General Information

About Area Studies Collections

About Special Collections

Department News

Finding Aids

Department Staff

Exhibits

Digital Resources

Publications

Contact Us

Search

Special & Area Studies Collections Home

News and Announcements

New Alfred Browning Parker Architecture Archives Endowment - Aug 8, 2008

We are pleased to announce the creation of the Alfred Browning Parker Architecture Archives Endowment, a new initiative intended to support and strengthen the Architecture Archives in Special Collections. As a partnership between the Smathers Libraries and the School of Architecture since 2004, the Architecture Archives has become a leading repository for historical records pertaining to the architects and architecture of Florida. The endowment is named in honor of Professor Emeritus Alfred Browning Parker, the distinguished Florida architect and UF alumnus. A reception in his honor and in celebration of his 92nd birthday will be held on September 26, capping off a week of exhibits, lectures and events that begin on September 22. The weeklong celebration begins September 22 with the opening of an exhibition in the gallery at the Reitz Union, Of a Master's Hand: Alfred Browning Parker. The exhibition features several renderings, plans, and photographs from the Parker Collection in the Architecture Archives. The evening includes a lecture by Dr. Monica Penick of the University of Texas in the Reitz Union Ballroom at 6 pm, followed by a reception in the lobby. The exhibition, which is curated by Professor Martha Kohen and doctoral student, Dereck Winning, of the School of Architecture, will be on display through October 3. On September 24, Parker's 92nd birthday, he will lead a gallery talk at 4 pm in the Reitz Union gallery. On the following day, architect and University of Miami Professor, Jan Hochstim, will lecture in the Reitz Union Auditorium at 6:15 pm. The week culminates with a day of activities on September 26. A tour of Alfred Browning Parker homes in Gainesville will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 12:30 pm, followed by a luncheon. The reception in his honor and in celebration of his 92nd birthday will be held on the evening of September 26 from 6-10 pm in Room 1A of Smathers Library (East). For more information, contact John Nemmers at jnemmers@ufl.edu.

Pop-up, Spin, Pull, Fold: Toy Books from the Baldwin Library - Aug 7, 2008

Pop-up, Spin, Pull, Fold: Toy Books from the Baldwin Library is an exhibition featuring pop-up and movable books from the Baldwin Library that will run from September 2 to October 31, 2008, in the second floor exhibit gallery in Smathers Library East. The exhibition will be a chronological display of children’s books which foster an interactive experience between the reader and the book, including the complex pop-up books of current paper engineers such as Robert Sabuda. A reception will take place on October 2 in Smathers Library East, which will include a talk at 1:30 pm in Room 1A by paper engineer, Kyle Olmon, entitled, "How to Build a Castle: Contemporary Pop-up Book Production with a Look at the Past." This presentation will be followed by a reception in the exhibit area, providing an opportunity to view the exhibition. At 3:30 pm, following the reception, Olmon will lead a hands-on workshop for registered participants, featuring construction of pop-ups. Seating for this final event of the day is limited. To reserve a place in this workshop and receive a brief supplies list, contact Rita Smith at rjsmith@ufl.edu.

Baldwin Library Honored with Historical Marker - Aug 7, 2008

On October 2, 2008, at 1 pm there will be the special dedication ceremony for a marker designating the Baldwin Library as an historical campus site. This ceremony will take place in the courtyard to the west of Smathers Library. The UF Alumni Association is sponsoring the markers throughout campus with the intention of providing returning alumni the opportunity to take a "walking tour" of the various historical markers. With the project, the Alumni Association hopes to highlight and publicize the research that is accomplished on campus and draw attention to the rich resources that are available to both students and alumni. The 103,000 volume Baldwin Library, one of the largest collections of historical English language children’s books in the world, is cited for the depth of its collection and for pioneering and supporting the study of children’s literature as an academic discipline.

Baldwin Books featured in Alice in Wonderland Exhibit at the Harn Museum of Art - July 15, 2008

A new exhibition at the UF Harn Museum of Art, Almost Alice: New Illustrations of Wonderland by Maggie Taylor, includes several editions of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland from the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature. The exhibition features prints of forty-five composite digital images by Gainesville artist Maggie Taylor, which she created for publication in a new edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The exhibition will be on display July 15, 2008 - October 19, 2008. On September 14, 2008, artist Taylor will lecture in the Harn Museum auditorium, followed by a "High Tea" reception and a signing of the new book. Baldwin curator Rita Smith will participate in a panel discussion on October 12 at 3 pm, along with Kenneth Kidd, UF associate professor specializing in children’s literature; Eric Segal, UF assistant professor of art history; and the Harn photography curator, Tom Southall.

