Mark your calendars!  The University Archives will host an opening reception for the new exhibition, It’s [Not] Always Online. Curated by Estelle Markel-Joyet, Archives intern and iSchool student, the exhibition focuses on reference books of the last 500 years.  The reception runs from 4-6 p.m. on the Lower Level of Hagerty Library, 33rd and Market Streets.

Ahoy me matey’s!

Only three weeks till we weigh anchor! Argh! On Friday September 25th from 4 to 6 p.m. thar be a Pirate Party at the Arrrchives.  Me welcomes ye new and returning privateers and buccaneers to the Arrrchives.   Open House includes treasure (rare books and maps), looting (records management) and pillaging (complimentary refreshments).  Ye Olde Arrrchives is on the lower level of Hagerty Library. Argh!

Fair Winds!

The Cap’n

Drexel alumna Sarah Stolfa has recently published a book of her photographs of patrons of McGlinchey’s tavern in Philadelphia.  Her book, The Regulars is available for your perusal on the Drexel Authors shelf of the Archives reading room (on the Lower Level of Hagerty Library).

See more of Sarah Stolfa’s photographs at this Gallery 339 exhibition, The Regulars Revisited

Please make plans to attend a reception for the exhibition “Many Littles Make a Much: A Selection of Miniature Books from Drexel University’s Special Collection,” currently on display in the W.W. Hagerty Library (33rd and Market Streets). The reception will take place on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, from 4 to 5 p.m. on the lower level of Hagerty Library. It is open to all and includes complimentary miniature refreshments in the spirit of the miniature books.

A miniature book beside a quarter

The show, curated by Scott Ziegler, consists entirely of books measuring three or fewer inches in any dimension. Representing a cross-section of the world of miniature books, the items on display range from practical mini-dictionaries to a conceptually-driven sculptural mini-book.

The current exhibition Many Littles Make a Much: A Selection of Miniature Books from Drexel University’s Special Collection has been on display for a couple of weeks now, and has received a fair share of admiration.

A reception for the show is planned for July 22.  Watch this space for more details.

In addition to the physical exhibition, an online version is now available.

For more information about this exhibition, future exhibitions or to see miniature books, contact the archives.

Next time you swing by the Lower Level of Hagerty Library, be sure to check out the Drexel University’s Special Collection exhibition: “Many Littles Make a Much” — a collection of miniature books.

The exhibition cases have recently been moved to make room for the periodicals, now also located in the Lower Level. The exhibition is now along the north wall.

Be sure to pass by often to see new exhibitions as they happen!

For more information about the Special Collection, contact the University Archives.

In an effort to let the Drexel community and the public at large learn more about the treasures in the Drexel University Special Collections, we’re gearing up for a number of exhibitions.

The exhibitions will feature materials that the staff think will be of wide appeal, and will be in the cases along the south wall in the lower level of Hagerty Library.

The first exhibition is being installed today – watch this space tomorrow for an announcement.

For more information about the schedule, to make suggestions for exhibitions or to just say hello, contact the Drexel University Archives at archives@drexel.edu.

Part three of a three part series

George W. Childs was the founder of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, a prominent Philadelphia newspaper, and a close friend to Anthony J. Drexel.  Childs moved to Philadelphia at the age of fourteen to work for a bookseller and later became a partner in the publishing firm of R. E. Petersen & Company and then with the publisher J.P. Lippincott.  Childs was a long time supporter of Drexel Institute and served on its board from its founding to his death.

The books that Childs left to the Drexel library include histories of Philadelphia, which taken together provide an important account of the development of the city from its founding. Also included in the collection is general history and history of art, multiple volumes on the history of printing and travel literature.

To learn more about this collection and to see specific books, contact the archives at archives@drexel.edu.  For more information about George W. Childs, please see the finding aid for the Childs scrapbooks collection.

Part two of a three part series

The core of Drexel University Libraries Special Collections consists of a several gifts of rare books donated to the Drexel Institute by Anthony J. Drexel, George W. Childs and George M. Standish.

Anthony J. Drexel, the founder of the university, envisioned an institute not only for practical training, but also for a wide appreciation of art and culture.  From its inception the Institute hosted free public meetings on a wide range of topics, and included a museum of art and ancient artifacts.

The book collection donated by A.J. Drexel focuses, in large part, on examples of typography and art. Included in the collections is a hand press translation of Virgil printed by Pierre Didot, a famous typesetter and printer in 18th Century France, as well as books on artists such as Hogarth and Rubens. There are also books ranging from natural science to history to illustrated children’s books. The variety of books in Mr. Drexel’s collection reflects his views on the importance of art and culture in addition to practical training for students. This tradition is carried on by the Libraries’ special collections today as we continue to make available these rare works from Drexel’s founder.

For more information on this collection and to see specific books contact the archives at archives@drexel.edu.

This week we’ve heard many fitting tributes to President Constantine “Taki” Papadakis as leader of Drexel University.  Less has been said about Taki’s work as an engineer.  His writings on hydrology, hydraulics and fluid dynamics are collected in a volume, Selected writings of Constantine N. Papadakis, available at the Drexel University Archives.  Stop by the Lower Level of Hagerty Library and take a look.