Rochester Birding Association

Someone who attended the library Friends birding event this month recommended to the RBA that they invite me to present that slide show, they did, and I am going to be there 2/14/2019.

Lantern Slides of NY BIrds!

This event was held October 4 in the appropriately named Eagles Nest in SERC. The presentation was given by Charlie Cowling, College Archivist, and Chris Norment, Environmental Science. There were about 35 attendees, and there were lots of comments, questions, and interaction between the presenters and audience. You can see the slide show here, and the actual slide gallery here.

Magic Lantern show postponed

For various logistical reasons we have postponed our "Magic Lantern" show that was advertised in the recent issue of our newsletter. We hope to reschedule it for this fall, and will be sure to share the date widely. Thanks for your understanding!

Glass plate negatives

Those glass plate negatives again. There are several collections of c1900-1920 glass plate negatives in the area. I have some, Knapp Museum, and Sweden museum. All were scanned around 2010 through grants Mary Jo Gigliotti obtained. I have the master tiff files of the scans. Greg Lawrence, retired photographer who has been doing invaluable work with different local history people on photo restorations and so on wants to download the tiffs I have so he can sort, do restorations etc. He'll be coming by next week, there's about 50gb worth, 200+ images.

"For colored girls who..."

A student who performed in this play when it was done here emailed asking what I might have in archives. It wasn't in the Jim Dusen photo list, but that isn't conclusive, so I spent an hour searching thru Spring 1980 negatives, but no luck. Replied and attached the article I found in the 1980 Stylus.

2nd Annual Research Competition Winners!

We held our second annual research competition this spring semester and are pleased to announce the following winners:

#1: Joshua Marchner, "Great Lakes Water Levels Trends." ($500)

#2: Emily Gerace, "The Association Between Owning Domestic Dogs as Pets and the Productivity Amongst College Students." ($300)

#3: Cheryl Limer, "Perceiving Emotion Through Music." ($150)

Fannie Barrier research

Student from a CMC class researching Fannie B. She came to archives, we talked about Fannie's life, historical sources etc. It also came up that the student is a history major, and might be interested in an internship this coming fall, researching the little black community of 19th century Brockport.

Athletics

Query from Athletics in response to a question they had from colleagues elsewhere about an early '70s Brockport athlete, Len Jankiewicz '73. Found some Stylus articles from back then, cropped etc. and sent on to them.

A busy winter!

This winter we have been regrouping after a busy fall that included another exciting antiques roadshow featuring Brockport grad Bob Meringola and his merry band of appraisers! We have a lot of possible projects we are considering, e.g. a road tour or walking tour, an escape room etc. The Friends did purchase another round of expensive textbooks to be placed on reserve in the library for this spring. Do stop by and visit the Little Library and bench the group placed by Alumni House this past fall! (Photo by Richard Black of the Brockport Community Museum.)

Antiques Roadshow

Our second Antiques Roadshow was this past Saturday. Many thanks to Bob Meringola and his merry crew of expert appraisers for their work! Although we didn't have quite the crowds we did the first time, we had a good number of attenders, and the event generated about $800 for the Friends group to continue its good work.

Little Library Up & Running!

The Little Library built by Gordon Fox '66, and the bench donated by the Oakley's, were dedicated at the First Friday event on October 6th. There was a good crowd in attendance, and the Little Library and bench look wonderful!

Antiques Roadshow!

Friends News!

Here are, L-R, Charlie Cowling, Jeff Post and Mary Jo Orzech, placing a book in the Little Library. The book is the reading for incoming freshmen this year, Wes Moore's The Work. We hope to have the Little Library placed near Alumni House soon, and to officially dedicate it when the Friends host the October First Friday (Oct. 6.)

First annual writing competition winners!!!

This spring the Friends of Drake Library is pleased to announce the winners of their first annual writing competition. The competition was open as far as subject or class went, the focus being on extensive, creative engaged use of library and information resources. The winners are as follows:

 Teresa Rodriguez, "Watergate: An Anatomy of a Constitutional Crisis," a HST390 paper. First place, $500.

