#uiowaspecialcollections

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#MiniatureMonday

Serments d’Amour 

Measuring 6mm, this micro book is one of the smallest in the collection. Serments d’Amour (roughly translating to ‘Love Oaths’), features the phrase “I Love You” in 8 different languages. The little book is bound in red leather with a stamped golden heart on the front cover, featuring golden gilded edges. The copy was issued in a cream case with a red velvet cushion and a small, magnified case to help see the finer details.  

Je t'aime -- I love you -- Ich liebe Dich -- Ti voglio bene --我爱你-- Я тебя люблю-- أحبك --te amo --te quiero

#uiowa #special collections #miniaturemonday #uiowaspecialcollections #miniature books #miniature monday #French #german #italian #russian #chinese #arabic #english #spanish #microbook

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#MiniatureMonday

The Little Book of Hand Shadows 

“Discover the timeless magic of hand shadows through this charming volume” - Dust Jacket 

This little pocket-sized book, created and drawn by Phila H. Webb with verses by Jane Corby, is reprinted and adapted from the original “Shadowgraphs Anyone Can Make” from 1927. With the help of a bright light, a blank wall (or sheet as the book suggests), and two hands, various characters and creatures can be projected, solidifying the simple entertainment and joy of shadow puppetry.  

According to Phila, some of the poses may take more practice to perfect, but there is “nothing hard about any of them”. To test this, I had a self-proclaimed shadow puppet enthusiast try out some of the poses, following the instructions from the text. How do you think they did?  

-Kaylee S., Olson Graduate Assistant

-Sarah D.., Illustrious Hand Model

#uiowa #special collections #miniaturemonday #uiowaspecialcollections #miniature books #history #miniature monday #library #shadow puppets #puppetry #Phila H. Webb #Jane Corby #shadowgraphs

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#VoicesFromTheStacks

Image: Self Portrait with cranes from Hope Project (Photo credit: Clarissa Sligh)   

The Artist Books of Clarissa Sligh

In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting artist, writer, and lecturer Clarissa Sligh. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Virginia, Sligh is often inspired by cultural, historical, and political events that intersect with moments in her life. Sligh considers these interactions, or “collisions,” between moments in history and events in one’s life to be significant and transformative. One such example of this is detailed in Sligh’s work “It Wasn’t Little Rock,” which discusses desegregation in public schools during the 1960s, a personal topic for Sligh, who was the lead plaintiff at the age of 15 in a school desegregation case.    

Images: Cover and inside page of "It Wasn't Little Rock" (2005)

A notable example of Sligh’s work and its reference to her personal experiences is her 1988 artist's book titled “What’s Happening with Momma?” Here, the artist engages users to “walk” through rooms of her childhood home, following the steps of accordion-folded strips of paper filled with text detailing memories of her sister’s birth in the home. This is Sligh’s first artist’s book, made through the Women’s Studio Workshop in New York.   

Images: Cover and inside page of "What's Happening with Momma" (1988)

Sligh earned a BS in Mathematics from Hampton Institute in Virginia, a BFA and an MFA in visual arts from Howard University, and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. Earlier in her career she had worked at NASA in the manned space flight program, eventually leaving to focus on working as an artist. Her works have been featured all over the world, notably at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and more. To learn more about Sligh and her works, visit the artist’s website. 

Images: Cloth enclosure, cover and inside page of "Voyage(r): A Tourist Map to Japan" (2000)

Images: Left: Inside page of "Reading Dick and Jane with Me" (1989). Right: Cover and origami crane for "Transforming Hate" (2016).

– Kaylee S., Special Collections Olson Graduate Assistant

#uiowa #libraries #special collections #uiowaspecialcollections #rare books #voicesfromthestacks #artist books #Clarissa Sligh #black history month

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#MiniatureMonday

Happy Māori Language Week from Special Collections & Archives!

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Maori Language Week, is celebrated annually the week of September 14th to commemorate Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori, the Maori Language Moment, which stamps the presentation of the Maori Language Petition in New Zealand at 12 pm on September 14, 1972.

