History Commons^™

A Semiotic Analysis Of Two Linear A Inscribed Ladles, Leah Rosen

Honors Projects

On the peak sanctuary Agio Georgios on the island of Kythera, and at the archaeological site of Troullos on Crete, two Linear A (LA) inscribed ladles have been found. They are unique in that they are the only inscribed Minoan ladles found to date. Because inscription is not a common feature of Minoan ladles, the purpose of these two inscriptions is of particular interest. However, Linear A, the writing system of the Minoans, remains undeciphered and is unlikely to be translated for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, other approaches to studying Linear A inscriptions can still provide insight into …

Korea's Explosive Declaration Of Independence: Complex Influences Leading Up To The March First Movement Of 1919, Anna Cooper

Honors Projects, History

The March First Movement of 1919 was a widespread independence movement in colonized Korea. This Movement began with the reading of Korea’s Declaration of Independence in a restaurant in Seoul and quickly spread throughout the country, amassing over two million Korean participants who demonstrated in 1500 protests. This significant Movement in Korean history resulted from a culmination of factors, but is often defined by modern historians as an effort against Japan’s oppressive colonization. However, this simplified description of the Movement’s origins understates the complex influences that lead to this Movement. This work then studies how this Movement came to be: …

Marcia Thomas And The Legacy Of John Wesley Powell, Mary Cullen

Interviews for WGLT

Retired IWU Librarian Marcia Thomas on explorer John Wesley Powell, and the legacy of his 1869 Grand Canyon Expedition.

Chris Sweet On The Role Of Women In Bicycle History, July 20, 2019, Willis Kern

Interviews for WGLT

Willis Kern from WGLT speaks with IWU Librarian and bike historian Chris Sweet about the role women played in bicycle pioneering and how female bike riding impacted society. Chris Sweet was one of several local historians discussing bike history at the 3rd annual "Wheels Through Time: Historic Bike Show".

Absolutely Free?: Frank Zappa’S Musical Assault On American Conformity, 1966-1968, Brandon Chopp

Honors Projects, History

Throughout his career, American composer Frank Zappa (1940-1993) expounded the potency of music in regard to the medium’s inherent ability to enact critical assessments of society. Zappa’s music exemplified many new possibilities in popular music that have influenced generations of musicians to push the boundaries of the media format. In the context of the Counterculture of the 1960s, Zappa utilized his initial, experimental rock albums, Freak Out! (1966), Absolutely Free (1967), and We’re Only in It for the Money (1968), with his band, The Mothers of Invention, to demonstrate his vision for the United States during the 1960s and beyond. …

April Schultz, 2018 Dougan Award Presentation, Wes Chapman, Iwu Chapter Of The Aaup, Illinois Wesleyan University

Dougan Award Winners

No abstract provided.

Conflicting Philosophies: Two Librarians And A Presidential Bibliophile, Meg Miner

Scholarly Publications

This case study explores how one personal interest of President Minor Myers, jr.—that of a life-long book collector—influenced the University’s library collections and its leaders. Myers arrived with a desire to make IWU a nationally recognized, Phi Beta Kappa–affiliated institution. As one tactic for achieving these goals, Myers actively engaged in library collection development through practices shaped by his methods of book collecting. Bulk acquisitions—through gifts-in-kind and lot purchases—and a prohibition on weeding aided in his pursuits. His vision for the library challenged the style of the first university librarian (UL) who resigned two years after Myers’ arrival. The actions …

Karen Zander, Karen Zander, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Zander recalls writing to Myers when he was rumored to be considering closing the School of Nursing. Her primary contact with him was when she was selected as a recipient of an honorary doctorate in 2001 and she recalls being a guest in his home and seeing some of his collections. Her interview also includes a number of stories about her time as a student with topics including being a member of Sigma Kappa, Sigma Theta Tau, attending rallies against the Vietnam War and "women's hours," and the 300 level Humanities class she was part of. She closes with a …

Richard Sommers, Richard Sommers, Meg Miner

All oral histories

[Note: This interview was conducted on two different days and the resulting recording was edited to bring together some of the subject's comments that were in audible due to technical problems.]

