Irish theatre critic William John Lawrence (1862-1940) was considered a major figure in documenting the history of Irish theatre.

William J. Lawrence

Yet, dozens of his notebooks on Irish theatre history from the 17th-to-20th centuries were never published. Efforts and outreach to make collections stored at the University of Cincinnati and at other institutions accessible worldwide will be presented at the 4th International Conference on Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries. The conference takes place May 22-25 in Limerick, Ireland, and brings together librarians from around the world as they explore best practices on making their resources available for research.

Kevin Grace, head of the UC Archives and Rare Books Library, will present at the conference. Grace says 99 of Lawrence’s unpublished notebooks are stored in UC’s Archives & Rare Books Library. They were purchased from the estate of William Smith Clark II, a former UC English professor and theatre historian, who acquired the notebooks in the 1940s. The notebooks have been housed in the Archives & Rare Books Library since the late 1960s.

The notebooks are considered to be the sole source of Ireland’s theatrical history, since a 1922 fire at the Four Courts Building in Ireland destroyed virtually all of Ireland’s pre-20th century historical records.

“His scores of notebooks on the topic preserved an important aspect of Irish and Anglo-Irish culture, not only in terms of theatres and plays and actors, but also in the culture of cities and towns,” says Grace. “They have not been published in any form, and contain Lawrence’s annotations, summaries of plays, anecdotes on the players, notes on the physical stage and on the staging of particular plays, reviews, images, announcements, biographies and production history.”

Grace says that UC is now reaching out to other institutions to form a cooperative web presence of finding aids for Lawrence holdings. In addition to the collection at UC, 11 of Lawrence’s notebooks are stored at the University of Bristol in England. The National Library of Ireland in Dublin also contains unpublished manuscripts, and there are collections at the New York Public Library and the University of Delaware. “We’re interested in building partnerships with these libraries to create a unified guide to Lawrence’s writings,” Grace says.

By the end of June, UC’s Archives and Rare Books Library plans to launch a website with detailed finding aids to UC’s collection and the other Lawrence collections around the world.

Grace says the web presence would open this history to scholars in a range of fields including urban studies, literature, sociology and theatre history.

Letter from Dr. Sabin to Dr. Hogan, December 1948

Recently, I have been working with letters in the Sabin collection about toxoplasmosis, a disease that Dr. Sabin and several of his colleagues researched for quite some time. Some of this correspondence contains health information, so I have been reading letters quite closely to make sure we protect the privacy of those mentioned.

Here is some background information: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and generally has few symptoms for those with healthy immune systems. However, those who are pregnant or have compromised immune systems are at risk for serious health problems if they are infected with Toxoplasma.[1] Many of the letters in the collection discuss congenital toxoplasmosis, which is when an unborn baby is infected with the parasite during the pregnancy, including labor and delivery. This infection can cause premature birth, as well as hearing loss, low birth weight, vision problems, seizures, and mental retardation. As you can imagine, mothers whose children were born with these types of symptoms were concerned for the health of the child, as well as concerned for their future children.

In 1948, Dr. Sabin and his colleague Dr. Harry A. Feldman published a brief paper in Science describing a Toxoplasma dye test, which often referred to as the Sabin-Feldman dye test (see note at end of blog for the citation). Today, this test is still recommended for use over other diagnostic methods.[2] Since I have recently examined correspondence about the disease and the dye test, I thought I would share some of the correspondence in our collection.

Dr. Sabin wrote to the editor of Science in July about the toxoplasmosis dye test manuscript saying, “While the paper may perhaps be a bit long for a preliminary communication in Science, the subject matter deals with an entirely new, hitherto undescribed phenomenon.”[3] However, Dr. Sabin probably should have said “unpublished” phenomenon, because he had described the dye test to numerous colleagues in his correspondence. One example is seen here.

