Uncategorized – Page 8 – Special Collections & The Gallery

New Acquisitions in the Archives & Special Collections Center

The Msgr. William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center recently acquired two new rare books:

Ordo Romanvs De Officio Missae, authored by Georg Cassander (1513-1566), was issued with another of Cassander’s works, Litvrgica de ritv et ordine dominicae coenae celebrandae, and sold as a single volume. Working towards the reunification of Catholics and Protestants, Cassander sought common ground in the teachings of the early Church. In his writings, he draws upon the importance of the immutable texts of the Mass, and references ancient, medieval, and modern writers to state his case.

Georg Cassander. Ordo Romanus de officio Missae. Issued with Litvrgica de ritv et ordine dominicae coenae celebrandae. Cologne: Heirs of A. Birckmann, 1561. — Georg Cassander. *Ordo Romanvs de officio Missae*. Issued with *Litvrgica de ritv et ordine dominicae coenae celebrandae*. Cologne: Heirs of A. Birckmann, 1561.

Pacôme’s description of the Cistercian monastery at La Trappe, Description du plan en relief de l’abbaye de la Trappe, features etched illustrations showing exteriors and interiors of the abbey, scenes of daily life, agriculture, communal meals, and the journey of the exiled James II of England. The description was meant to accompany a sixteen-by-fourteen foot scale model of the monastery, commissioned by the Abbot to be presented to Louis XVIII.

Cassander, Georg (1513-1566). Ordo Romanvs De Officio Missae. [Issued with: Litvrgica de ritv et ordine dominicae coenae celebrandae]. Cologne: Heirs of A. Birckmann 1561.

Pacôme, Delorme, frère. fl. 1708. Description Du Plan En Relief De L’Abbaye De La Trappe. Paris: J. Collombat 1708.

Highlights from the Rare Book Collection: Directorium inquisitorum

The Directorium inquisitorum was written by Spanish theologian Nicholas Eymeric (c. 1320-1399), who was appointed grand inquisitor of Aragon in 1357. Intended to be a guide for inquisitors, the Directorium inquisitorum elaborates on hundreds of heresies and prosecution procedures, categories of offenses like witchcraft, as well as the belief system of the Inquisition. It also influenced later texts such as the Malleus maleficarum (Hammer of witches, 1486), and remained an important volume well into the 17^th century.

The text was first printed as early as 1376. This edition, printed in 1578, is the second Italian printing, and third edition overall. It includes commentary by Francesco Pegna (Peña, c. 1540-1612), an Aragonese canonist with connections to the Roman Curia.

Directorium inquisitorum R.P.F. Nicolai Eymerici, … ; Nicolai Eymeric; Frances Peña. Romae: In aedibus pop. rom., 1578.

Recent Finds in the Archives & Special Collections Center

The Msgr. William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center has in its rare book collection a copy of Gratian’s Decretum, with commentary by Bartholomaeus Brixiensis and Johannes Teutonicus Zemeke. This edition was printed in Strassburg by Johann Grüninger in 1484. It is one of the few examples of incunabula in our rare book collection. “Incunabula” are books printed in Europe prior to 1501.

Gratian’s Decretum was first published in the twelfth century as a textbook of canon law. Although the Church never formally recognized it as the official version of canon law, Decretum was widely used in the study of canon law from the mid-twelfth to the early twentieth century. Commonly referred to as the Decretum Gratiani, this text is comprised of excerpts from a variety of authorities, including church councils, papal letters, penitentials, Roman civil law, regulations of Germanic rulers, and the writings of Church fathers. Gratian’s goal was to resolve discrepancies among canons, and organize the vast amount of rules governing the Church into a comprehensible legal system.

Another notable find in the Archives is a proclamation by King George III. The proclamation is dated May 15, 1770. It appears to grant a parcel of land along the Hudson River in Orange County, New York to two disbanded non-commission officers, Archibald Brecken and William Arison, who had served in North America.

King George III was Great Britain’s longest-reigning monarch prior to Queen Victoria, ruling from 1760 to his death in 1820. During his reign he sought to root out political corruption in Britain and enforced unpopular taxes on the American Colonies, which eventually led to the American Revolution.

References:

Brundage, James A. The Medieval Origins of the Legal Profession. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2014. Accessed June 8, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central.

George III. Biography.com. Accessed June 8, 2017

“George III, king of Great Britain and Ireland.” In The Columbia Encyclopedia, by Paul Lagasse, and Columbia University. 7th ed. Columbia University Press, 2017.

