Faith Prather

Is retiring end of spring, have a request for photos of her. Will search Jim D photos, I know there are some nice ones in there.

Photos of early radio station

Needed for The Port, a story they are doing on WBSU, its history... Had some scans from Saga etc., and found a neat shot c1960 of early closed loop broadcasting of a basketball game.

Gleason Cooling Board

Researcher from another college inquiring about this 19th century Brockport pioneer in the embalming and undertaking business. Had to dig some, but I was right, one of the Guelf photos is of the Hotel Brockport, which had earlier been the Getty Hotel, in which Gleason and his partner had their offices. Sent that photo, shared links and info about using NY Historic Newspapers, the local history materials I have online etc.

Erie Canal tug image

Greg L. who has been doing photo restoration work for different local groups contacted me looking for the original negative and scan of a Guelf negative. Turns out I have the original tiff scan, but the actual negative is probably at the Knapp Museum. In looking into some of the turns and twists of who has what of Guelf's, I found out that there are glass plate negatives of his at the MM House. I have asked about seeing them, I think these may be some that were not part of the original scanning done with a grant that Mary Jo G. organized some years ago.

Photo of Sara Morgan at college ?

New historian at MM House asking about this. I think she is in the shot I have from the dedication of Morgan Hall c1951, but I don't have a firm ID on any of the three ladies, so any confirmation will be great.

Spring In & Washington Semester

1975 grad emailed asking if I had photos for these. I have a few random Spring In shots which I sent her, but not for the '74 Washington Semester.

Bernie Lynch

He worked in the radio station in the late '70s, '80s, was asked if had a photo, but could not find one.

Scanning glass slides

A curator at the Bailey Herbarium at Cornell contacted me, saying he'd heard I'd been scanning glass slides! Must have been someone who'd seen my Flickr album of glass lantern slides of bird images. He wanted to know what my procedure had been, so I explained my methods to him...

1970 Barge (Erie) Canal study

1972 alum posted to Ask Drake inquiring about a 1970 undergrad study of the canal done by Biology students. There was a document, and apparently a film, supported with National Science Foundation money. Unfortunately after checking neither has survived the years, not in the archives anyway.

Campus school closing

Query from some campus school alum who run a Facebook group for campus school alum, from across SUNY I believe. Wanted to know about the closing of the school. It was in 1981, the state funding had already dried up, and the school was running on federal grants, largely on the basis of the urban-suburban integration project it was part of, but that funding dried up too. It just had run its course is probably the truth. It had been part of the school for well over a century, there was a "primary department" in the old Collegiate Institute in the 1860s and earlier.

Head shot of Walter Brautigan

For secretary in Ed/Health...Think have a few in Jim D photos, will scan and send...

Henry Gould & Francis Claffey

Advancement asking for bio info on these two science/biology teachers. Both came here in the late 1940s in that early wave of expansion, and taught into the early '70s. What changes they saw! Both have scholarships in their memory. Supplied some material, will dig for more as needed.

1974 Soccer

More needed, Stacey is coming next week to look thru soccer files.

Lantern slides

As a little fun side project have been scanning some glass lantern slides of birds. I had been explaining to interns what those slides were in the big wooden cabinet, and happening to notice the drawers labeled "birds" looked at them later. Realized that many of the photos were taken by notable pioneer birders and ornothologists like Arthur Allen a century ago. Fascinating material, great photos, and the quality of the hand coloring is astonishing. Have set up a collection in Flickr.

Hiel & Phebe Brockway

Helped Mary Lynne Turner with a little of her research into this founding couple of Brockport. Am doing one of several readings at her presentation at Morgan Manning House tonight.

Digital materials

Digital materials, so much to consider, so much to learn! To that end, am attending this upcoming RRLC day long workshop to learn more about how to:


incorporate accessioning digital materials, processing them, and planning for their long-term preservation. The focus will be on low-cost and free tools and services. 

President's office

Staff in President's office contacted me saying they are cleaning files and asking me to come over to give them some suggestions re what is worth keeping, what to send to archives etc. Am going over Th morning.


Update: meet with Nancy & Julie. There will be probably 8-10 three drawer file cabinets of material coming to me over time. Quite a bit to go through, but many good additions to the collections are there.

Honors club

Was contacted by student from honors program who was here last semester with Donna Kowal. The student is coming back this evening with the members of the Honors Club to visit the archives, learn about archives, the school history...

Gay rights history

Former intern now interning with Rochester city historian looking for info on gay rights at Brockport re gay rights. Sent her Lyndsey Richard's power point before, said would help her with more research.

Local house history

Faculty member looking for info on their house on White Road. Shared info re plat maps, Brockport Republic online etc., and they will be back later in semester.

Summer Arts Festival

Follow up query re Summer Arts, asking about famous actors etc. Here is some of what I answered:

I do know that Marc Connolly, noted playwright and actor, was here for the first summer festival in 1960. He played the stage manager in their production of "Our Town."

   In 1961 Leo Carroll, star of the TV show "Topper" was here to appear in the play "On Borrowed Time."

   In 1963 Peggy Wood, a noted actress of the day, was here to present a program entitled "Finders in the Dark," and also starred in a production of her show "I Remember Mama."

1974 Soccer Team, Men

Athletics contact, the team won the national championships that year, they are looking for a roster etc.