Mysterious Stack Level H

Norman Fedder Papers

The collection I am finishing up is the Joel Climenhaga Papers.  Joel, like, Norman Fedder, was a professor of Theatre here at Kansas State University.  Fedder has an international reputation as a playwright.  His specializations include play writing, creative drama, drama therapy, Jewish theatre and drama in Jewish education to mention a few. He also founded the drama network of the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Theatre.

Fedder's original play Never Let 'em Catch You at It: An Evening with Milburn Stone is documented in his collection.  The play is about Stone and his role as "Doc Adams" on the television series Gunsmoke.  You can watch full episodes of Gunsmoke at TV Land.

As for Norman Fedder, well, you can find him on Facebook.

Fear of Writing

Often while processing collections in the Department of Special Collections, I come across something I find interesting.  And while reading the document, I sometimes find myself shaking my head in agreement or disagreement: it just depends on the words on the page.

The story below is from "Bread," the Episcopal Campus Ministry at KSU newsletter dated April-May 1975, pages 2 & 3.  Author, unknown.

See if you can relate to this story or know someone who can.

Kansas State University founded, February 16, 1863

Next Monday, Feb. 16th will be K-State's 146th birthday.

What do you know about this institution?

Do you know how many times its name has changed?

What about the mascot?  Willie was not always the mascot, so who or what was?

Do you know how many Presidents and First Ladies have been at K-State?

Did you know that K-State has a Department of Special Collections?

Burrrrrr it's cold!

The last couple of days has found the weather down right cold in this area.  And many of us have been keeping an eye on the weather stations to see what the weather is going to be like next.

Well, did you know that Kansas State University has the oldest weather station in Kansas?

No.  Read on...

Mark Your Calender for Nov. 20, 2008

You Are Invited!

On Thursday, November 20, 2008, the K-State Libraries is sponsoring the program, "Kenneth S. Davis: A Novelist Trapped in History," by Ralph Titus.  It will take place at 3 p.m. in the Hemisphere Room, 5th floor Hale Library, followed by a reception in the gallery courtesy of the Friends of the K-State Libraries. The program is open to the public.

The event is to recognize the donation of the Kenneth S. Davis papers and library to the Morse Department of Special Collections and to officially open the collection.  An exhibition, "Kenneth S. Davis: Man of Many Titles," is currently on display in the gallery, 5th floor, Hale Library.

History of the Class of 1918

There are so many great things in Special Collections that at times I find it very hard as to what to blog about.  This morning I walked past the shelves of Royal Purple Yearbooks and the 1918 book caught my attention.  I don't know why.  It just did.

While browsing through the book, "History of the Class of 1918" reminded me that it has been 90 years since that class graduated.

Page 97 of 1918 Royal Purple Yearbook reads:

Kenneth S. Davis: Man of Many Titles

There is a new display in the gallery on the 5th floor of Hale Library.  It is titled "Kenneth S. Davis: Man of Many Titles." A program about Davis is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2008.

Ken Davis' papers were donated to the University Archives by his second wife, Jean Davis, upon his death on June 10, 1999.  The collection documents Davis' career as a prominent historian and writer.  Davis' Estates holds the copyright to his work.

The Davis' Papers (1886; 1912-2000) are housed in 101 boxes and organized into 17 Series: 1) Writings/Journals; 2) Correspondence; 3) Awards/Certificates; 4) Organizations/Clubs; 5) Fellowships/Grants; 6) Speeches; 7) Literary Works; 8) Subjects; 9) Death and Memorial; 10) Davis Family; 11) Photographs; 12) Media; 13) Scrapbooks; 14) Oversize; 15) Maps; 16) Artifacts and Art; 17) Printed Material.

The Kenneth S. Davis Papers are housed in Special Collections located on the 5th floor of Hale Library.

Displays

"Happy Hour, Selections from Special Collections" display will be coming down soon (the week of September 29).  If you have not seen the display, located on the 5th floor of Hale Library, now is the time to do so.  The display will be up during Family Day on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

The next display beginning on October 6, 2008 is about Kenneth S. Davis, writer and historian who is known for his volumes of work on FDR.

"P. M. Days" by L. S. Strickler

Source:  College Symposium of the Kansas State Agricultural College (Topeka, KS: The Hall & O'Donald Litho, Co.) 1891

Can it be that P.M. Days
Are to me forever past?
Prof. Georgeson never more I’ll see,
The hoe no more I’ll grasp. 
My days as the K.S.A.C.
Are drawing near a close,
And I’m to drift on life’s broad sea,
Where “Hort.” one never knows.

And then I’ll think of days long past,
The happy days of yore;
When once I struggled with P.M.,
A haughty sophomore.
It first was down to the barnyard,
The place where Cottrell reigned,
My soft and dainty little hands
With mud and such were stained.

That day I worked in my good clothes,
My old ones I’d not brought,
And all the dirt about the barn
On my good clothes was caught.
The bosom of my nice white shirt
Showed that it had been soiled;
I marred the polish on my shoes;
My collar, it was spoiled.

Gloomy, sorrowful day of yore,
Day of the not far past,
To me you ne’er will be forgot–
My first, but not my last.
Oh! With what joy of heart I hear
The ringing of the bell–
A joy that only in the hearts
Of P.M. boys doth dwell.

But now my P.M. days are gone,
I feel no more the same;
I long to toil as once I did,
I long for wealth and fame;
But carpentry is my sad lot,
P.M. no more I’ll see;
But while I’m working at my trade,
P.M., my heart’s with thee.

One Man's Journey

As a manuscripts/collections processor, you never know what you will find in a collection.  I am currently processing Joel Climenhaga's papers and have blogged some of his writing.  Well, today is no different. 

In the early 1980's there was a K-State Radio program titled "One Man's Journey" where Mr. K-State Radio Voice of the century, Ralph Titus, talked to Joel Climenhaga, K-State Professor in the Departmetn of Theater.    Below is from "One Man's Journey," Monday, February 2, 1981.

(Ralph Titus speaking):  "This is One Man's Journey, a bi-monthly series of commentaries featuring Joel Climenhaga, professor of Theater, at Kansas State University.  Joel, on your last journey, our last broadcast, a couple of weeks ago we talked about your beginnings in the theater and you have an interesting story about your relationship with one of the biggest and brightest names in theater and television."