Gratianus (12^th century). Decretum. With commentary by Bartholomaeus Brixiensis (c. 1200-1258) and Johannes Teutonicus Zemeke (d. 1245). Printed in Strassburg by Johann Grüninger, 4 Sept. 1484.

Reading Ancient Éire – Oldest Volumes in the Setonia Irish Collection

When it comes to understanding print culture and erudition potential in seventeenth century Ireland this era provided an early look at how published communication would take on deeper and more wide-spread significance over time As scholar Raymond Gillespie noted in his work – Reading Ireland : Print, Reading and Social Change in Early Modern Ireland (Manchester University Press, 2005) he wrote that the early-mid 1600s was a burgeoning and “revolutionary” time in the Irish publishing industry which fit natural learning objectives and needs. In other words . . .

“The conditions of print for instance, instructed their followers how to read the Bible, and lawyers and politicians thought they knew how statutes could best be read. These social, political, economic, institutional and cultural frames which surrounded both reading and printing provide a point of departure in understanding the world of print in early modern Ireland.”

Gillespie went on to note that this was an era when the oral tradition was giving way to a growing print culture. In addition, those of the middle and upper class typically viewed manuscripts as “sources of authority” when it came to the recording and transferal of information as found on the printed page. The status symbol of collecting books was rated high among those who had the means to purchase and preserve them. Gillespie went on to add that . . .

“Books by their ability to spread ideas, in conjunction with manuscripts and the spoken word, could be either socially cohesive or disruptive. They also had another more tangible social attribute since the book as object also had the power to carry a wide range of messages. The collecting of books for display in private libraries, for example, was seen as an indicator of social status. A large library, whether read or not, could act as a sign of learning, or pretention to learning.”

With this context in mind, latter day scribes, publishers, and book collectors have provided the foundation for libraries and related information centers to promote educational support on various levels including that of our Irish texts holdings at Seton Hall University.

Since the early 1950s, the library of noted writer and bibliophile Meagher Joseph (M.J.) MacManus (1888-1951) have been housed on the campus of Seton Hall University. The diversity of the titles collected during his lifetime numbered in the thousands and have been the core of a consolidated Irish-centered collection that actively serves our research community to this day. The vision of MacManus went back centuries and covers a wide-range of subject areas with a particular emphasis on history, biography, political science, and religion among other themes that make up the Irish experience. There were also no limits imposed on how old the books had to be when it came to building his substantial library. With this in mind, the lasting legacy of his bibliography contains volumes dating to the 1600s and leading up to his untimely death during the early 1950s.

Among the three oldest surviving volumes found in our combined Irish collections are ones found in English, French, Latin, and/or Irish with each constituting their own story within a story based on the content and what the seventeenth century reader learned and what remains by way of reference text for the reader of these works. Included are the following examples . . .

Le primer report des cases & matters en ley resolue & adiudge en les Courts del Roy en Ireland [1604-1612], by Sir John Davies and Ireland, Courts, 1^st ed. (Dublin: Iohn Franckton, 1615)

This work was a French language publication and translates to – “A report of cases and matters in law: resolved and adjudged in the King’s Courts in Ireland [1604-1612]” in the English and is a legal review and digest-oriented volume. The monarch who ruled over Ireland during this time period was James I (1566-1625) who reigned over Éire from 1603 until his death two decades later and held jurisdiction over the isle during the time this work came to light. This text was also one of the earliest legal reference works of any type found in our holdings catalog.

Analecta sacra, nova et mira de rebus catholicorvm in Hibernia pro fide & religione gestis, diuisa in tres partes, quarum I continet semestrem grauaminum relationem, secunda hac editone nouis adauctam additamentis & notis illustratam, Il paraenesin ad martyres designatos, III processum martyrialem quoru(n)dam fidei pugilum, by David Rothe (Coloniae, apud Stephanum Rolinum, 1617) [581 pp.]

An early Latin text related to Ireland when translated into English reads – “(Analecta sacra) and for the faith of the new religion in Ireland, and, the marvelous tales of the deeds of the things Catholic, divided into three parts, one of which contains the six months old burdens the relations of 1. the second edition of this new (adauctam) additions in terms of (notis) illustrate, 2. (paraenesin) to the elect, and the martyrs, 3. the process of martyrialem (Quorum dam) of champions.” Among those named in the text are Dermod O’Hurley and Richard Creagh, Archbishops of Cashel and Armagh and Primate of Ireland respectively who exercised spiritual guidance to their congregations during the early-mid seventeenth century and provides the researcher with a review of early Irish ecclesiastical history.