Te Reo Māori is the language of New Zealand's Indigenous Maori people. It is a part of the Austronesian language family and shares its roots with other island languages including Tahitian and Hawaiian. The celebration of Te Wiki is rooted deeply in efforts to revitalize the Māori language after years of the speaking and use of te reo was banned in schools. Today, te reo Māori is the official language of New Zealand, or Aotearoa as it is called by the Indigenous people. It has become increasingly used in New Zealand society, culture, and professional institutions. The Māori language has also become something of global interest, with the popularization of the language through its presence in music, film, television, and sports commentary.

In the United States, Polynesians as a whole make up less than half of a percent of the American population, with Māori people as one of the smallest migrant populations. Still, for those living abroad or interested in learning the language from afar, the language revitalization movement has certainly spread to the United States, along with its learning materials and resources.

There is a Māori proverb that reads ahakoa he iti he pounamu, "although it is small, it is greenstone." This refers to the importance of things small but precious, such as these miniatures!

The Reeds' Lilliput Māori dictionary and Reeds' Lilliput Māori proverbs live in Special Collections as part of the Smith Miniature Book Collection. These 5cm tall miniature books were published by A.W. Reed in the early 1960s, the dictionary in 1960 as part of a collection of miniature dictionaries made popular by other global publishers. The book of whakatauki, Māori proverbs, joined the mini-dictionary in 1964. Other language dictionaries include Spanish, French, and Romanian. Due to their size, it is likely that these books were made to entertain more so than educate. Still, they are certainly one of the many taonga, treasures, of Special Collections.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2023 begins Monday, September 11, and concludes Sunday, September 17. Celebrate through songs, stories, conversations, or by learning some library-related Māori vocabulary! You can also visit the University of Iowa LibGuide on learning beginner's te reo Māori.

NGĀ KUPU WHARE PUKAPUKA LIBRARY VOCABULARY

pukapuka book

pūranga archive

whakaputunga collection

kaitiaki pukapuka librarian

wāhi tuku pukapuka reference desk

pānui to read

ako to learn

--From M Clark, Instruction GA

Reeds' proverbs (SMITH PL6465.Z77 .R44 1964) and Reeds' dictionary (SMITH PL6465.Z5 .R44 1960)

#uiowa #special collections #miniaturemonday #uiowaspecialcollections #rare books #library #maori culture #te reo maori #proverbs #new zealand

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#MiniatureMonday #TinyTuesday!

School Supplies

I think we all can agree that one of the best things about going back to school is new supplies! Whether it be notebooks, planners, pencils or pens, there is nothing quite like finding the perfect new things to carry you through the school year.  Here are some minis that are perfect for the start of the new school year.

The first miniature is five leaves of blank notebook paper attached to metal rings, perfectly sized to fit inside the blank blue binder.  The creator of this binder is not identified, but I like to think they made this little binder to send their mouse friend off to school with. 

Next is a beautiful handmade notebook bound in soft brown leather with a gilt flower design stamped into the front cover. With lovely blank cream paper inside, this notebook is the perfect handheld size to carry around and jot down thoughts as they arise.  

Originally made for the third Miniature Book Society Conclave held in LA in 1985, our third mini is a daily planner. With “Things to do today” printed largely at the top and a numbered checklist on the page, this would be an excellent way to keep your day organized!

-Kaylee S., Olson Graduate Assistant

Charlotte Smith Miniature Collection

TS1250 .T45 1985 

TS1250 .M56  

TS1250 .B53 1900z

#uiowa #miniaturemonday #history #library #special collections #miniature books #UiowaSpecialCollections #notebook #planner #artist books

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#VoicesFromTheStacks

Image: Oscar Hahn from La Tercera

Oscar Hahn

Oscar Hahn, born in Iquique, Chile in 1938, began writing poetry early in life. The first book of poetry Hahn published, Esta Rosa Negra, in 1961, included poems he had written between the ages of 17 and 19. Once graduated from the University of Chile in 1963, Oscar attended the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa and received his M.A. in 1972. Upon completion of this program, Hahn returned to Chile to teach, but was arrested after the 1973 coup d'état and held in an Arica prison. Within our Oscar Hahn collection, there is a testimonial about these days in jail and their aftermath, dealing in part with how it affected him as a writer. After his release, he returned to the states and obtained a PhD from the University of Maryland, where he studied until 1977, when he returned to the University of Iowa, joining the Spanish-literature faculty.  

