Monday, July 31, 2017

Daniel Holmes

Faculty member stopped by, doing some research on Daniel Holmes, husband of Mary Jane, the author, and we talked for a bit. Showed him some resources that are online, including the merged file of Brockport Republic articles a student assembled as part of an internship a couple years ago.

Jessie Hillman 1878, 1882

Interesting, query from archivist at Fredonia about her. Apparently altho from Fredonia, she went here, for the music then advanced English course, then went on to teach at Fredonia Normal for many years. They have an annual opera program there named in her honor, and were looking for a photo of her from her time her.


A long shot, but in the small collection of 1870s student photos I have, there was no identified photos of her, but there was one unidentified photo that I am fairly sure is her, comparing to a photo they helpfully added to their email. Looking forward to seeing if it is her!

Dorothy Reister

Had someone checking if she was the sculptor that did those concrete relief pieces in the courtyard at Cooper. It was her, c1966, she died a few years ago, but her legacy continues at the Stone Hill Quarry art center near Cazenovia. We have a book about her.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Bruton - genealogy

A query about whether an ancestor had attended here c1870. They are not in the list of Normal school grads for that era, and skimming the old registration book did not see the name in the lists c1868-1873.

Donation

Have someone coming by this afternoon with three boxes of materials for the archives, and another person bringing some things as well. Don't always list these in here, but it is how we get most of our materials, an office is cleaning out, brings back files in, or a retired person realizes that there is an archives nowadays and wants to give materials from their time here...

Monday, July 17, 2017

History of International Ed, foreign students...

An emeriti had brought this up as a topic worthy of research in the past and mentioned it again. I said I do have it on my list of possible topics for interns, but just haven't had any takers, and added that I will put in a plug for it again this coming year. It's one of the many things I'd enjoy researching myself but just don't ever have the time!

Marion Patterson & Collegiate Institute

Someone was referred by staff at UofR to me with their question as to whether a man named Marion Patterson attended the old Collegiate Institute c1856-1862. We do have a name list that is online, that was compiled from the surviving catalogs. Unfortunately there are some gaps, e.g. we don't have 1860 & 1861. The name didn't appear in the list, and didn't come up in some various searches in NYS Historic Newspapers. Will let the questioner know, recommend contacting Clarendon Historical Society, since that is where Patterson was said to be from.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

"Connections"

Someone asked about this college publication, saying there had been an article by retired staff Nick Mascari in it. The only title of that name I know of is the old UUP Connection, which ran c1990-2000. I only have one issue in the archives, suggested they contact the UUP office.

Monday, July 10, 2017

Civil War - Canada - Confederates

Received an inquiry from PhD candidate researching NY, Canada, Confederates going up there etc. Interesting topic! There isn't anything relevant in the archives, but I did suggest nyshistoricnewspapers.org, which has a number of Civil War era papers online, for counties bordering Canada or Lake Ontario.

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Quonset Huts

Had a query about the Quonset huts of yore, where they came from etc. Took some time to track this down in more detail, via old Faculty Bulletins, Stylus, Middle States... The key point is that the Quonset huts were not, as the person asked, from Hamlin Beach, the old CCC/POW site. A 1947 Stylus article clearly states that they came from a naval base in RI to be used for classroom space. In that same era however other "temporary" structures were set up, for veterans housing. I haven't found written confirmation, but was told once that they may have been from the Hamlin site, former CCC/POW barracks.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Canal Conference request

President Macpherson asked for some background & thoughts re the Erie Canal, it's history, connection to the college etc. as part of prepping for opening a conference on canals this summer. Shared some info and thoughts...