http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll Special Collections and Archives at the University of Iowa Thu, 05 Feb 2026 21:23:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2026/01/28/welcome-steven-gentry/ Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:54:05 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=8087 We are excited to welcome Steven Gentry, collections archivist for the University Archives. Steven grew up in Columbia, Maryland, graduating from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in history. After college, he worked at Howard County Public Library as a circulation clerk, at which time he learned to truly appreciateContinue reading "Welcome, Steven Gentry"]]> http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2026/01/07/students-investigate-the-materiality-of-medieval-music/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:42:57 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=8079 This series features the work and research of UI students. The following is written by Larisa Greway, a museum studies intern at Special Collections and Archives. If you can read a piece of sheet music, you’ve benefited from over a thousand years of evolution. In the Middle Ages, music not only sounded, but looked muchContinue reading "Students investigate: the materiality of medieval music"]]> http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2025/10/14/students-investigate-the-surprisingly-long-story-of-how-kinnick-stadium-got-its-name/ Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:32:26 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=8070 This series features the work and research of UI students. The following is written by Calvin Covington, Olson graduate research assistant. I’d wager that, even if they haven’t gone to a game, most of Iowa City’s population has borne witness to the grand Kinnick Stadium, where, every football season, legions of fans flock to watchContinue reading "Students investigate: the surprisingly long story of how Kinnick Stadium got its name"]]> http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2025/09/19/students-investigate-new-year-new-france/ Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:14:29 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=8064 This series features the work and research of UI students. The following is written by Brianna Bowers, student worker for Special Collections and Archives.  Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution or used the turning of the calendar to wipe a clean slate for yourself? These resolutions can be effective at creating new habits,Continue reading "Students Investigate: New Year, new France"]]> http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2025/08/22/michelson-named-new-curator-of-rare-books-and-maps/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 20:14:19 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=8054 We are happy to introduce Laura Michelson as the new curator of rare books and maps at the University of Iowa Libraries. Laura previously served as the Maps Collection librarian, a term position funded by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. Prior to coming to UI Libraries, Laura worked for four years as project archivistContinue reading "Michelson named new curator of rare books and maps"]]> http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2025/08/13/highlights-from-lunch-with-the-chefs-corn-edition/ Wed, 13 Aug 2025 21:22:19 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=8034 The following is written by Olson Graduate Research Assistant Anne Moore.  It’s corn sweat season! Check out this top 10 list of corn-themed materials from Special Collections and Archives, which were on display last month at the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)’s Lunch with the Chefs. This event is a special, themed lunch hosted by UniversityContinue reading "Highlights from Lunch with the Chefs, corn edition"]]> http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2025/05/14/form-and-symbolism-in-pam-spitzmuellers-tarot-decks/ Wed, 14 May 2025 14:01:38 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=8025 “From the Classroom” is a series that features some of the great work and research from students who visit Special Collections and Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries. Below is a blog by Andrew Newell from Dr. Jennifer Burek Pierce’s class “Reading Culture History & Research in Media” (SLIS:5600:0EXW). Newell explores the history, use,Continue reading "Form and symbolism in Pam Spitzmueller’s tarot decks"]]> http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2025/05/05/a-king-by-any-other-name-would-die-as-duly-or-the-top-10-nicknames-of-louis-xvi/ Mon, 05 May 2025 19:16:37 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=8009 The following is written by Libraries student employee Brianna Bowers. The few short months from the fall of 1792 to January 1793, in which heated debate and a final vote decided that Louis XVI would be guillotined, held centuries of progress. Our world would not be recognizable without the French Revolution. The University of IowaContinue reading "A king by any other name would die as duly, or the top 10 nicknames of Louis XVI"]]> http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2025/04/28/stepping-into-the-bustling-world-of-bleak-houses-first-readers/ Mon, 28 Apr 2025 20:42:38 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=8001 “From the Classroom” is a series that features some of the great work and research from students who visit Special Collections and Archives at the University of Iowa Libraries. Below is a blog by Casie Minot from Dr. Jennifer Burek Pierce’s class “Reading Culture History & Research in Media” (SLIS:5600:0EXW).  Minot explores the paratext ofContinue reading "Stepping into the bustling world of Bleak House’s first readers"]]> http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/2025/04/22/versals-from-a-15th-century-book-of-hours-in-order-of-increasing-fanciness/ Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:22:17 +0000 https://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/speccoll/?p=7987 The following is written by Museum Studies Intern Joy Curry If medieval scribes knew one thing, it was the importance of fancy letters. Surviving manuscripts are decorated with gold, filigree, intricate paintings, and more methods to make the words as beautiful as possible. One type of decoration was versals: letters that are drawn rather thanContinue reading "Versals from a 15th-century Book of Hours, in order of increasing fanciness"]]>