Blog featuring news and updates about collections, discoveries, exhibitions, and public programs of the University of Oregon Special Collections & University Archives
“We don’t call a tree a resource. We don’t call the fish a resource. We don’t call the bison a resource. We call them our relatives.” Onondaga Chief Oren Lyons, UN Summit, 1992
Join Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) on October 14th, 2024 to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the opening of our fall exhibit, The Land We Have Always Known. This exhibit, guest-curated by University of Oregon student Marisol Peters (class of 2027, Karuk), explores Indigenous land relationships in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Working at the intersections between the land, water, culture and history, The Land We Have Always Known asks us to re-evaluate our beliefs about our more-than-human relatives and consider ways in which we can heal our world by changing the way we relate to the land.
Our Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration begins at 1pm with a campus art walk, and culminates in a catered reception, held in the Special Collections Paulson Reading Room.
1 to 2:30 p.m. Campus Art Walk
Tour begins in the front of the Knight Library (1501 Kincaid Street)
Join featured artist Steph Littlebird (Grand Ronde) and JSMA McCosh Curator Danielle Knapp, for an Art Walk of the UO Campus, highlighting new installations of works by Littlebird at the Knight Library, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Design Library, and JSMA, and additional public art and architectural points of interest. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes for an hour-and-a-half- long, two-mile walk.
2:30 to 4 p.m. New Cartographies Draw-In
Ken Kesey Classroom (room 201n), Knight Library (1501 Kincaid Street)
Inspired by the work of the Homeland Collective, we will gather to reconnect to the land through art making and cartography. No art-making experience necessary and all supplies will be included.
4 to 6 p.m. The Land We Have Always Known Exhibit Opening
Paulson Reading Room (second floor north), Knight Library (1501 Kincaid Street)
The Land We Have Always Known will be on view in the Paulson Reading Room from October 14 to mid-January 2025.
UO undergraduates interested in the humanities and humanities-affiliated social sciences and professions can apply for a fellowship in archival practice that comes with a $3,000 stipend and takes place over winter and spring terms. The program will provide students with important humanities library sciences research and career readiness skills, while expanding their post-college job prospects. Students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to apply. Curious to see an example of previous fellows’ work? Check out the John F. Finerty papers blog, and the following story: https://ohc.uoregon.edu/student-organizes-authors-archive/.
Program background
Study of and research in the humanities helps students develop critical thinking, problem solving, communication, presentation, collaboration, and other important skills required to successfully navigate an ever-changing post-college world regardless of the chosen profession, and to be prepared to help solve society’s most complex issues. To assist students in this transition and to create a student-to-career pipeline, the University of Oregon’sOregon Humanities Center(OHC) and UO’s Libraries Special Collections and University Archives(SCUA) are collaborating to offer an undergraduate student fellowship program focused on building primary archival research and career readiness skills.
SCUA staff will guide the student(s) through an archival processing project and research production experience that will enable the students to think more broadly about their career opportunities and interests, seek other research funding support, and pursue honors theses. Students will gain hands-on library science experience while developing project management, data collection and analysis, and digital humanities experience. The student will receive $3,000 for the twenty-week fellowship, in addition to the high level of support from SCUA and OHC. The student’s work as a fellow will focus on actual archival work (preservation, arrangement, and description), in addition to a public presentation and poster session on their project, along with the opportunity to write blog and social media posts.
The term humanities as used here includes literature; philosophy; history; religion; ethics; the history, theory, and criticism of the arts; and historical or interpretive aspects of social and natural sciences and the professions.
This program was made possible by the generosity of OHC donors Herb Merker and Marcy Hammock.
Program length
This program will take place during the 2025 Winter and Spring terms and will last twenty weeks.
Application Deadline
Applications are due Monday, October 14, 2024.
Eligibility
Be enrolled at the UO full time as an undergraduate in a humanities or humanities-related major or minor.
Have a GPA of 3.0 or greater in UO humanities courses.
Expectations and requirements
Remain enrolled as a full-time student and be in good academic standing during the entirety of the twenty-week program.
Graduation date cannot take place before the completion of the twenty-week program.
Be available for 2-3 shifts of 3+ hours (up to 10 hours per week) starting Week 1 of Winter Term. Work must take place during SCUA’s hours of operation (Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm). No shifts during Spring Break. Fellowship concludes at the end of Week 10 of Spring Term.
