United States History Commons^™

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.

Miles Buckinghamshire, Miles Buckinghamshire, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Buckinhamshire met Myers as an outcome of the research Myers conducted while provost at Hobart and Williams Smith College that led him to Buckinghamshire's ancestor the 2nd Earl of Hobart. As they became acquainted and Myers became IWU's president, Myers asked him to serve as an Honorary Trustee at IWU. He recalls a visit where Myers hosting a harpsichord performance of a composition by Buckinghamshire's family member.

M. Blouke Carus, M. Blouke Carus, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Mr. Carus is a businessman and chemist and lifelong supporter of education. He states that Myers was a supporter of the publishing work he and his wife engage in. Myers admired the family's history of publishing Open Court General Books and admired the literary emphasis of Cricket line of magazines that Marianne Carus published. Her interview is also available.

Special Collections Roadshow — Episode Eight: Emory Upton’S Tactical Blocks, Meg A. Sutter, Megan E. Mcnish

The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of History

Special Collections Roadshow was created by the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College in the Spring of 2014. Although the series usually showcases various artifacts from Special Collections at Gettysburg College, for our eighth episode we went on the road to the US Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, PA.

What Would Florence Do?, Ian A. Isherwood

Civil War Institute Faculty Publications

Mercy Street has no shortage of nineteenth century medical trivia. Dr. Foster repeatedly invokes his stellar medical education, which includes not only study in Philadelphia, America’s medical Mecca of that time, but also a grand tour abroad where he learned all kinds of fancy techniques from some of the great medical minds of the era. Similarly, we have been introduced to Anne Hastings, the alleged Crimean War nurse, her character no doubt causing many to brush up on their nineteenth century European history. [excerpt]

Rebecca Anderson Matuszak, Rebecca Anderson Matuszak, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Matuszak recalls the influence a speech about multi-talented individuals had on her life. Myers cited books about and articles about geniuses in this talk that she feels helped her understand herself better and that continued to influence her career path. She relates examples of how the ease of relating to him led her and her peers to go to him first about problems and how he supported student initiatives. Overall, he set the example of what a life-long learner could be. He left the impression that he was listening for what he could learn from you and so when he …

Evangelist For A Religion Of Nature, Douglas Firth Anderson

Northwestern Review

Donald Worster’s A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir is a magisterial biography. It is the place to begin for understanding John Muir (1838-1914), the Scottish immigrant and popular U.S. Gilded Age and Progressive Era naturalist most famous as the self-appointed spokesperson for Yosemite Valley, the founder of the Sierra Club, and the most outspoken opponent of the damming of Hetch Hetchy Valley by the City of San Francisco. Worster explores Muir’s tensions and contradictions. He also astutely analyzes Muir’s religiously-inflected “passion for nature.” He clarifies that Muir was not a neo-Transcendentalist, let alone a Buddhist, but rather …

A Rural Nebraska Boy’S Comic Strip Narrative Of World War Ii, Mike Kugler

Northwestern Review

The comics drawn by James “Jimmy” Kugler (the author’s father) when he was 13 in 1945 and living in Lexington, Nebraska provide a microhistorical perspective on at least four things. First, they offer a glimpse of an adolescent boy’s life in small town America during the mid-twentieth century. The strips took local buildings and situations and turned them into something strange, reflecting some of Jimmy’s loneliness and alienation. Further, they “back talked” the adults in charge of school and town. Second, they manifest the power of a dynamic American popular culture at the time. Jimmy’s war comic strips depict fairly …

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

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 …

Mike Davis, Mike Davis, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Davis was WESN manager and reflects on Myers' support for the station. He cites this as an empowering experience, when someone believes in you. Davis is now an academic and has been an administrator and draws on the experiences he had as a student in his interactions with students today. He thinks the administration isn't usually visible on a college campus but that his presences and way of emphasizing the unique qualities of IWU students was intended to make students feel welcome. Davis also describes the condition of Myers' office.

Sexual Healing: Nurses, Gender, And Victorian Era Intimacy, Anika N. Jensen

The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of History

In the first episode of the new PBS series Mercy Street, nurse Anne Hastings is seen applying a plaster cast to a wounded soldier’s bare legs before a captivated audience of surgeons and hospital workers. This action seems trivial today, even unquestionable, but as the show progressed and more scenes portrayed this seemingly insignificant concept of touch, of intimacy between a female nurse and her male patients, its true magnitude became apparent. [excerpt]

Katherine Brokaw, Katherine Brokaw, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Brokaw is a 4th generation IWU alumna and recalls her first memory of Myers is from when she was in 4th grade and asked to conduct an interview with him. She described Myers' support for her many academic interests ad that he invited her and her friends to look at and use books in his home. One memorable title he showed her was an early printing of Dante's La Comedia. He also gifted her books he thought she would like. She observes that Myers was "curious about the world and about other people" and that he seemed to have an …

