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Keith Crotz, Keith Crotz, Meg Miner
Keith Crotz, Keith Crotz, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Crotz recalls Myers visiting his shop once and also doing business by phone and catalog order. He was researching the Phoenix Nursery owners and family. Crotz came to the Myers auction and bought some of the same books back and more. He recalls that Myers was "fun, pleasant, jovial, not serious about books." He characterized Myers as being surgical in his interests, that he was specifically interested in gardening done in the Phoenix nursery. Myers' interests were in quantity and content above more disciplinary-type interests in bibliography.
Minor Myers Iii, Minor Myers Iii, Meg Miner
Minor Myers Iii, Minor Myers Iii, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Minor Myers III recalls several experiences with his father's collecting interests and how his father used Minor III's desire to acquire baseball cards to teach him about collecting. His childhood interest in treasures led his father to bury a box of Roman coins in the backyard for him to discover. He makes several observations about his father's intellectual curiosity and the ways his collections both informed and fueled what Minor III describes as a "consumptive joy." He reflects on his father's love of music and the structure and purpose of his father's organization of knowledge.
Suan Guess-Hanson, Suan Guess-Hanson, Meg Miner
Suan Guess-Hanson, Suan Guess-Hanson, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Guess-Hanson recalls Myers attending campus and community events and comments on the effects such visibility had with him, and other presidents, on the community. She taught in the same school that Ellen Myers did and mentions seeing her in the years since the time of Myers' presidency. Guess-Hanson shares recollections of changes in campus over the years and notes the positive impact that being able to attend events in different campus venues had on the community. She composed a choral piece in memoriam to Myers and donated a copy it to the archives which is also linked below.
Greg Koos, Greg Koos, Meg Miner
Greg Koos, Greg Koos, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Koos is a fellow collector who shared an interest in "old things" with Myers. While Myers came to the Museum, Koos knew him more from seeing him at flea markets, antique stores and Babbit's Books. He also states that he shared a friendly competition in acquiring items for a low price. Koos characterized this as bottom-feeding but also knew Myers would pay more if he wanted something enough. Koos believes some of Myers' collecting could have had investment value in mind but that is was not likely a motivation; he later observes that there is little value in bookcollecting since …
John Lubrano, John Lubrano, Meg Miner
John Lubrano, John Lubrano, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Starting in 1979, Lubrano worked with Myers primarily on his collection of scores of instrumental and choral parts of music. Myers had interest in some specific British composers but also enjoyed discovering others. Lubrano tells the story of a 1744 manuscript book by an American composer Peter Pelham and that Myers may have donated it to Colonial Williamsburg. Lubrano does not characterized Myers as a collector-seller; he was an academic collector, preferring content over "individual prizes." He believes Myers wanted a mass of a material that could tell a story in aggregate and may have represented him at auctions. Lubrano …
Brian Simpson, Brian Simpson, Meg Miner
Brian Simpson, Brian Simpson, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Simpson recalls meeting and getting to know Myers and his family as patrons of his store Babbitt's Books. Myers asked him to appraise collections the library received from estates and Simspon reflects on that work. Simpson describes Myers' goal in acquiring special collections for the library not so much for their suitability to undergraduate study but more so that people would come to campus to see these things. Myers understood the value that objects held for research rather than the content but Simpson also recalls Myers' willingness to balance the usefulness of content on microfilm when the original would be …
Robert Bray, Robert Bray, Meg Miner
Robert Bray, Robert Bray, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Bray and Myers went on book buying trips in the local area. Recalls that Myers used the word "sickness" to describe himself but with some level of humor. Discusses different ways Myers' collected and differences from his own methods and knowledge of books. Bray also shares views on the effect Myers' personal characteristics had on IWU and individuals.
Joy Doran, Joy Doran, Meg Miner
Joy Doran, Joy Doran, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Doran recalls the musical interests she shared with Myers, including being founding board members of the Pratt Music Foundation, which sponsors music education in the local community, and that they shared a vision for expanding the preparatory program available through the IWU School of Music. The former was realized during Myers' era but the latter idea did not come to fruition. She and Myers viewed themselves as "philosophers of potential and advocates of opportunity" and Doran was pleased to have support for her ideas even if they were not always success.
Dan Terkla, Dan Terkla, Meg Miner
Dan Terkla, Dan Terkla, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Terkla describes books and other types of collections Myers had and how he loaned them to Terkla to take to classes. Memorable books were Dante's La Comedia, a Mexican Bible and John Speed's Atlas. He also describes an event called "Minor watch," which was a practice he and his students had of waving to Myers as he walked by their window. Terkla includes accounts of events at the President's House in which Myers played music and also of the way Myers displayed his books in his home. Terkla recalls only a few times Myers came to his office but on …
W. Michael Weis, W. Michael Weis, Meg Miner
W. Michael Weis, W. Michael Weis, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Weis recalls Myers wanting IWU's niche to be the multi-talented and sold everyone on the idea that IWU was already great and would be better. Prior to Myers there was a "micro university" focus and he supported that. Provost McNew was focused on establishing a liberal arts ideal; Myers didn't oppose that idea but also wanted to keep Nursing. He wanted to expand and grow the University and the faculty supported him. Myers inculcated a love of collecting among people and speculates that collecting helps you think about all the things surrounding the object--time period, materials--that it helps "broaden perspective …
Fred Hoyt, Fred Hoyt, Meg Miner
Fred Hoyt, Fred Hoyt, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Hoyt shared an interest in stamps with Myers and recalls the differences in their interests and acquisition methods. He makes the analogy of Myers' personal characteristic being like a lighthouse; meaning, he would focus intently on something for a brief amount of time and then move on to a new interest. Hoyt observes the effect of changes in teaching load on the institution and on other influences Myers had on students and the institution.
Nancy Sultan, Nancy Sultan, Meg Miner
Nancy Sultan, Nancy Sultan, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Minor interviewed her for her position and she engaged with him on the train collection she saw in his office. She recalls giving him advice on books to purchase for his Classica collection. Myers loaned her a particular book and he expressed anxiety over its safety. She observes that he was not an astute collector of books in her area of expertise but recalls that he kept "want lists" of titles to look for and he would also look for items she was interested in. Sultan believes that Myers' "curiosity about learning" was infectious and important for students, staff and …
Richard Nielsen, Richard Nielsen, Meg Miner
Richard Nielsen, Richard Nielsen, Meg Miner
All oral histories
Nielsen primarily knew Myers through annual book sales but his wife is an alumna so he also attended some donor receptions. He observes that he and Myers shared a love of bargain hunting for books and frequently saw him at the book fair held on IWU's campus and other venues. He saw that Minor was thorough when going through book offerings and enjoyed comparing finds. Nielsen recalls Myers had a focus on sheet music and does not recall hearing of Myers getting rid of any part of his collection.