Tag Archives: UC Libraries

Busing and the battle for equal education in Bronson v. Board of Education

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Last November, the University of Cincinnati Libraries announced the award of an Archives Grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to the Libraries’ Archives and Rare Books Library (ARB). This grant supports the archival processing of records related to the lawsuit Bronson v. Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Cincinnati maintained by the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and donated to the University of Cincinnati in the 1980s. 

Newspaper image of young girls (one Black and one White) playing a hand game sitting across from each other on the bus.
Image from Cincinnati Enquirer, November 14, 1978

The struggle of busing

During the legal proceedings of the Bronson case, one of the examples of discrimination within Cincinnati schools cited by the NAACP was the policy of busing students to school further away rather than allowing them to attend a much closer school in order to prevent integration at particular schools. 

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New exhibits at HSL

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From historical anatomies to apothecary artifacts to early 20th-century pharmaceutical equipment, there are three new exhibits at the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library that have something interesting for everyone to explore.

The Ansomi Normals Du Corps Human Atlas Inconographique by Sigismond Laskowski (1841-1928).

Display Case 1: Dr. Lisa Koby’s donation to the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions. Ansomi Normals Du Corps Human Atlas Inconographique, by Sigismond Laskowski (1841-1928).

Lisa’s father, Dr. Victor Koby was a direct descendant of Andrei Kobyla – the progenitor of the Romanov dynasty in Russia. Dr. Koby attended medical school in Prague, where he became friends with Dr. Katherine Euler. After graduation, Euler gifted Koby the Atlas pictured (wherever photo is). The Atlas made it through World War II and over to America, where it was given to a friend of Lisa Koby’s, Dr. Stillman (University of Cincinnati), who then had it restored. It was then donated to UC Libraries.

Dorothy Blank Apothecary artifacts.

Display Case 2: Dorothy Blank Apothecary Artifacts Collection.

Dorothy “Dot” Blank was born September 11, 1914, and died August 7, 1987 at the age of 72. She was the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy freshman class secretary, as well as the historian for the Alpha Phi Gamma sorority. She graduated in 1934 with a Candidate in Philosophy degree. Her husband, Robert E. Lonneman Sr. graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Pharmacy. The display consists of apothecary weights, sets of mortar and pestle, apothecary scales and glass test tube.

Display Case 3: Compound & Traditional Pharmacy Provisions.

Compound and traditional pharmacy provisions.

Alex Herbers joins UC Libraries as web and user experience specialist

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UC Libraries is excited to share that Alex Herbers has joined our staff as the Web & User Experience Specialist. This role will support and advance UCL’s mission by ensuring website and digital resources are discoverable, accessible and aligned with the needs of the UC community.

Alex is an experienced UX developer and designer. He joins us from Kent State University, where he also earned a BFA in Visual Communication Design. After working in private industry for several years, he joined Kent State in 2019. Most recently, he worked in University Communications & Marketing, serving as a lead UX Developer / Designer for the university’s digital presence. Welcome, Alex!

Alex Herbers

New Library Services Platform launches today

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The University of Cincinnati Libraries transitioned to a new library services platform (LSP) beginning today, June 25. Included in the LSP upgrade is OneSearch, a new user discovery interface that students, faculty, researchers and other library patrons will use to find (and access) resources in the Libraries’ collections.

onesearch

Note: OneSearch is under development. The preview shown here are subject to change.

This LSP upgrade is in collaboration with the OhioLINK statewide academic library consortium. This cloud-based, enterprise system software is the backbone of day-to-day library operations (acquisitions, cataloging, circulation/fulfillment, etc.). The new system will provide user benefits to help students, faculty and other library users find and access library resources. Its user-friendly interactions will be more user intuitive.

Although we are working to minimize any disruption to services, the cut over to the new system will impact links to library collections, acquisitions and summer borrowing of print materials among other OhioLINK institutions. If you have any questions, please contact a subject librarian.

The LSP upgrade was a library-wide effort led by a Migration Team. For more information, the Libraries has created a LSP FAQ, or contact a subject librarian.

Understanding the content of the NAACP Bronson v. Board collection

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Last November, the University of Cincinnati Libraries announced the award of an Archives Grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to the Libraries’ Archives and Rare Books Library (ARB). This grant supports the archival processing of records related to the lawsuit Bronson v. Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Cincinnati maintained by the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and donated to the University of Cincinnati in the 1980s.   