Sommers begins with the story of their first meeting and later becoming Myers' roommate. He asserts that Myers was more interested in history than his declared major of political science. Myers undertook an obscure research project during their Senior year that Sommers judges was graduate level work and uses as an example of the lengths Myers would go to, beyond the minimal requirements of the course. Sommers also reflects …

Sarah Florentine, Sarah Vales Florentine, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Florentine recalls Myers loaning her 18th Century cook books from his collection for a History 290 research project she worked on and continued as an intern at the David Davis Mansion. In recalling that incident, she reflects on how Myers' willingness to loan his books "allowed his collection to do something" other than sit on a shelf. It could teach something to people he shared it with. She recalls Myers using his famous "do good" comment at Freshman Convocation. The book title is "Managing Clover Lawn: From Ingredients to Enjoyment: A Guide to the Kitchen of Sarah Davis and the …

National Identity, Historical Narratives, And The Fate Of Poland In World War Ii, Ziven K. Chinburg

Honors Projects, History

Abstract

This paper explores the fate of Poland during, and immediately after, the Second World War and examines the question of Western betrayal of Poland. This paper looks into why some Poles felt, and continue to feel, a sense of betrayal by their allies during the war. The main focus of this paper is how the Poles came to understand their fate and position in the world during and after World War Two. The thesis of this paper is that Poles define their national narrative in the modern era as glorious victimhood and that this definition of glorious victimhood is …

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.

Jane Baines, Jane Baines, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Baines describes the progression of her IWU career with details about changing technology and how it aided the work of Advancement. She also describes Myers' influences on the office's work which included bringing ideas for developing donors and directing specific activities she engaged in.

The Legality Of The Cuban Missile Crisis Quarantine, Lindsey Alpert, Michael Weis, Faculty Advisor

John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference

Oral presentation abstract.

A Victory In Defeat: Historical Memory, Metanarratives, And The Fate Of Poland In World War Two, Ziven Chinburg, Gordon Horwitz, Faculty Advisor

John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference

This paper explores the fate of Poland during and immediately after the Second World War. The paper examines the question of Western betrayal of Poland. Why some Poles felt, and continue to feel, a sense of betrayal by their allies during the war is examined. How the Poles came to understand their fate and position in the world during and after World War Two is examined. The Warsaw Uprising is taken as a case study for the Polish experience of World War Two. The degree of Allied support and intervention is discussed, along with the failures of the Polish Government-in-Exile …

The Evolution Of Zero-Tolerance Policies, Stephanie Stahl, Michael Weis, Faculty Advisor

John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference

Oral presentation abstract.

Re-Thinking The Thaw: Literature And Reform In The Soviet Union (1950s And 1960s), Daniel Hanson, Michael Weis, Faculty Advisor

John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference

Oral presentation abstract.

Marc Featherly, Marc Featherly, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Featherly describes Myers' input on a series of presidential portraits and other ways in which different backgrounds are used for portrait sittings. He took the Myers portrait that hangs in Bates & Merwin Reading Room, The Ames Library and says it was Myers' favorite. He recalls Myers being very hands on but that it was more about big ideas than about following up on details. Featherly also discusses the affects of technology on his field and comments on how presidents and others influence the atmosphere and student body of IWU. He speaks of working relationships with Myers and Wilson and …

Art Killian, Art Killian, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Killian started on Physical Plant's Grounds Crew five years before Myers and so offers recollections of changes in campus landscaping priorities and operations through four presidencies. He tells a story about Myers showing him a book of English garden plants and how he was unable to explain to Myers that they were not suited to Central Illinois environmental conditions. Killian viewed his work as a craftsman does--more satisfied with ensuring good structures in the landscape on the campus as a whole. He offers views on changes in campus culture, shifting from a community atmosphere before the Myers' era, to a …

T. John Metz, T. John Metz, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Metz was a building consultant and was invited to evaluate the IWU library at Myers' request based on Metz's work building Carleton's library. He recalls that Myers and Dean Hurwitz had come from institutions with significantly different libraries. He believes faculty were worried about Myers' presidency because he brought in the U-Haul collection. He recalls the visit being different from other experiences because the librarians were acting more as teaching faculty than as "career librarians." Metz speaks of the difficulties librarians in many institutions experience with faculty wanting grad school research-type collections and of the unsuitability of that material in …

Carol Churukian, Carol Churukian, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Churukian was a friend of a person Myers cultivated as a donor: Pearl Funk, who also possessed book collections. She shares a story of hosting them both for a dinner in her home and recalls that Myers excluded hosts Carol and her husband George from his focus that evening. Churukian recalls that Funk told her later that Myers called Funk from San Francisco to ask if she wanted him to purchase a specific title he spotted for her.