Image: Imágenes nucleares y otros poemas by Oscar Hahn

Hahn is a celebrated, leading poet of his generation, sometimes called the Dispersed or Decimated Generation (Generacion Trilce). According to a biographical sketch in the collection, critics praised Hahn’s blend of fantastic, ironic, and realistic elements in his work, leading to the association of postmodernism and surrealism. One highlighted critical response from Kirkus Reviews contributor says Hahn “takes ordinary situations and images and implants within them a kind of surrealist grenade that explodes when least expected – and with striking effect.”  

Image: Caricature drawing of Hahn from the Oscar Hahn Papers

In Special Collections and Archives, we have the Oscar Hahn Papers, containing a fairly complete list of Hahn’s publications and materials about him as well some published works in the monograph collection. A link to the collection finding aid can be found here. 

-Kaylee S., Special Collections, Olson Graduate Assistant. 

#uiowa #special collections #uiowaspecialcollections #voicesfromthestacks #library #poetry #chilean poetry #chile #oscar hahn

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Past and Present: Cheryl Dunye’s The Watermelon Woman

Last year, Special Collections and Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries acquired items to form a new collection: the Black Film and Television Collection. In honor of Black History Month, we’re shining a spotlight on a different item from this collection each week.

In yesterday’s post, we discussed the original script for 1971’s Shaft, a defining entry in the Blaxploitation genre. Our final spotlight shines on a unique photo book from 1996, when Cheryl Dunye’s The Watermelon Woman attempted to excavate the history of queer Black women on screen.

Cheryl Dunye and New Queer Cinema

With The Watermelon Woman, Dunye became the first Black lesbian to direct a feature film. This movie belongs to a genre that came to be called New Queer Cinema, a movement in independent film during the 1990s that placed queer characters at the center.

The film was critically acclaimed and regarded as one of the foundational films of the genre, and it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 2021.

It also gave new momentum to Dunye’s career in film and television, which continues to this day. Her recent directing credits include The Umbrella Academy, Bridgerton, and Queen Sugar.

Unnamed & Uncredited

The Watermelon Woman stars writer and director Cheryl Dunye as an aspiring documentarian who works at a video rental store. Dunye’s fictional proxy, also named Cheryl, is fascinated by the history of Black women in film, particularly those who went unnamed and uncredited for roles portraying the racist archetypes that were common in the cinema of the 1930s and 40s.

In the movie, Cheryl embarks on a journey to discover the name of Black actress only identified as “The Watermelon Woman.” She eventually uncovers the woman’s real name, Fae Richards, and discovers that she, too, was a queer woman.

A Supplementary Archive

Fae Richards may be a fictional character, but she stands for countless queer Black people whose stories have been omitted from the record. Artist Zoe Leonard, in collaboration with Cheryl Dunye, created The Fae Richards Photo Archive, a series of 82 images that document the life of this fictional character. From candid shots, family photos, and publicity pictures, every image matches a time and place of this character. As the Whitney Museum of American Art explains, “Leonard acknowledges the project’s artifice, encouraging the viewer to recognize that she had to create a story that is fictional, but rings true, because the real life counterparts of such stories went undocumented.”

This statement demonstrates exactly why many archives are, or need to, work to fix the mistakes of the past. As a school with a rich screenwriting history, it is why the University of Iowa Libraries is actively working to collect more stories from Black cinema.