Archival records from organizations may contain an array of documents and an incredible amount of those documents, such as correspondence, meeting minutes and case files. When this occurs, archivists may arrange the material into series and subseries in order to assist researchers in accessing the collection. The NAACP Bronson v. Board records is an example of this practice. Due to the extensive material within the collection, it is vital to note the different types of documents and what they mean in the context of the case. This includes files created and kept by the school districts and documents that originated in the court. For both document types, ARB has consulted with the Office of General Counsel to determine if any records need to be restricted or redacted.

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Announcing OneSearch, the new LSP user discovery interface

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The Library Services Platform (LSP) upgrade currently underway will include OneSearch, a new user discovery interface that students, faculty, researchers and other library patrons will use to find (and access) resources in the Libraries’ collections.

One Search tool
One Search preview

Note: OneSearch is under development. The previews shown here are subject to change.

The new user discovery interface will streamline search functions and access to local library resources and scholarly research. OneSearch will offer new and improved features and benefits including:

  • Faster searching – search electronic and print resources in one search,
  • Enhanced discovery – explore automatic recommendations, citation trails, availability in multiple formats and track requests, including finding resources across the OhioLINK network,
  • Personalized features – save preferences, searches, citations and export to citation management systems,
  • More intuitive user experience, and
  • Mobile friendly – a responsive user interface designed specifically for mobile devices.

OneSearch will debut June 25 with the LSP go live. For more information, the Libraries has created a LSP FAQ, or contact your subject librarian.

Important note on links:

Existing links to library resources in course syllabi, reading lists and Canvas pages will require updating to new links in the OneSearch discovery tool. The Libraries will develop materials to assist faculty teaching in the fall with any required adjustment to course links. Those teaching summer courses should note that any existing links may experience disruption. Contact your subject librarian with any questions or for assistance.

Emergence of the suburban school districts in Bronson v. Board

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Last November, the University of Cincinnati Libraries announced the award of an Archives Grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to the Libraries’ Archives and Rare Books Library (ARB). This grant supports the archival processing of records related to the lawsuit Bronson v. Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Cincinnati maintained by the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and donated to the University of Cincinnati in the 1980s.      

Map of Hamilton County School Districts provided by Metropolitan Association Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, undated
Map of Hamilton County School Districts provided by Metropolitan Association Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, undated

The suburban school districts 

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Patrick Bois joins UC Libraries as evening and weekend supervisor

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We are delighted to announce that Patrick Bois joined the University of Cincinnati Libraries on May 12 in the role of Langsam Library evening and weekend supervisor. Patrick will be working Sundays – Thursdays, providing critical staff coverage for Langsam’s seven-day-a-week schedule during the academic year. 

Patrick is a UC alumnus in history and is currently working on his MLIS at Kent State, with a concentration in archival studies. Before coming to UC, he worked in the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Libraries since 2021, and this experience will be a great asset in his new role. He is excited to work in an academic library that he experienced as a student.

Welcome back to UC, Patrick!

patrick bois

Silent no more. PBS’s “The Art Show” to feature Theda Bara, Archives & Rare Books and The Preservation Lab

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theda bara

Theda Bara, born Theodosia Burr Goodman on July 29, 1885 to a local Jewish family, attended the University of Cincinnati from 1906-1908 before leaving to pursue an acting career. Bara became one of the biggest stars of the silent film era making 40 films between 1914 and 1926. Her femme fatale roles earned her the nickname “The Vamp.”

While most of the films Theda Bara starred in were destroyed in a studio fire, her name lives on at UC with the T. Everett Harré Manuscript on Theda Bara, which is housed in the Archives and Rare Books Library.

This weekend’s episode of CET and ThinkTV’s “The Art Show” will feature Theda Bara and the manuscript in Archives and Rare Books. View it Saturday, May 17 at 6pm on CET or Sunday, May 18 at 5:30pm on Dayton’s ThinkTV. It will also appear on the PBS App and is currently viewable on YouTube.

Included in the episode, Chris Harter, university archivist and head of the Archives and Rare Books Library, talks about the 450-page typewritten manuscript that documents Bara’s life. It was intended to be a memoir ghostwritten in collaboration with Bara, but was never published. Holly Prochaska, preservation librarian and head of the Preservation Lab, talks about how they worked to ensure that the manuscript and letters between Bara and Harré are protected and will remain available for study and research long into the future, thus cementing Theda Bara’s legacy.

chris harter being interviewed by CET