The University of Cincinnati Libraries were awarded a $60,669 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the State Library of Ohio to digitize and make freely available on the Web the photographic collection of Cincinnati’s subway and street changes archive. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Cincinnati History
Archives Month in Ohio Kicks Off in October
By Kevin Grace
Every year, the Society of Ohio Archivists sponsors “Archives Month in Ohio” in order to bring awareness to the rich historical materials contained in the state’s libraries, museums, and historical organizations. The intent is to make citizens aware of these holdings, and to see further use of them by students, scholars, and teachers.
The theme for Archives Month this year is “Peoples of Ohio,” celebrating the ethnic and racial diversity in the Buckeye State. In Cincinnati, the focus is on Irish Americans with exhibits and presentations planned that explore the Irish culture in the Queen City. One event that is scheduled is an afternoon reading of Irish American poetry in the University of Cincinnati’s Elliston Poetry Room, located in Langsam Library on the north end of campus.
Dolly Cohen: Philanthropist and Fashionista
By Suzanne Maggard
If you were a member of Cincinnati’s blue blood society in the 1950s and 1960s, you would have surely known Dolly Cohen. You might have also been acquainted with her, if you were a polio or cancer researcher, a local orphan, a victim of muscular dystrophy, a University of Cincinnati faculty member, a student seeking a scholarship, or even an Ohio State University football player. The woman was everywhere, donating her time and money to a myriad of causes in Cincinnati and throughout the country. The University of Cincinnati’s Archives and Rare Books Library holds Mrs. Cohen’s scrapbooks and other mementos which provide a visual timeline of her life and charitable work. Continue reading
Generous Gift Funds More News Record Digitization
By: Kevin Grace
An additional four years of the University of Cincinnati News Record has now been digitized, thanks to the generosity of a Bearcat alumnus. Jordan L. Bleznick, a 1976 A&S graduate, funded the project to digitize the student newspaper from 1973 through 1976, adding to the previous digitized issues from 1960 through 1970. Researchers can access these years by visiting the University of Cincinnati Digital Collections site at: http://digitalprojects.libraries.uc.edu/newsrecord/index.php. The newspapers are available as full-text and are keyword searchable. Continue reading
ARB Makes the Poster Lineup for Archives Month
By: Kevin Grace
Every October, the Society of Ohio Archivists sponsors “Archives Month in Ohio” to encourage teachers, students, scholars and the general public to seek out and learn from the rich historical resources in the state. From the smallest community historical society to the largest public libraries and universities, the wealth of primary research material in Ohio contributes not only to appreciation of our heritage, but provides understanding of our current lives as well.
And each year, the SOA Archives Month Committee selects a specific topic to highlight repository holdings. In the past, some of the themes have been music, African American heritage, business, and sports. As part of the annual focus, exhibits, lectures, and other programs are offered and a promotional poster is printed. For 2012, the theme is “Peoples of Ohio” and southwestern Ohio will focus on Irish heritage. For the poster, the Archives & Rare Books Library contributed the image shown here of a piper from the Cincinnati Emerald Society of Police and Fired Pipes and Drums Corps performing in the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. This photo will accompany other wonderful images representing the state’s Native American, Greek, Slovak, Jewish, German, French, and African American citizens, for example. Posters will be available by late summer. Continue reading
Richardson's rocks: DAAP-designed Cincinnati memorial in Burnet Woods turns 40
UC Magazine recently published a story celebrating the Richardson Stones in Burnett Woods. Read the story below or to view the original story, go to magazine.uc.edu/favorites/web-only/richardsons_rocks.html You can also find a collection on the Richardson Stones at the Archives and Rare Books Library. The finding aid is available on the OhioLINK Finding Aid Repository.
UC architecture faculty and students who integrated H.H. Richardson and his works into their ongoing studies completed this memorial in Burnet Woods Park in 1972. photo/Jay Yocis
Former UC architectural history professor Bill Rudd shares the story behind the student-led construction of the Burnet Woods memorial to famed architect H.H. Richardson’s Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Building. Henry Hobson Richardson is highly regarded, along with Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, as one of “the recognized trinity of American architecture.” The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque.
Among the last buildings Richardson designed was the one-time Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce building on 4th Street. That building, dedicated in 1889, would stand among the most significant public structures in the region — along with works like the Suspension Bridge, the Carew Tower, City Hall, Music Hall and Union Terminal — had it not been destroyed by fire a century ago, in 1911. The memorial was completed in 1972.
Cincinnati Ballet at 50
In 2013, the Cincinnati Ballet will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. This renowned local ballet company has long and enduring ties to the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Cincinnati holds records of the Cincinnati Ballet and David McLain, one of its earliest directors. The Archives and Rare Books Library will be working with the Cincinnati Ballet over the next year as they celebrate this important milestone.
As part of the celebration, the ballet is looking to collect more material related to its history including items that might be held by former dancers, former staff, long-time ballet fans and sponsors, and any members of the public. The ballet will be hosting an Ice Cream Social on Sunday July 29th from 2:00-4:00 at their location at 1555 Central Parkway as a way for individuals to share any treasures they hold related to the ballet and their memories of the ballet. Click on the announcement to the right for more information on this event. Continue reading
New Addition to ARB's Strobridge Lithography Company Calendar Card Holdings
By Lauren Fink, ARB Intern, 2011-2012
An exciting collection of Strobridge Calendar cards has just been processed in the Archives & Rare Books Library. The new Gaylord Oscar Shepherd Collection of Strobridge Lithography Company Calendar Cards contains 53 cards and is a wonderful complement to the 114 cards already held in The Lawrence F. Albers and George J. Albers Collection. All of the cards in the new collection have been scanned and are available for online viewing in this web exhibit.
"Mr. UC": The Life and Service of Daniel Laurence
Daniel Laurence as UC Vice President of Business Administration
By Janice Schulz
When Daniel Laurence was at the height of his career at the University of Cincinnati, he was honorably dubbed “Mr. UC.” This is not a title that was given out lightly, but a testament to Laurence’s career and his devotion to the University. He spent 62 years of his life at the University of Cincinnati from 1890 to 1961. Of those decades, four years were spent as an undergraduate student, football star, and student leader, 40 as clerk of the Board of Directors, Secretary and Business Manager, and Vice President, and 18 as Emeritus Vice President. Laurence was there as the University grew from a small city school to a strong institution. He saw 12 presidents come and go. He watched as 43 buildings and Nippert Stadium rose from the ground and oversaw many of those building projects as Vice President. During his time, enrollment grew from 133 to 17,538 students and the one Academic Department of 1890 became six separate colleges. And largely under his supervision, the annual budget grew from $76,860.57 to over $18 million. If anyone deserves the title of “Mr. UC,” it is surely he. Continue reading
Post about Cincinnati: The Nelson and Florence Hoffmann Cincinnati Postcard Collection
By Lauren Fink, Archives and Rare Books Library Intern
The Nelson and Florence Hoffmann Cincinnati Postcard Collection is now available for viewing in the Archives & Rare Books Library. The 1,675 postcards in the collection were acquired by Nelson Hoffman over several decades, documenting Cincinnati’s history and culture from the late 1800s through the late 1900s. Through their images and texts, the postcards in this collection provide fascinating reflections of life in Cincinnati, both recreationally and professionally.