An Early Black Cemetery On York Street, Andrew I. Dalton

Student Publications

Many are familiar with William H. Tipton, a well-known local photographer who recorded iconic views of the town, battlefield, and monuments surrounding Gettysburg. What many people may not know is that Tipton built a house in the early 1900s right on top of Gettysburg’s first African-American cemetery. [excerpt]

Meghan Murphy-Lee, Meghan Murphy-Lee, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Murphy-Lee served in Student Senate and so recalls getting to know Myers through Board of Trustee meetings and that he took an interest in her desire to be a contract Russian major. Myers and Dr. Marina Balina helped her achieve her goals and served as models of scholarly behavior for students.

Faizal Chaudhury, Faizal Chaudhury, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Chaudhury recalls a conversation with Myers during a Sophomore year reception at Myers' house about being a Renaissance Man and the value of liberal arts education in achieving that level of knowledge. He also shares memories of living in I-House (the International House, located in Kemp Hall). Chaudhury says Myers had an interest in acquiring a book by Tagore, an Indian poet of Bangladeshi origin but that Chaudhury was unable to make it home to find a copy before Myers' death. Overall, he believes Myers' interests in students was genuine and made a difference in his experiences at IWU.

Daniel Bassill, Daniel Bassill, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Bassill describes his encounter with Myers that led him to believe Myers was a collector of "people who were doing good things." Myers supported his work with Tutor-Mentor Connection (http://tutormentorexchange.net) and was interested in getting faculty and students involved in it. Bassill received an Honorary Doctorate in 2001.

Cindy Gendrich, Cindy Gendrich, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Gendrich shared an interest with Myers in 18th century etiquette books and shares insights into why Myers collected them. She directs Wake Forest University's Performance and the Liberal Arts Center and discusses how she and Myers shared an understanding of the need for education to encompass a knowledge about the world around a particular discipline. Myers loaned her about ten of his books for her dissertation and she describes that encounter and the way some of Myers' books were shelved in his home. Gendrich characterizes Myers as a "walking around president" and reflects on the qualities of presidents.

This Month In Civil War History: January 2016, Jeffrey L. Lauck

The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of History

Transcript:

Welcome to The Civil War Institute’s "This Month in Civil War History for January."

In January of 1861, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana joined South Carolina in seceding from the Union. In their articles of secession, the states made explicit references to defending the future of slavery in their reasons for seceding. [excerpt]

Ann Harding, Ann Harding, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Harding shares two book stories: one from her son's visits to the Myers' home and one from an alumni event in Phoenix, AZ. Harding also comments on the effects of Myers' personal touches like handwritten notes and surprise office visits and remarks on the impact of his personal characteristics on people.

Vadim Mazo, Vadim Mazo, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Mazo recalls his first conversation with Myers and the support he felt from him right away for their mutual interests in music and also discusses encounters he had with Myers in his studio and about "Musical Bridges," a program he feels Myers' interest in his work inspired. Mazo feels Myers was a personal inspiration with his example of curiosity. He credits the widening of his interest in bows and batons to Myers' influence. In turn, he is sharing his interests with his students. He speculates that visitors Myers brought in were to improve the intellectual health of the campus and …

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 …

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.

Mlk 2016 Convocation Slide Show, Otterbein University

MLK Convocations

A series of photographs from the event.

2016 Mlk Convocation, Sarah L. Hickey

MLK Convocations

This is the program for the annual MLK Convocation at Otterbein University.

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.

Beloved: “Let Us Love One Another”, Taylor University

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Programs and Schedules

The schedule for Beloved: “let us love one another” celebration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Gates, Lloyd W., 1830-1890 (Sc 2971), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 2971. Business and political postcards, chiefly sent to attorney Lloyd W. Gates, Calhoun, Kentucky. Topics range from political patronage to debt collection.

Mccallum, Elizabeth Elliott (Cherry), 1890-1985 (Sc 2970), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 2970. Three postcards sent by Elizabeth Elliott Cherry while she was serving with the Red Cross during World War I. The cards are sent to her sister David Ellen “Spooks” Tichenor and her nephew Thomas Cherry Tichenor. They discuss sites she is visiting in France and asks that some candy be sent to her as she could “nearly die for sweets.”

Griffin Family Papers (Sc 2969), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 2969. Newspaper clipping of school children at the Weir School in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, 1933; WWII chapel program dated 26 August 1945 with a note written by Clifford Griffin; and an address book listing contact information for friends "in service" during the World War II which belonged to Elmer Lee Griffin.