Welcome Rich Bennett, New Chair of Special and Area Studies Collections - July 2, 2008

We are pleased to announce that Rich Bennett is the new Chair of the Special and Area Studies Collections Department starting in July 2008. Rich has been a librarian at the University of Florida since 1978. During this time he has served in key leadership positions including Access Services Department Chair (1982-1994) and Electronic Access Services Coordinator (1994-2008). In addition to serving on several standing library management groups and councils for many years, he has also been appointed to many library-wide committees and task forces, having served as chair of several. He has been a key staff member as the Libraries increasingly addressed issues involving the transition from a primarily print-based research resource operation to one that involves significant budget allocation to electronic delivery of information resources. Beginning in 2002 he also served as the UF Libraries' Project Coordinator for implementation of the Aleph Library Management System, and has played a lead role in implementation and maintenance of the SFX and MetaLib systems at UF. Rich replaces Jim Cusick, who had served as Interim Chair since July 2007, and who will resume his responsibilities as the Curator of the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History.

New Exhibit Features Highlights from the Jim Liversidge Collection

A new exhibit, The Passing Parade: A Baby Boomer Collects: The Jim Liversidge Collection, touches upon highlights from politics, television, theatre, film, music, sports and day-to-day current events of the past 50 years. The collection, which was compiled, processed and donated by Jim Liversidge, curator of Popular Culture Collections, is made up of close to seven thousand individual pieces (autographs, scrapbooks, photos, programs, posters, campaign buttons, sheet music, newspaper clippings, audio recordings, VHS and DVD films, artifacts and over 400 book titles). The material is housed in 95 archival boxes (101 linear feet) representing 45 years of collecting from JFK and Vietnam to 9-11 and the current election year. The exhibit is open on the second floor gallery of Smathers Library (East) Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. The exhibit will run until August 28, 2008.

Jim Haskins Exhibit Opens in Special Collections Exhibit Gallery

The exhibit Jim Haskins: The Professor, the Writer, and the Activist is open in the University of Florida Special Collections Exhibit Gallery on the second floor of Smathers Library through March 15, 2008. Haskins (1941-2005) was a University of Florida English professor and prolific author. Included in the exhibit are all of his 150 books along with notes, awards and personal items from the collections of the George A. Smathers Libraries. Haskins' books covered numerous diverse subjects. Many of his books are non-fiction works for children but he also put African American history and experiences into his novels. The languages he wrote in were also diverse, from black dialect to Italian and Spanish. Haskins was one of the founders of African-American studies at UF and he commuted between New York and Gainesville. Haskins alternated between his roles as a professor, a scholar, a writer, an activist and an inspiration to other young African American students but through it all it was said that he always maintained a dignity and quiet intelligence which was noted and respected by those who knew him.

New Exhibition Examines the Ongoing Presence of Alice in Wonderland in American Culture

The Afterlife of Alice in Wonderland is a colorful new exhibition that traces the continued presence of the text and images of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in American culture, by presenting a variety of editions, illustrators, media and artifacts, and showcasing the 1969 portfolio edition illustrated by Salvador Dali. The exhibition opens October 15th in Smathers Library (East) in the second floor exhibit gallery. The exhibit is open daily Monday through Friday, and runs through December 15. A Tea Party Reception and Program will be held Wednesday, November 7, 3:30-5:00 p.m. in Smathers Library, Room 1A on the first floor. The reception is free and open to the public, and it is rumored that Alice and the White Rabbit will be on the Plaza of the Americas prior to the tea party reception. The exhibition web site features an overview of the exhibition, a biography of Carroll, and a discussion of the numerous editions and adaptations. The web site also provides a link to the Alice digital collection, part of the University of Florida Digital Collections (UFDC). Several editions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass, and similar works are available online.

New Interim Chair

Dr. Jim Cusick became the new Interim Chair for the Department in July 2007. He will continue to perform his duties as Curator of the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History. He replaces Rita Smith, who had served as Interim Chair since July 2006, and who will resume her responsibilities as the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature Librarian.

Baldwin Library Receives Large Donation from Local Collector

Dr. Robert Egolf of Ocala has donated more than 2,800 children's books to the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature. The collection spans the the years 1807-2003, and includes many first editions and all of the prestigious Caldecott Medal winners. The donation brings the total volumes of the Baldwin Library to approximately 103,000. A reception was held Monday, March 5, to commemorate the gift.

New Exhibit Honors Prominent African-American Educator

A new exhibition in the Department of Special and Area Studies Collections highlights the extraordinary achievements of a leading African-American educator in Gainesville. The Legacy of A. Quinn Jones, Sr.: "All Negro Children Can Learn" will be on display in the Smathers Library Exhibit Gallery until early March. The career of A. Quinn Jones, Sr. spanned over 42 years as teacher and principal of Alachua County's most important African American school, Lincoln High School. The current exhibition honors the many achievements and lasting legacy of Professor Jones. An opening reception planned for Sunday, January 21, at 4:30 p.m. will be attended by members of the Jones family, former students, fellow educators, and members of the Gainesville community.

Staff Changes Around the Department

Robert Shaddy, chair of the department for the past four years, has accepted a position as Chief Librarian at Queens College (City University of New York). Best of luck to Robert! Rita Smith, librarian for the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature, will serve as interim chair for the department starting in July. Also, we welcome Yael Herbsman as interim head of the Price Library following the retirement of former Judaica librarian, Robert Singerman (see announcement below). Yael will oversee the transfer of the Price Library from the Education Library to its new home in the renovated Library West.