Letter from Dr. Sabin to Dr. Piette, February 1952

In November, prior to the publication of the article, Dr. Michael Hogan from the University of California wrote Dr. Sabin asking for information on his “new diagnostic test” for toxoplasmosis that they had heard about from some men from Cincinnati who had recently attended a meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. Dr. Hogan wasn’t the first to ask Dr. Sabin about this test either.

At the beginning of December, Dr. Sabin replied to Dr. Hogan about his new, in vitro dye test, saying, “We have found this test to yield the most reliable quantitative data for the estimation of the approximate interval since infection with toxoplasma.” He went on to compare the dye test to the complement fixation test that was currently being used by other researchers, “We have found that the dye test give the most definitive information, because the complement fixation test can occasionally be negative, or positive in very low titer, in individuals with proved active infection.”[4]

Shortly after the publication of the article, Dr. Sabin’s lab discontinued its work on toxoplasmosis to focus on researching other diseases (mainly polio.) However, his co-author Dr. Feldman continued to research the disease and in his new lab at Syracuse University. For many years afterward, Dr. Sabin would receive specimens that physicians would want him to test for toxoplasmosis, and he would send the materials on to Dr. Feldman at Syracuse University, and later the State University of New York. As seen in this letter from 1952, Dr. Sabin referred Dr. Piette to Dr. Feldman for the serologic tests for toxoplasmosis. At the end, Dr. Sabin wrote, “I shall also be looking forward to learning what the results of these tests may turn out to be in your interesting case.”[5] As usual, Dr. Sabin was a curious man, taking interest in cases even though he was no longer researching toxoplasmosis.

For more information about Dr. Feldman, please visit the SUNY Upstate Medical University’s Health Science Library website.

References
Note: The citation for the article on the Toxoplasma dye test is Sabin, Albert B. and Harry A. Feldman. “Dyes as Michrochemical Indicators of a New Immunity Phenomenon Affecting a Protozoon Parasite (Toxoplasma).” Science 108 (1948): 660-663.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Toxoplasmosis Frequently Asked Questions.” http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/gen_info/faqs.html.
[2] For more information, see articles such as Udonsom, R., et. al. “Is Sabin-Feldman dye test using T. gondii tachyzoites from animal inoculation still the best method for detecting Toxoplasma gondii antibodies?” Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 41 (2010): 1059-64 and Reiter-Owona, I., et. al. “The Past and Present Role of the Sabin-Feldman Dye Test in the Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis.” Bulletin of the World Health Organization 77 (1999): 929-935.
[3] Letter from Dr. Sabin to the Editor of Science, 2 July 1948. Found in Series #3 – Mansucripts, Box #8, Folder #4 – “Dyes as microchemical indicators…”
[4] Both Dr. Sabin and Dr. Hogan’s letters can be found in Series #8 – Other Dieases Researched, Sub-series Toxoplasmosis, Box #4, Folder #11 – Miscellaneous, July-December 1948.
[5] Letter from Dr. Sabin to Dr. Piette, 5 February 1952. Found in Series #8 – Other Dieases Researched, Sub-series Toxoplasmosis, Box #5, Folder #7 – Feldman, Harry A., 1952.

In 2010, the University of Cincinnati Libraries received a $314,258 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to digitize the correspondence and photographs of Dr. Albert B. Sabin. This digitization project has been designated a NEH “We the People” project, an initiative to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture through the support of projects that explore significant events and themes in our nation’s history and culture and that advance knowledge of the principles that define America. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

When I began working at the Archives and Rare Books Library last June, I never could have imagined all that I would learn in the following year.  As my one year anniversary at ARB is quickly approaching, I find myself reflecting on all of the great collections I have had the opportunity to process and research, all of the priceless books I have gotten to browse every day, and all of the help and support I have been given from my wonderful co-workers.