Participate in the poster session at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring 2025 and present findings in a public setting to OHC, SCUA, program donors, and other invited guests.
Students may not be paid to conduct research through other internal UO research support programs during the same twenty-week program period. Students may, however, accept an external award for the same academic year as this program.
If for any reason a student’s circumstances change (e.g., due to exit from the University, loss of full-time student status, or the receipt of any grant or award that conflicts with the conditions of this program) and the student is unable to use the award during the academic year for which it was granted, the award must be forfeited. This program cannot be deferred.
Students may participate in this program only once.
Acknowledge the OHC and SCUA in any work resulting from research done during the program period.
Notify the OHC and SCUA of any publications, conference presentations, or other awards, fellowships, or employment that result from your research project.
Notify the OHC and SCUA immediately of other support or any conflict with the eligibility criteria of this program.
Award amount
The student(s) in this program will receive a $3,000 award paid out as resource aid split between winter and spring terms.
IMPORTANT:If you are receiving federal financial aid, this award may affect your financial aid eligibility. Students who receive federal aid have a responsibility to report all awards earned to theUO Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for more information. The OHC will provide recipients and the Financial Aid Office with supporting documents if required.
How to Apply
Step 1: Read all program information and check eligibility.
Step 2: Identify a faculty member who will provide a recommendationfor you.
Recommendations are accepted from Tenure Track Faculty or Career Non-tenure Track Faculty with an FTE of .50 or above.
Ask your recommender to fill out this formby Monday, October 14, 2024.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Under the federal law titled the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and according to the University of Oregon Student Record Policy, registered students are given the right to inspect their records, including letters of recommendation and teacher recommendations. If the student wants to waive their right of access to this recommendation, they may do so by completing awaiver form. This should be saved and uploaded in the online application form as a PDF.
Step 3: Obtain an unofficial copy of your UO transcripts.
This will be uploaded in the online application form as a PDF.
Step 4: Write a concise personal statement.
Describe your interest in the program.
Describe how your background has prepared you for this program and any relevant training (formal and informal).
Outline your future career or educational goals.
This statement should be 500 words or less and include text only (no images or graphics) and should be well written, well organized, and free of spelling and grammatical errors.
Save as a PDF file named: Last name_First name. This will be uploaded in the online application.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact: Jena Turner, Associate Director, atjenap@uoregon.eduor 541-346-1001, or Melissa Gustafson, atmelissag@uoregon.edu, 541-346-1002.
The Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) archivists have been hard at work, making over 150 linear feet of materials available for researchers this summer.
UO bookstore, c. 1920-1940
History and Culture
Our newly processed collections include the James C. Mohr collection of presidential ephemera (Coll 960), which features inauguration initiations, President Harding’s funeral memorabilia, first lady calling cards, and a variety of political cartoons and etchings.
local economy in Gardiner, Oregon. As a prominent retail and trade center on the Oregon coast, the store was pivotal in providing manufactured goods and foodstuffs not otherwise readily available to the local population.
The Fred Lockley papers (CB L812) offer a compelling glimpse into the life and work of Lockley (1871-1958), a renowned newspaper columnist, rare book dealer, and author of notable works on Oregon and Pacific Northwest history. Lockley’s career was as varied as it was adventurous: he worked as a field editor for the Pacific Homestead and traveled extensively across Oregon on horseback.
Literature, Art and Architecture
The Brice P. Disque, Jr. papers (Ax 291) chronicle the career of Disque (1904-1960) in the world of radio and theater. Born in Montana and raised across the U.S. and the Philippines, Disque pursued a career in literary works, journalism, and theater. By 1936, Disque had turned his focus to radio, where he became renowned for his work on Gang Busters, a show that dramatized real crime cases and was notable for its authentic partnership with police departments.
The Suzy McKee Charnas’s papers (Coll 486) delve into the life and work of a prominent science fiction and fantasy author. Born in New York City in 1939, Charnas grew up with a rich cultural background, attending arts high school and later Barnard College and New York University. Her career spanned teaching, Peace Corps service, and significant contributions to science fiction, notably her series The Holdfast Chronicles, which earned her the Gaylactic Spectrum Hall of Fame Award. Charnas’s involvement in feminist science fiction and her extensive network of correspondence reflect her prominent role in the genre.