Judaica librarian Robert Singerman retires

After 27 years with the University of Florida, Judaica librarian and bibliographer Robert Singerman retires in June 2006. Robert came to UF in 1979 from the world-renowned Klau Library at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. Two years later, the Price Library of Judaica was formally established here on campus, and Robert began his tenure as its first librarian - the only librarian to date. Over the span of his career, he was instrumental in significantly increasing the size of the Judiaca collection from 24,000 volumes to over 85,000 cataloged volumes. Today, the Price Library is without peer in the southeastern United States, and has taken its place alongside other well-respected and mature Judaica collections in the United States. For his outstanding achievements, Robert has been awarded Faculty Emeritus status following his retirement.

To learn more about his career here at UF, please read Robert's own reminiscences, entitled "Not the Work of a Day."

Caribbean holdings exhibited at Historical Museum of Southern Florida

An exhibition of highlights from the University of Florida's George A. Smathers Libraries' Caribbean archival and library materials opened February 24 at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida in Miami. The exhibition, Caribbean Collage: Archival Collections and the Construction of History, spans five centuries of Caribbean history and focuses on the British West Indies, Haiti and Cuba from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Department of Special and Area Studies Collections and the Map and Imagery Library. Materials for the exhibit were selected from the holdings of the Latin American Collection, Special Collections, and the Map and Imagery Library. Visit For a news release on the exhibition, visit http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/news2/Caribbean_Coll.html. For more information about the Caribbean Collage exhibition, visit www.historical-museum.org. The exhibition runs through June 4, 2006.

New British Women Writers Exhibit

(Re)Collecting British Women Writers: Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century British Women Writers in Special Collections has opened in the Special and Area Studies exhibit gallery. The eight exhibit cases focus on the following themes: children's books, illustrated texts, science and nature, poems and letters, novels, women and girls, biography and Mary, Queen of Scots. The exhibit, prepared by Cathlena Martin, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of English, opens in conjunction with the fourteenth annual British Women Writers Conference, March 23-26, at the University of Florida. It is open through May 21, 2006.

The Legacy of Albert L. Cunningham Sr.

Albert L. Cunningham Sr., co-founder of Cunningham's Funeral Home in Ocala, died February 13 at the age of 82. The papers of Cunningham and the records of the Cunningham's Funeral Home, which document the largest minority-owned business in Marion County, were acquired by the Libraries in 2002. He and his brother James founded the funeral home in 1955. As morticians, they played a prominent leadership role in the African American community - like African American morticians throughout the South - in terms of providing a headquarters for political activities; handling banking needs for the community; and facilitating other necessary financial, cultural, and social transactions that required interaction among the segregated components of the South. The collection, which currently is unavailable while it is arranged and preserved, includes burial records, photographs, financial transactions, oral histories, maps, correspondence related to a number of topics such as politics, fashion, and others aspects of life in Florida.

Remarks made by John Ingram, Deputy Director for the Libraries, on the funeral for Albert L. Cunningham, Sr. are available here.

Departmental Highlights for 2005

The Department of Special and Area Studies Collections reports considerable activity and accomplishments during the past year, in the areas of acquisitions and collection development; processing and description; bibliographic instruction and teaching; outreach and public programs; and professional development and research activities. A full summary of these activities is available online in a 2005 Highlights document (in PDF format - requires Adobe Acrobat to view).

Maps of Africa: A Celebration of the 500,000th and 500,001st maps

On Wednesday, November 30, from 11:00 a.m. until noon, there will be a commemorative celebration in the Map & Imagery Library for the addition of the 500,000th and 500,001st maps. The 500,000th map is "Africae described, the manners of their Habits, and Buildings," by John Speed, 1631-32. It is the first English map of Africa. The 500,001st map is "Western side of Africa: Typus orarum maritimarum Guinae, Manicongo, & Angolae ultra" by Jan Huygen van Linschoten, Amsterdam, 1596. Both maps are considered cornerstones for any collection of rare African maps. The two maps, along with other rare and modern African maps, will be on display in the Map & Imagery Library from November 30 through December 7, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Map & Imagery Library and the Africana Collection provided funding, and generous assistance was provided by Elizabeth Harrer in memory of her son Thomas and the Dr. Madelyn M. Lockhart Book Fund in African Studies.

New Papers Related to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Available

The department recently acquired and made available an accession of papers related to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings from the offices of Philip S. May, Sr., Rawlings' friend and attorney. This collection was generously donated by Phil May, Jr., of Jacksonville. The papers include legal records and correspondence regarding the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings estate. Probate documents, estate inventories and tax returns are represented in the legal documents. The correspondence is primarily with the executor of the estate, Rawlings' second husband, Norton Baskin. Other correspondents include Rawlings' other beneficiaries, Arthur Kinnan (Rawlings' brother), the University of Florida Foundation, and Julia Scribner Bingham, her literary executor. A small number of documents not related to the Rawlings estate also were included in this accession. These include a selection of several dozen letters to and from Arthur Kinnan during Rawlings' lifetime, a folder of Brandt & Brandt correspondence, and a folder of materials relating to the Cason v. Baskin (Cross Creek) trial. These materials have been processed and incorporated into the existing Rawlings collections.