Roger Schnaitter, Roger Schnaitter, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Schnaitter is a collector of focused, discrete artifacts. He did not talk to Myers about his collecting habits but witnessed some of Myers' collecting activities and expresses opinions about them. Schnaitter describes some of Myers' personal and leadership characteristics and his influences on buying pianos and harpsichords for the School of Music. On reflection, Schnaitter believes Myers' interests in collecting influenced his own and he describes Myers' collecting methods compared to his own.

John "Jack" Muirhead, John Muirhead, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Muirhead begins by telling the story of the home he lived in, which was removed when the Ames Library was built, and how Myers remembered his connection to the site while giving a library tour. He also recalls Myers cooking a special dinner for him and Pam Muirhead after Ellen Myers made a connection with their interests. Muirhead contrasts differences in the physical campus and atmosphere before Myers' era. He also recalls the emphasis Myers brought to the presence of John Wesley Powell at IWU and Myers' support for the Black History Project through the McLean County Museum of History. …

Stacey Shimizu, Stacey Shimizu, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Shimizu shares her thoughts on the purpose of Myers' collecting through a story about a book's inscription he shared. She recalls dinners at the president's home, his philosophy about libraries, what she felt his vision for IWU was, and the effect his personal characteristics, combined with U.S. economy, had on the University.

Anke Voss, Anke Voss, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Voss discusses the origin/creation of the archives in the new library, her early teaching experiences in Illinois and being identified as person to take over at a time when plans to host the Remington Trust exhibit of rare books were under way. Myers gave presentations on those books, encouraging their use by students and faculty. She recalls Myers saying there would be an "archives pedestal" on top of the new library and that he was a "love everything, celebrate everything" kind of person who was rarely idle. Voss recounts Myers' visits to her office and that he did not interfere …

Jo Porter, Jo Porter, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Porter tells the story of how her position in Corporate and Foundation Relations got started. She recalls Myers as a strategic fundraiser who had good ideas for her to try out and that he follow up on. She shared an interest in cookbooks with him and says he made gifts of books and other things to her. She recalls his lack of interest in condition and remarks on the poor quality of the musical instruments he had. Porter describes going on trips with Myers and how he managed to find book stores, even if it meant staying at a location …

Jim Routi, Jim Routi, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Routi was a member of the Cabinet for 30 years. His comments center mainly on Myers' leadership styles, comparing them with the four other presidents he served under. Routi shares observations on the role of a president and Myers' abilities in fulfilling those functions. He believes Myers' collecting was a life long passion and hobby that got out of hand and may have served as an escape from other aspects of his life. However, he does not feel that collecting had an influence on how Myers conducted his presidency. Routi makes brief mention of the collections he knew about: postcards, …

Ellen Myers, Ellen Myers, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Ellen Myers shares stories about how she and Minor met, their time together before their two sons were born, their relationship with Minor's colleagues, and how her interest in collecting developed due to him. She describes herself as a "savvy collector" of things that have "panache" and discusses the kinds of objects she and Minor collected. She had a family upbringing that emphasized saving and that made it hard to reconcile with Minor's interest in spending. Ellen believes her husband had a life-long ambition to become a college president and, in response to a later question, states that this was …

Brian Rogers, Brian Rogers, Meg Miner

All oral histories

An abstract of this interview is available below. A time-annotated index is linked above and to the right. A transcription will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Rogers states that Myers was the chair of the search committee when Rogers was selected as Connecticut College Librarian in 1975. Myers was a member of the Friends of the Library and frequently wrote for their Bulletin. Myers also edited the publication for a few years and helped with a book sale that the Friends held to benefit the library. Myers was active in evaluating and organizing materials that were donated …

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.