The Port, Hartwell Hall

Wrote a piece for The Port on where Hartwell Hall gets its name from, and that reminded me that I'd once scanned a spread in the 1940 Saga on the "new building," nice feature, photos of interior and exterior, text descriptions... I'd never gotten it into Digital Commons however, so while I was at it uploaded it in there.


 (Hartwell was built in 1938-1939, replacing the old Normal building which had been in approximately the same location - they took down the Normal in sections, replacing with the new building. Hartwell was originally just "the building," as the old one had been, until after WWII we were always a one building school. Hartwell was named after Ernest Hartwell died in 1965.)

Underground RR

Interesting, a faculty member with a house on Chappell St sent photos of some sort of hidden space in the building, wondering if it could have been a stop for the Underground RR. The house was built in the 1850s. Some other local historians are looking into it, they may know more, I am not sure I do, but will see what I can piece together.

Special Olympics memoribilia

A staff person called, has some Special Olympics memorabilia from '79, I will go pick it up soon.

Faculty Emeritus List

We had a faculty bio list or spreadsheet before, that came from a different area, but unfortunately it was riddled with errors. My student assistant started this fall redoing a faculty emeritus list from scratch, and currently has a little over 400 entries: name, department and dates of service. It's seemingly simple things like this that make a lot of archives work and research possible! I know folks in advancement will like it too.

Lantern slide presentation

This presentation is scheduled for 10/2 and have been working on the powerpoint, researching some aspects of birding & ornithology history etc. I did take a trip to the Yates County Historical Society museum in Penn Yan where they have an extensive collection of papers and photographs of Verdi Burtch, one of the photographers.


As a result of this research am considering writing a book or biographical dictionary of pioneer birders and ornithologists of upstate NY, something that could go in Digital Commons.

Advancement planning

Had phone conversation with Advancement VP re some projects he would like me to take part in, e.g. emeriti dinners they want to start running this coming spring etc. Good opportunities to present the college history and to learn from those who made it.

1957 Saga

A department secretary emailed to say the widow of a 1957 grad had contacted her asking if we'd want her husband's yearbook. I said of course, we have a number of them, but I'll take it. It's important to take things like that, to show respect for people's time here.

Meeting with Class of '68

Met with the Class today, as part of their 50th reunion weekend. I really enjoy this opportunity to speak with people and share some of not only their class history, but the bigger history of the school with them. We had a pretty lively exchange about the history of the old collegiate institute for example, they were very interested by that period.

Education Dept 50th

Dawn Jones of Education has contacted me, they are interested in the history of their department!

Book scanner & DS Morgan Papers

The new historian at the Morgan Manning House is coming over to use the book scanner, which is great, we specifically stated when getting it we wanted to share it with community people. She is also coming to look at the Morgan papers we have here, which I have suggested they might want to have at the MM House, which would seem a more appropriate home for them.

History of dorms

Someone is writing an article for The Port on the history of dorms here. Quite a big topic actually, I will work with them to see how much depth they need, find photos etc.

History 50th

Last minute, needed a photo of a '69 grad, which I was able to find and scan for them.

Special Olympics

Student researching the Special Olympics is coming in to look over materials in the archives.

Tree sections

Four trees were felled when working on new space behind Alumni House. Most of the wood will be milled and used to make benches and chairs, but Jason Dauenhauer has 4 sections of trunks in the basement of the house. The idea is to use one or two as a prop to illustrate the history of the college, "This ring corresponds to the establishment of the Normal school..." sort of thing. One might be used for village history, I suggested that and have shared the idea with the Community Museum group.


Update: the community museum board is interested, and a tree section is now at a board members barn to be used to present village history. Another section is at Jason's home and that one will be used for college history.

Game shots 2008-09 women's basketball

For athletics, picked out 6 or 7 from two different games that season and sent to them.

Another grandparent

Another staff person looking for info on their grandparent, in this case Emma Mitchell. She turns out to have been one of those student's who did both high school and normal school here, '24 & '27. Scanned pics from the commencement issues of Stylus for those years and sent to him.