A Century of Black Film

During this series, we’ve looked at four iconic examples of Black filmmaking. But that’s not to say that the work of Black filmmakers can be reduced to four eras, or that the films we discussed are more important than those that didn’t make this list. There’s so much more to discover in the Black Film and Television Collection, and if you’ve enjoyed this blog series, we encourage you to check out what’s available online. As The Watermelon Woman attests, the preservation of these stories, and the names and lives behind them, is vital and rewarding work.

--Natalee Dawson, Communication Coordinator at UIowa Libraries, with assistance from Liz Riordan, Anne Bassett, and Jerome Kirby

#watermelon woman #libraries #blackhistorymonth #black film #uiowaspecialcollections #film #uiowa #black history matters #Cheryl Dunye #Zoe Leonard #Fae Richards

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#MiniatureMonday

#HollywoodExhibit

The musical fantasies of L. Frank Baum by Alla T. Ford and Dick Martin. With 3 unpublished scenarios by the author of The wizard of Oz.

Did you know that L. Frank Baum started out his career doing traveling plays and musicals? This book talks about his early life and career that lead up to his most popular book The Wizard of Oz.

It also talks about some of his unpublished works, like The Maid of Athens, The King of Gee-Whiz, and The Pipes O'Pan. This tiny book by Alla T. Ford and Dick Martin also includes lovely line drawings on its light yellow paper throughout.

This is part of a continuing series featuring minis in conjunction with the of the new Hollywood Exhibit that is now up in the reading room.

"And you will never join your friends to visit the exhibit! *Evil cackle* "

--Diane R., Special Collections Graduate Student

#Uiowa #UiowaSpecialCollections #Exhibit #L.FrankBaum #Alla T. Ford #Dick Martin #The Musical Fantasies of L. Frank Baum #The Wizard of Oz #MiniatureMonday

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#VoicesFromTheStacks

Photo from ursulakleguin.com

Ursula K. Le Guin was an American science fiction and speculative fiction author. She was born Ursula Krober in Berkeley, California on October 21st, 1929. She died on January 22nd, 2018, at the age of 88. 

Her father was an anthropologist and her mother had a graduate degree in psychology. Le Guin and her three brothers had access to a large library. She read early science fiction and fantasy books and magazines as a child, including Astounding Science Fiction and Thrilling Wonder Stories, issues of which can be found in the Special Collections and Archives Rusty Hevelin collection. 

She would publish her first work, a poem titled “Folksong from the Montayna Province”, in 1959. Her published work included poetry, short fiction, novels and nonfiction essays. Her book The Left Hand of Darkness would garner her critical and popular success, making her one of the first well-known female science fiction and fantasy authors, and one of the most famous science fiction authors, period.

During her career, Le Guin was primarily known for her speculative fiction work, notably her Hanish Cycle and Earthsea series. The Hanish Cycle posits a universe where humans have formed an interplanetary alliance. Her most famous Hanish book was The Left Hand Of Darkness, considered one of the first works of feminist science fiction, and deals largely with gender, sexuality, and politics. Her Earthsea books are considered classics within the children's fantasy genre.

Le Guin's influence as a fantasy and science fiction author is still felt today, she was a noted influence on writers like Neil Gaiman and Salman Rushdie, and is considered to have been the first writer to create a "wizard school" with her Earthsea series.

Special Collections has copies of many of Le Guin's writings, including signed copies.

-- Sarah D., Special Collections, Olson Graduate Assistant

#special collections #uiowa #voicesfromthestacks #uiowaspecialcollections #libraries #ursula k. le guin #science fiction #speculative fiction #fantasy

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#MiniatureMonday

That comet / Esther K. Beamer

Halley's comet will not be visible again until 2061, but we have this pretty little book to tide us over until then!

It features a bright silver plate on the cover, dark blue covers with a silver title, and lovely blue illustrations. It features a short history of the comet, as well as a bit of personal history from the author.

Even if this comet is not visible, winter here in Iowa is a great time to go stargazing! Maybe you will see a shooting star.