Similarly, the Vonda N. McIntyre papers (Coll 508) offer a comprehensive look at the life of the celebrated science fiction writer. Born in 1948 in Louisville, Kentucky, and later based in Seattle, McIntyre was known for her contributions to science fiction and feminist literature, including works like Dreamsnake and The Moon and the Sun.
The Barry Holstun Lopez papers (Coll 497) provide insight into the literary career of Lopez (1945-2020), whose work focused on naturalism and environmentalism.
The original Oregon State Capitol, 1909.
Finally, the Justus F. Krumbein papers (Coll 761) document the architectural legacy of Krumbein, who immigrated from Germany to the United States in 1869. After settling in Portland, Oregon, Krumbein designed several notable buildings, including the Jacob Kamm House and the original Oregon State Capitol.
Environment and Social Activism
The WomanSpirit records (Coll 346) offer a vibrant glimpse into a unique feminist and spiritual publication. Founded by Jean and Ruth Mountaingrove, WomanSpirit was published from 1974 to 1984 and produced on their land, RootWorks, near Wolf Creek, Oregon. The magazine explored themes at the intersection of spirituality and feminism, addressing topics such as goddess myths, feminist theory, ecology, and divination.
The Timothy Ingalsbee collection of Earth First! (Coll 731) documents the activism of Ingalsbee, a dedicated wildfire firefighter and environmental advocate from Oregon who collected materials related to Earth First!, a radical environmental group founded in 1980.
The David de Lorenzo Disability Ephemera Collection (Coll 961) encompasses a rich array of materials related to disability, such as broadsides, books, pamphlets, cartoons, illustrations, postcards, buttons, photographs, advertisements, and artifacts.
University Records
The State Association of University of Oregon Women records (UA 198) document the history and administrative workings of a prominent organization dedicated to women affiliated with the University of Oregon. Established to serve women associated with the university, the records span from 1923 to 1970 and include a comprehensive array of documents such as treasurer’s books, Board of Trustees records, minutes, constitutions, financial statements, and event clippings.
The Centennial Planning Council records (UA 087) capture the extensive preparations for the University of Oregon’s Centennial celebrations in 1976, which were notably intertwined with the United States Bicentennial. The planning for the Centennial, which began in the 1960s amidst debates over the correct year to mark, involved a range of committees, including the Bicentennial Commission and the Academic Occasions Committee.
The Women’s Faculty Club records (UA 086) shed light on a pivotal period for women faculty at the University of Oregon. Formed in 1927 by a group of women who sought a formal organization during an era when the male-only Faculty Club excluded them, the Women’s Faculty Club provided a space for social interaction and professional networking. The club, which also encompassed the Newcomers Club to assist new members, played a significant role in the social and professional lives of women faculty, their families, and graduate students through meetings, social gatherings, and interest-based groups.
Visual Collections
The Steph Littlebird Indigenous Resilience and Resistance Collection (PH 409) consists of thirty five prints created by the Portland-based Kalapuyan artist Steph Littlebird. This collection, first exhibited at the University of Oregon’s EMU Gallery in the fall of 2023, captures Littlebird’s powerful exploration of themes central to Indigenous identity and activism.
Photographic Collections
Haynes photographing the Missouri River, 1876.
The F.J. Haynes stereographs (PH 194_011) contains fourteen images by Frank Jay Haynes (1853-1921), a photographer known for his role in documenting the early settlement of the western United States, including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park.
The Jackson Brothers collection (PH 194_012) features ten stereoscopic photographs of Utah landscapes. Founded in 1867 by William Henry Jackson and his brother Edward, the Jackson Brothers company became renowned for its landscape photography.
The E. Schuster stereographs (PH 194_013) includes nine images of the American west, including a notable photograph of San Felipe de Neri in Albuquerque and various scenes from Las Vegas, New Mexico, where Schuster was an active stereo photographer during the 1880s.
The Rosel Schwarzmann photographs (PH 189) document the work of Schwarzmann (1896-1990), a German photographer based in Mainz, Germany, who operated her own studio and acted as the primary documentarian for the Mainz City Theater. The collection includes buildings, statues, and natural scenes in Mainz, Germany.
