Student Center on the campus of Seton Hall University. For more information about the conference, schedule, and other details please consult the research guide below.

For additional information about educational resources related to the Easter Rising and Irish History found at Seton Hall University please consult the following Research Guide for more information.

Admission is Free of Charge. For More Information and to Pre-Register Contact: Alan Delozier, University Archivist at alan.delozier@shu.edu or (973) 275-2378.

irish-flag

Archives and Special Collections + University Weekend Activity Map . . .

Bob DaviesIn the spirit and long established tradition of celebrating homecoming at Setonia (more commonly known as Seton Hall University Weekend), the Archives & Special Collections Center is partnering with organizers of this event to commemorate milestone events in school history for those in attendance.  With this in mind, here is an overview of various historical-inspired highlights that will connect our place with students, parents, alumni, and other special visitors who will be in South Orange to personally enjoy the sights, sounds, and commemorative aspects of campus from Friday, September 23rd-Sunday, September 25th in particular . . .

On Friday, September 23rd from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Team Film Room (located on the lower level of the Athletic Center) you are welcome to join author Mr. Barry Marin who has written a book on Bob Davies, the first All-American athlete in Setonia history who Mr. Martin will discuss in a talk entitled: “Bob Davies:  Superstar of Seton Hall’s Golden Age of Basketball.”  A great deal of research on his book was conducted via our various student and sports-oriented collections on site.  From his findings, Mr. Martin has outlined the focus of his book on Davies and his times in conjunction with the significance our alumnus brought to the game of basketball in the following manner:

“Seton Hall College was a major basketball power in the early and mid-1940s.  The “Wonder Five” team won 43-consecutive games – the sixth longest winning streak in NCAA Division I history. The “Mighty Midgets” won 28 games in a row – the second longest streak in Seton Hall basketball history.  The connecting link between these great teams was Bob Davies, Class of 1942, who Sports Illustrated has recognized as one of eight of the most influential players in the first century of college basketball – a list that included Bill Bradley (Princeton) and Patrick Ewing (Georgetown).  Setonian Davies introduced the behind-the-back dribble, pioneered the penetration and transition styles of play, and created several innovative passes.  His Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame plaque identifies him as the “first Super Star of Modern Professional Basketball.”  The colorful Pirate was such a draw that Walsh Gymnasium (now the Pirates women basketball team’s home court) was initially known as “the House that Bob built.”  Moreover, he was a genuine sports hero-role model. Author Clair Bee used him as the prototype for the character Chip Hilton in 23 juvenile fiction books.  During the 1946-47 basketball season, Davies accomplished a remarkable feat that no NBA player will ever duplicate.  He was league MVP for the Rochester (NY) Royals (now Sacramento Kings) and coached the Seton Hall “Mighty Midgets” to a 24-3 record.  One of the losses was by one point to the Holy Cross Crusaders who won the NCAA Tournament.”

Along with hearing his talk, Mr. Martin will have copies of the book – Bob Davies: A Basketball Legend, (Rochester, NY: RIT Press, 2016) available for purchase and reading at the event courtesy of the University Bookstore.  In addition, a special exhibit on the Setonia connections to Davies has been created in conjunction and cooperation with the Walsh Library Gallery.  A window box display (located in Walsh Library facing the Recreation Center) featuring various artifacts and items from the University Archives Collection have been assembled in honor of this talk and launch of the book.  This exhibit will be up through the entire month of September into October.

special attractionsPrior to this talk, parents visiting campus are invited to join a historical tour of the University Grounds as part of a program entitled: “Campus Then and Now” which will take place on Friday, September 23rd from 2:00-3:00 p.m. starting in the Rotunda of Walsh Library.  This fun and informative stroll around campus will involve a historical overview of the school and detailed descriptions of campus architecture and significance of physical plant development over the years.   For more information on the tour and to register please consult the Seton Hall Weekend website .

Alumni and Student Life in particular are also being celebrated that weekend, and in recognition of the times and legacy of the Golden Pirates of 1966, a display case exhibit showing various items representing the anniversary of this class and their activities at Setonia can be found on the First Floor of Walsh Library (opposite the stairwell) near the entrance to the Archives & Special Collections Center.  Featured is collage of various illustrations showcasing special programs, snapshots, athletic information, student activities, and even the annual Galleon and “April Fool’s Edition” of The Setonian for that year.  This case will be available for view throughout University Weekend.

More information on the full schedule and overview of programming to take place on University Weekend and to register for different events please visit their main site. For more information on the talks, displays, and other questions involving school traditions please feel free to contact University Archivist, Alan Delozier via e-mail at: Alan.Delozier@shu.edu or by phone: (973) 275-2378 for more information.  Enjoy the event and activities ahead!