 Kiri Ramsey, "Harbingers of Change: Casement and Morel in the Congo," a paper for HST390. Second place, $300.

 Joe DiManno, "Assistance of Counsel, a Defendant's Right," a HST408 class paper. Third place, $150. (Pictured here with President Macpherson.)

Little Library is finished!

The Little Library being constructed by Gordy Fox '66 is finished, and on display in the library, at the end of the circulation desk by the café. It is a remarkable bit of woodworking, and an authentic model of the old Normal school building c1870.


It, and the granite bench being donated by the Oakleys, will be placed on the Hartwell lawn sometime this spring.

Little Library update

This is a recent photo of progress on the Little Library by the builder, Gordon Fox '66. As mentioned previously, the building represented is the old Normal school, c1870. This complex stood approximately where Hartwell Hall is today. It was torn down and replaced by Hartwell in 1938-39.


In addition to this splendid replica, Cherise Oakley and her husband are donating a granite bench to go with the Little Library. A selection of quotes about reading were put together and President Macpherson selected one, a quote from Margaret Fuller, "Today a reader, tomorrow a leader." This will be inscribed on the bench. The bench and the little building will be placed somewhere on the lawn of Hartwell this spring semester.

Progress on the Little Library!

An image from Gordon Fox '66 of the little library he is building. It is being constructed from cedar, will be 6' long and hold approximately 20-30 books.

"Little Library"

A "Little Library" is being sponsored by the Friends this year, another of chairperson Ginny Campbell's great ideas! This movement has gained ground in recent years, and such free libraries are springing up all over. The photo here is of the model Gordy Fox '66 built. The model is a replica of the old Normal school building that was demolished and replaced with Hartwell Hall in 1938. This is a half size model, the actual "library" will be about 6' long, and hold 25-35 books. It will be built over the winter, and placed on a yet to be determined spot on campus this coming spring. Cherise Oakley of the Friends group and her husband are donating a granite bench to place by the library, so the site will truly be a handsome and welcoming spot.

Upcoming events & news!

Although it was winter until recently, we have been busy! We have an exciting event coming up May 17, Bob Meringola, who headed up the popular antiques road show last year, is coming back to talk about antiques, how do you know what you have etc.

A while back we discussed the need to clarify our membership levels, define some positions, e.g. secretary and so forth. At the last meeting we did work on this, and a proposal has been emailed out. We hope that this will aid us in recruiting more members for this group.

Fran Moroney Whited

Fran Whited, a founding member of our library friends group, passed away this past week. She was a quiet, but active, insightful, and cheerful member who helped so much to get the group started. Fran started at Brockport as a 5th grade campus school "teacher-critic" in 1951. She was from Port Byron NY, and had attended Oswego in the 1940s, where Dr. Tower was one of her instructors before he came to Brockport to be our president.

After college she taught at several schools, got a masters at the Catholic University of America in Washington, and then came to Brockport. Over the years she got her PhD, and became a professor in our education department. In 1963 she was married to Clark Whited, a professor of physical education at Brockport. She retired in 1985 and was very active in that phase of her life in Brockport alumni and development affairs, a true friend not just of the library, but the college. In this post Fran is shown seated at left with some of her campus school colleagues in the 1950s. (Note: if you click on the photo you can see a larger image.) The following information is from her death notice in the newspaper:

There will be no prior calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 6, at 10 AM at the Church of the Nativity BVM, Main Street, Brockport. A celebratory luncheon reception will be held in the New York room of the Cooper Building at the College at Brockport, following the Mass, until 1:15 PM. Interment (burial) will be in Saint Joseph's Cemetery, Auburn, New York, at 3:15 PM following the reception.

In lieu of flowers, friends may make contributions to the Frances Moroney Whited Scholarship Fund c/o the College at Brockport Foundation, the College at Brockport, or the Brockport Newman Oratory.