The Agnes Harris Thornton photographs (PH 027) holds portraits and snapshots of family and friends, including tintypes and carte de visite images. Born and raised in Kings, California, the collection spans from 1870 to 1910.
The Ben Leghorn collection (PH 029) consists of seventy photographs from the 1910s and 1920s, documenting Arlington, Oregon, before and after its relocation due to dam construction. The collection captures river traffic and the aftermath of a town fire, reflecting Leghorn’s work as a local photographer.
Eugene local Jim Newell began his collection (PH 345) in the 1970s. The collection includes eleven 4×5 glass-plate negatives from the 1870s to 1890s that feature scenes from the University of Washington campus, the town of Dawson during a celebration, and various unidentified family members.
The Craig Hickman photograph collection (PH 392), holds images document wooden desktops in classrooms, capturing student artwork and carvings. The collection also includes bound books featuring Hickman’s additional photographic works and artistic representations. Hickman is a retired Professor Emeritus from the University of Oregon and co-founder of the Blue Sky Gallery in Portland.
Larry Smith, a Portland-based photographer active in the 1940s and later decades, is known for his nature and form photography, influenced by his contemporaries Edward Weston and Minor White. His collection (PH 357) consists of black-and-white prints from the 1930s through the 1980s, including portraits of fellow photographers and a selection of nude images.
The Albert A. Reck collection (PH 341) documents the work of Reck (1890-1972), a Portland motorman and amateur photographer. The collection spans from the early 1900s to the 1950s and includes albums filled with snapshots taken throughout his life, including family portraits and travel images.
Finally, the 91st Division U.S. Signal Corps photographs collection (PH 309) documents the “Wild West Division” of the U.S. Army during World War I and World War II. Constituted in 1917, the division fought in major campaigns such as St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and the Ypres-Lys, playing a significant role in these battles and contributing to the Allied victory in both wars.
None of this work would be possible without the incredible contributions of our hardworking students and fellows including Kaloni Hernandez, Alexa Rose, Lara-Marie Frick, Maya Revell and Maggie Dobson.
We are delighted to share the results of our recent Undergraduate Poetry Contest, where creativity, insight, and eloquence converged in a dazzling display of poetic talent. After careful consideration by our awards committee, we are proud to announce two winners whose works stood out for their originality, emotional depth, and linguistic sensibility.
Danielle Richard – ” YOU MAKE ME WANT TO CRASH MY CAR”
Danielle Richard is a third-year English student at the University of Oregon, where she also minors in Arabic Language and Creative Writing. Over the past year, Danielle has participated in the Walter and Nancy Kidd Creative Writing Program, where she earned second place in the Walter and Nancy Kidd Memorial Writing Competition for “YOU MAKE ME WANT TO CRASH MY CAR”, the same piece for which she is being celebrated here. Additionally, she won first place for poetry at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Oregon.
Danielle’s work has been featured in the *=Unbound Journal, a student literary publication at UO. Beyond her academic achievements, she actively contributes to the university community through her leadership roles in three clubs: Unbound Journal, Oregon Voice Magazine, and J-Street UOregon.
Originally from Tallahassee, Florida—a city she deeply cherishes and often draws inspiration from—Danielle began writing seriously in sixth grade. Her passion for poetry has been a constant throughout high school and college, serving as a tool for understanding and exploring the world.
Looking ahead, Danielle is considering pursuing a master of fine arts in poetry and aims to work in editing and publishing after graduating from the University of Oregon, all while continuing to refine her craft.
Danielle will receive a prize of $500 and have her poem featured in Verse Weavers, a journal published by the Oregon Poetry Association.
YOU MAKE ME WANT TO CRASH MY CAR
So it is not the season for deer
with new antlers after all.
The fawns have grown
out of their spots and their mothers
have found new lovers and I
have prayed but time does not
pass for me and I fall
asleep in the back room at work.
Traffic is fine.
And by that I mean I hate you
until I am alone in the doctor’s office
and I want someone
to rub my back.
I know weeks from now, the bucks
will rub heads bloody, chafing
at branches and peeling velvet skin from
new alabaster bone.
In the waiting room, the fluorescents
are a headache. The nurse comes in
but she does not call my name.