By sheer chance, the very first collection I was given to process, during my initial weeks of working here, was directly related to my percussion performance major and my academic interests.  The Van Meter Ames Papers, detailed here in my previous blog, document the friendship between UC philosophy professor, Van Meter Ames, and prolific 20^th Century composer, John Cage (who was a composer in residence at CCM from 1966-7).  Most of the collection consists of an unpublished manuscript written by Ames about his own life and Cage’s.

After spending the first few days of processing this collection in awe of what I was holding in my hands – something I was pretty sure no one else knew about – I needed to tell my percussion professor, Allen Otte, of The Percussion Group Cincinnati.  Because Otte was interested in and excited about the collection, and because I wanted a chance to work with the collection more closely, I applied for a grant from the Undergraduate Research Council, with Allen Otte as my advisor.

Having just been notified of my URC award, I am very excited to report that this summer I will have the opportunity to research and analyze the Van Meter Ames Papers in more depth.  My eventual project goals include writing a paper that will be presented at the John Cage Centennial Conference held at CCM this fall.

Because 2012 is John Cage’s Centennial celebration, interested patrons will be happy to know that multiple Cage-related events are being held all over Cincinnati and the world.  For a complete list of world-wide events, see the official centennial website.  To visit the Washington, D.C. Festival homepage, click here.  For Cincinnati events, keep an eye out in publications like CityBeat and CCM’s online calendar.  Multiple Cage performances, including Percussion Group Cincinnati playing Cage’s Renga, for 75 musicians, with the CCM orchestra (on Nov. 29^th, 2012), are already scheduled.  Though the Solway Gallery has just ended its John Cage and Friends exhibit, it is still viewable online.

To learn more about the Van Meter Ames Papers or any additional ARB holdings please visit http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/arb/index.html.

(Re-posted from UC News:  http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=15686)

Look through historic photos of UC Commencement Ceremonies and discover some of the university’s traditions that continue to thread through Commencement today.

Who remembers Commencement at Nippert Stadium?

As depicted in the video that features Commencement photos stored in UC Archives, Nippert Stadium – for decades – was the venue for June Commencement.

UC last held Commencement in Nippert Stadium in 1984. UC President Henry Winkler delivered the Commencement address at the 1984 cerermony in Nippert Stadium. In 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, June Commencement was held downtown, when the spring ceremony took place in Riverfront Coliseum, now called U.S. Bank Arena.

It wasn’t until 1989 that the University of Cincinnati’s first spring Commencement ceremony was held in the university’s newest building at that time, the Myrl Shoemaker Center – now called Fifth Third Arena.

Note as well the photo of Commencement in the amphitheater in 1955. The amphitheater was located behind Blegen Library, before the construction of the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), which merged with UC in 1962.

A 1968 photo depicts summer graduation in the Armory Fieldhouse, which opened on campus in 1954. These August graduates were likely glowing from more than just their scholarly achievements, since the Armory Fieldhouse doesn’t have air conditioning. The Fieldhouse was used often for August Commencement ceremonies.

Written materials in UC Archives reveal that UC’s 1968 June Commencement ceremony featured what was billed as a first for any commencement ceremony ever – paper-like caps and gowns for baccalaureate and associate degree graduates. They were a blend of rayon and resins made by the Stearns and Foster Company in Cincinnati, and were highly publicized as take-home gowns that saved on the hassle of returning rentals. The cost was the same as a rental – $4.95. But they were promoted with no deposit and no down payment, plus, they were called flame resistant, water resistant and were guaranteed not to fade.

Ivy Day continues to be a cherished tradition reflected in UC’s Commencement ceremonies, as a group of outstanding undergraduate women leads the processional into Fifth Third Arena. Ivy Day dates back as far as 1903 at UC, when the group of honored women would lead graduates through campus. The president of the senior class would then plant a sprig of ivy in a formal ceremony during Senior Week. The very first ivy planting in 1903 occurred around the time when UC moved its current campus location to Clifton Avenue.