--Diane R., Special Collections Graduate Student

#Uiowa #UiowaSpecialCollections #MiniatureMonday #Halley'sComet #That Comet #Esther K. Beamer #Desert Press #Tabula Rasa Press #astronomy

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#MiniatureMonday

#TaleOfTalesExhibit

Mrrarr and me / written and illustrated by Romilda Dilley.

Any cat owners out there sometimes feel that your cat thinks they are the ones actually in charge?

This fun book is based on that concept, written from the perspective of cat named General about his responsibilities around "his" house and person, whom he calls 'Mrrar". These include making sure she gets up suitably early, 'helping' with the lawn work, and inspecting everything.

This is particularly important, as General says "Every single thing in this house and yard has to be investigated. Mrrarr doesn't always realize how important this is."

This is part of a continuing series featuring pet minis in conjunction with the of the new pet themed exhibit that is now up in the reading room. This particular item is from the corresponding mini exhibit, put together by Rachel, so make sure to take time to see that wonderful collection as well, for more fun finds like this!

--Diane R., Special Collections Graduate Student

^"Don't worry human, I have inspected the pumpkin, and it is safe from any foul Halloween creatures! You can go visit the exhibit now. Say 'Hello' to the Hawkeye Ghost for me!"

#Uiowa #UIowaSpecialCollections #Pets #Exhibit #MiniatureMonday #Cats #CatBook #Mrrarr and me #Romilda Dilley

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#MiniatureMonday

Housing Edition! Featuring Deutsch-Französisch

Sometimes minis are in need of extra protection. This item has a thin leather cover, which was not strong enough for the snap, and has started to wear away. As the snap sticks up from the cover, it also makes it harder to store snugly in the standard size boxes that most of the minis fit happily in.

Both the green clam shell box and tan wrapper are custom built for the item. Usually clam shell boxes are built to size, but since these books are so small, the box is built a little bigger to make the item sit easier on the shelf, and be more stable. This means that a bit of foam is added to create a nice snug fit for the wrapped book!

--Photos, post and box by Diane R., Special Collections Graduate Student

If only the books could wrap themselves-but at least they are safe and can go back on the shelf so patrons can see them for years to come!

#Uiowa #UiowaSpecialCollections #Conservation #Preservation #BoxMaking #ClamShell #DropSpine Box #Deutsch-Französisch #MiniMonday

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#MiniatureMonday

#HollywoodExhibit

Hollywood by Francis J. Weber ; designed by Francis Braun

There is a new exhibit in the Reading Room: Hollywood in the Stacks!

This little book is part of the corresponding minis exhibit, and provides history about the iconic Hollywood sign. It talks about both the original and the new metal version of the iconic sign, which was put up in the 70's.

Come check out the rest of the exhibit to see more Hollywood history and promotional items, including a case about Hollywood connections from Iowa.

This is part of a continuing series featuring minis in conjunction with the of the new Hollywood Exhibit that is now up in the reading room.

--Diane R., Special Collections Graduate Student

#Uiowa #UIowaSpecialCollections #Exhibit #Hollywood #Francis Braun #Francis J. Weber #Anthony Kroll #Junipero Serra Press #Hollywood Sign #MiniatureMonday #rare books #library

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#MiniatureMonday

Time machines / by Carol Cunningham.

This little book is about clocks (aka machines for telling time) and not, as I first thought, about machines for traveling through time!

It includes a brief history of keeping track of time, starting with the position of the sun.

Can this book help you from losing track of the days at the beginning of the new semester? Probably not, but there are some lovely examples of time telling devices!

^It's always snack time when the cat is in charge of the clock!