Ryan Kovatch – “mantra”
Ryan Kovatch is a poet from Portland, Oregon. He is currently an undergraduate participating in the University of Oregon’s Walter and Nancy Kidd Creative Writing Workshops. In 2023, his poem “12:00, 12:00, 12:00” won the second place prize in the Walter and Nancy Kidd Creative Writing Competition for poetry, and was described by American poet Kate Daniels as “a deeply imaginative poem that creatively transforms the quotidian task of baking a cake from a boxed mix into a metaphor of quixotic life.” His work has appeared in the Robert D. Clark Honors College creative arts journal Ephemera as well as the Literary Arts Writers in the Schools anthology. Kovatch’s poetry primarily centers on how love and grief interact in queer relationships, making extensive use of direct address and internal rhyme throughout his writing. Also a scholar of computer science, mathematics, and cognitive sciences, he is interested in the ways that languages work to convey logic and meaning, and how we can apply language creatively across disciplines.
Ryan will receive a prize of $500 and have her poem featured in Verse Weavers, a journal published by the Oregon Poetry Association.
mantra
there is no generally accepted definition of mantra. it captures centuries of word-repeating, history repeating. i’m practicing repeating the shape of your name, our names together, our names repeating. my sinister dreaming. i turn in my bed and find the shape of your leaving, your leaving repeating, my sweating and breathing. i’m practicing breathing. i’m saying your name and it sounds like i’m heaving. i gnaw on the letters like an infant who’s teething, hunched over the bowl, keeled over with feeling. letters you wrote that i pinned to the ceiling, your words i’m repeating. call it insanity or fanatic believing, with either i’m kneeling and praying and pleading. the pins that i’m pulling, the love i’m undoing, none of it stops the sound or the bleeding, and no matter the mantra, no matter the phrasing, it’s you i’m repeating, elusive the meaning.
A Round of Applause
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to both Danielle and Ryan for their striking work.
We would also like to thank all the participants for their hard work and creative energy. Each entry was a testament to the vibrant and dynamic nature of contemporary poetry, and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to engage with such a wide range of voices.
SCUA is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of the Daniel Levitin papers. Daniel J. Levitin is an award-winning neuroscientist, musician, and best-selling author. The collection contains his manuscripts and editor/publisher notes and correspondence related to his six published books. Further information about his books is available here.
Portrait of Daniel Levitin, accessed May 23, 2024. https://www.daniellevitin.com/publicity-photos
The physical archive of his published books consists of original printed copies of the manuscripts, copyeditors’ notes, and editor’s printed notes, as well as copies of his books and many articles, and includes public outreach materials and announcements for his talks. The born digital archive consists of computer folders for each of the books and contains multiple, iterative versions of the manuscripts, along with his editor’s comments, material that didn’t make the book, articles to promote the book, details of tours, press interviews, bestseller lists, etc., as well as a correspondence folder for emails with editor, publicist, and agent.
His research encompasses music, the brain, health, productivity, and creativity. His book titled, This Is Your Brain on Music, is considered a groundbreaking union of art and science, which explores the connection between music — its performance, its composition, how we listen to it, why we enjoy it — and the human brain.
Dr. Levitin earned his B.A. from Stanford in Cognitive Science, his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology with a Ph.D. minor in Music Technology from the University of Oregon and completed post-doctoral training at Stanford University Medical School and University of California (UC) Berkeley in Neuroimaging and Perception.
As a musician (tenor saxophone, guitar, vocals, and bass), he has performed with Mel Tormé, David Byrne, Rosanne Cash, Sting, Bobby McFerrin, Victor Wooten, and Tom Scott. Levitin has produced and consulted on albums by artists including Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell and on the films Good Will Hunting and Pulp Fiction and has been awarded 17 gold and platinum records.
Levitin taught at Stanford in the Departments of Computer Science, Psychology, History of Science, and Music, and has been a Visiting Professor at Dartmouth, and UC Berkeley. He is currently the Founding Dean of Arts & Humanities at the Minerva Schools at the Keck Graduate Institute in San Francisco, California, and James McGill Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Neuroscience and Music at McGill University.
Please note that, per SCUA policy, unprocessed materials, including the Levitin collection, are not available to researchers. The Levitin papers will make their way through SCUA’s standard workflows, as staff work to accession, arrange, describe, and preserve the collection, and during that process, no material will be available for use in any format. In the meantime, researchers are encouraged to explore other holdings within SCUA.