The video closes with the graduation photo of Cheryle D. Southern, MD, who was the only graduate to earn an MD in the August ceremony of 1970. She says the ceremony was held at the Armory Fieldhouse. Southern now practices medicine in Indianapolis.

It looks like these students are moving into new territory. From the 1958 Cincinnatian Yearbook

Often when I tell family or friends that I’m going to be going to an archives conference, they say “How Boring!”  I find it exciting though.  It is my chance to see what other archivists are doing, if there is anything new we can try here at UC, and it allows me to meet other archivists who might be able to answer one of my questions or one of your future questions.  I recently attended the Midwest Archives Conference Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and learned about some new projects using “participatory archives,” and how these collections can be used in research, teaching, learning, and just for fun.  (To learn a little more about the conference, read Stephanie Bricking’s blog post about her poster presentation on the Sabin papers.)

What is a participatory archive?   The plenary speaker, Kate Theimer, who is a popular blogger in the archives world, defines it as:

An organization, site, or collection in which people other than archives professionals contribute knowledge or resources, resulting in increased understanding about archival materials, usually in an online environment.

Basically, it is a way to integrate web 2.0 technologies into digital collections and gain the thoughts, ideas, and collective knowledge of the audience.  Sometimes it even becomes a way for people to contribute their own material to a collection.  It really is not completely new, but this format of digital collection is quickly gaining ground.

Map of Cincinnati, 1869, from the UC Archives and Rare Book Library collection

Participatory archives often solicit the assistance of the public in identification of archival materials or help in making historical material more useful.  One example is the Remember Me? project by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum which utilizes the knowledge of their visitors to discover the identities of children displaced by the Nazis and the Axis during World War II.  This digital collection displays pictures of children who survived the atrocities and visitors can leave comments on or suggestions as to where the children are now.    The site has enjoyed some success, such as in the case Liliane Wahlberg and her siblings.  Another project, the New York Public Library’s Map Warper, also utilizes the minds of visitors to help align historical maps with a current map.  If you have ever questioned what a road used to be called, or wondered what a building used to be, you can certainly understand the usefulness of such a project.

Other participatory archives have sought to gather material from the public to commemorate events or to increase their holdings on specific topics.  The Library of Virginia’s CW 150 Legacy Project is collecting material documenting the Civil War from throughout Virginia, digitizing it, and making it available through their website.  Likewise, the Denver Public Library’s Creating Your Community project facilitates community created archives by allowing participates to upload photos and documents from their individual collections and add stories about their own experiences.   Archival communities have been created for neighborhoods, churches, art, schools, music, and other parts of Denver life.  It’s a great way to learn about the history of Denver and its people.

Another project where any individual can contribute their own material is History Pin.  History Pin allows you to post historic photographs on a map at the location of those photos.  You can also post stories and leave comments.   At the Midwest Archives Conference, Elizabeth Reilly of the University of Louisville talked about using History Pin to display photographs of Louisville, Kentucky.   The University of Louisville staff uses images in their collections that match the view from Google’s street view.  See some examples here by clicking on the pins with the little yellow Google street view guy:  http://www.historypin.com/photos/#!/geo:38.217238,-85.746229/zoom:12/

These are great projects that can engage researchers and patrons in the archives and allow them to learn about and contribute to archival collections.  Being at a university, though, it is important for us think of the ways that participatory archives can be used for teaching and for research.    Old Weather is an example of how participatory archives can be used for research.  Old Weather hopes to make available weather data from the past utilizing individuals to transcribe historical ship logs.  The data will then be used to produce climate models.   Other participatory archives can create opportunities for student projects.   The New York Public Library’s What’s On the Menu project, which recruits participants to transcribe digitized menus, makes its data available for anyone to use to create tools or games.

Archivists have only begun creating participatory sites like these.  If you’re interested in seeing what else is out there, more projects are listed on Kate Theimer’s blog ArchivesNext.  Hopefully, a taste of a few of these will get your creative juices flowing, allow you to learn something new, or at least have a little fun.