Tiomna Nuadh ar dTighearna agus ar Slanuigheora Iósa Criosd: ar na ṫarrv₁ng go firn̄eac̓ as Greigis go Giodeilg, by William Daniel and Andrew Sall; Robert Boyle, ed.; Huilliam O’Domhnuill, trans. 1st ed. (A Lunnduin: Ar na c̓ur a geló rē Robert Ebheringṫam, an blíaḋain dc̳óis an Tiġęrna, 1681) [364 pps.]

This tome when loosely translated into the English centers upon the “New Testament and Our Jesus Christ” as its central theme. The book proper was financed by a gentleman by the name of Robert Boyle (1627-1691) who also served as editor of the work. The rarity of Irish language works within our collection (and beyond) was based on limited economic opportunities, total number of Irish readers, and problems with surplus storage among others factors that faced those who had no access to these specialized writings. However, certain texts such as these were connected to religious reference and in the vernacular of the citizenry at large.

Within the broader context of Irish history, these books were published a few decades after the Nine Years’ War of 1594 and the flight of Hugh O’Neil and Red Hugh O’Donnell against Elizabeth I in Ulster, establishment of the Plantation of Ulster by Scottish Presbyterians in 1607 and a prelude to the Irish Rebellion of 1641. From here further works were produced that highlighted circle of life in Éire representative of the leaders, religious, and others who contributed to its historical development overall.

For more information and questions about these and other books in our library please consult our Irish Studies Research Guide for more information and details and/or contact Alan Delozier, University Archivist via e-mail at – Alan.Delozier@shu.edu

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

This 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.

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.

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

The 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

Seton 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.

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

In 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 25^th 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.

Prior 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 23^rd 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!

Back to School – First Day Fever for Seton Hall Students Over the Years

The refrain of “Welcome to Seton Hall” has been shared on many occasions with scores of students who have ventured through the front gates of the school over the last 160 years. Although such a salutation can come at any point in time, early September just before Labor Day (or late August over the last decade in particular) has traditionally been designated as the dawn of an academic year for college bound individuals across the country with Seton Hall being no exception to this traditional rite of passage.

Prior to the moment of entry, plenty of preparation faces the undergraduate student from the Freshman who encounter a number of Orientation Sessions prior to attendance through Seniors who are making their final semester opening appearance on campus. The fine tuning of course selection, purchase of school supplies, bracing for “Move-In Day” and other time honored and timely rituals are often routinely encountered by young scholars across the board. Once arriving on site, the student body is busy settling in, meeting roommates, making friends, selecting activities, studying course syllabi, book purchasing, and balancing meal plans among many other tasks start in earnest and helps to define the semester that lies ahead for each budding Setonian. Reflection of these moments are often special to those who lived through these new experiences and many alumni have kept enduring memories of their first time on campus. With this in mind, the literature produced by the school each term reinforces the structure and substance that goes into planning for a starting term from the first onward.

The first day of classes ever at Seton Hall came on September 1, 1856 in Madison, New Jersey (prior to the move of operations to South Orange four year later) when a total of five students enrolled at the fledgling institution after paying their room and board of $200 per annum. The original attendance roster included the following names – Leo G. Thebaud (Madison), Louis and Alfred Boisaubin (Madison), Peter Meehan (Hoboken), and John Moore (New York City). This number rose to 11 by the end of September and either by on-time registration or those who chose delayed enrollment, the school was now in operation and set the trend for first days to follow thereafter. For example, attendance figures for registrants to open a fall school term rose to 105 by 1865-66 and fluctuated below or near this number through the remainder of the 1800s. An upswing figure-wise came during the 20^th century as Seton Hall boasted over 200 newcomers for the first time by 1925-26 (259 total) as a prelude to the era of four-figure registrations which came about in 1938-39 when the Urban Division (Extension) Schools of Newark and Jersey City featured 1,025 students (481 at the South Orange campus) on their books. However, it would not be until 1945-46 when the main campus hosted 1,008 new students (2,109 at the Urban Division) and the year following exploded even further in terms of Setonians who first arrived on site with 2,994 and 3,312 attending classes in South Orange and at the Urban Division respectively. Thousands more per year and in sum thereafter have also experienced their first day in building a tradition that has endured to the present day.

Various resources trace the beginning of each semester through the finish are available for research purposes here in our collection. For more information about University History from start to finish please feel free to contact Alan Delozier, University Archivist via e-mail: alan.delozier@shu.edu or by phone: (973) 275-2378. In the meantime, a perpetual “Welcome to Seton Hall” everyone!