--Diane R., Special Collections Graduate Student

#Uiowa #UiowaSpecialCollections #MiniatureMonday #TimeMachines #Clocks #Carol Cunningham #Sunflower Press

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#VoicesFromTheStacks

Images: Left, Photo of Creativity Explored community in front of entrance. Right, Creativity Explored artists Ruthie Freeland, Eddie Hippley, Michelle Kunard, and Vernon Streeter (counter clockwise from top left)

Creativity Explored

Founded in 1983 by Florence and Elias Katz, Creativity Explored, a studio-based collective in San Francisco, sought to create a space which fosters the creative expression of artists with disabilities. Creativity Explored has supported the careers of hundreds of artists since its foundation through means of training, offering supplies and resources as well as exhibition and sales opportunities. With the belief of centering the personhood and agency of the artists within the collective, the voice of disabled artists has come to the forefront through their work.  

Images: Cover, inside and zines from the Whipper Snapper Nerd first edition held in UIowa Special Collections.

In 1994, two volunteers at Creativity Explored – Harrell Fletcher and Elizabeth Meyer – began collaborating on a zine series titled Whipper Snapper Nerd. Each issue of the series has been devoted to the work of one artist from Creativity Explored and includes reproductions of their work and an interview. Here in the Ruth and Marvin Sackner Archive housed in Special Collections and Archives, we are fortunate to have the first copy of a limited edition set of Whipper Snapper Nerd. Included in the collection are the first four issues of the series centered on artists Barbara Doehrman, John Patrick McKenzie, Jimmy Miles, and Michael B. Loggins. Due to the relationship Ruth and Marvin Sackner had formed with Creativity Explored, this first edition of the collection also included additional pieces from artist John McKenzie and another zine from Michael B. Loggins.  

Images: Left, inside front cover of zine featuring the art and photo of Jimmy Miles. Right, inside front cover of zine featuring the art and photo of Michael Loggins.

A true highlight of each issue of Whipper Snapper Nerd are the interviews between each artist with either Fletcher or Meyer. Through these interviews readers get an insight into the interests, beliefs, and processes each artist has that translates into their work. Here the artists discuss their experience creating at Creativity Explored as well as any topic that should come up. The artists are honest, poignant, funny, and at times even blunt – it is fantastic. We learn that Barbara loves The Brady Bunch and cats. Jimmy doesn’t like questions, but he does love drawing planes. Michael loves hearing people laugh and has found the perfect jokes to tell his girlfriend Hope. John doesn’t like Linda Ronstadt or John Lennon but loves Curious George.  

Images: Left, inside front cover of zine featuring art and photo of John Patrick McKenzie. Right, inside front cover of zine featuring art and photo of Barbara Doehrman.

Outlets like Creativity Explored are invaluable to a community which has been underrepresented and invalidated. Art is a universal language and allows freedom of expression and creativity that holds special importance for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Creating a similar space for disabled artists locally, Systems Unlimited, developed an arts center to promote radical inclusion through art in Eastern Iowa. Here, artists are supported and empowered to contribute to a creative community not only in Iowa but beyond.  

Did you know? 

Up to 1 in 4 (27%) adults in the United States have some type of disability 

More than half of all adults with both cognitive and mobility disabilities reported mental destress 

Engaging with art has been found to increase psychological health, boost self-esteem, reduce PTSD symptoms, and enhance communication skills.  

At the University of Iowa, we also have services at the student level [UI Students for Disability Advocacy & Awareness (UISDAA)] and institutional level [Student Disability Services (SDS)]. 

-Kaylee S., Special Collections, Olson Graduate Assistant. 

#uiowa #special collections #uiowaspecialcollections #voicesfromthestacks #creativityexplored #disability awareness #disability rights

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#Miniature Monday

Cats : a collection / Margaret Challenger.

In honor of the new pet themed exhibit that is now up in the reading room, #MiniMonday will also feature some fun pet themed minis for the next few weeks.

This item features a bunch of fun quotes and stamps about cats, as well as some 'cats eye' glass beads on the spine.

Make sure to check out the exhibit for more pets from our collection, as well as pictures of employees pets on the door!

"HEY! Have you heard about the new exhibit?!"

#Uiowa #UIowaSpecialCollections #Cats #Pets #Exhibit #Cats : a collection #Margaret Challenger #Postage Stamps #GlassBeads #MiniatureMonday