While processing records on campus buildings, I couldn’t help but notice the fine examples of early twentieth century letterhead. Mainly from the Buffalo and Niagara Falls vicinity, these companies bid or worked on the addition to the Koessler Administration building. This selection is from 1907.
David Copperfield: Dickens’ Favorite Child is now open on the 3rd floor of the Montante Family Library through March 31, 2013. The D’Youville College Archives holds a rare, first edition David Copperfield, complete in its original paper wrappers. As Dickens called Copperfield his favorite of all his works, the exhibit explores the experiences that influenced its writing and publication.
“An Energy of the Fieriest Description”
David Copperfield was first published as a serial in 19 monthly parts from May 1849 to November 1850. This was Dickens’ eighth novel and marked a significant change from his earlier works. First, Copperfield is written in the first person. Second, experiences from his life feature prominently. His father’s term in debtors’ prison (and even his speech patterns) take the form of Mr. Micawber. Dickens’ own time working at a blacking factory as a child is reflected in David’s brutal experience at Murdstone and Grinby’s warehouse. In July 1849, Dickens wrote to his friend John Forster, “I really think I have done it ingeniously, and with a very complicated interweaving of truth and fiction.”
Dickens began writing Copperfield in February 1849, only three months before the first installment was published. For the duration of this work, he stuck to a fairly rigid writing schedule, and wrote each number in the first 2 weeks of the month with “an energy of the fieriest description.” In the summer of 1849 while on holiday with his family, he expressed his wish to be left alone from waking until 2pm, referring to this time as his “hard Copperfieldian mornings.”
Copperfield was well-received and has become Dickens best known work. Biographer and historian Claire Tomalin describes the sense of realism and the depiction of childhood Dickens captured: “…the voice of childhood was truly rendered by Dickens out of his own experience – and out of his imagination….His descriptions are so finely accurate that he seems to be watching something taking place before his eyes as he writes….”
In the Preface of the 1850 edition, Dickens reflected on Copperfield:
My interest in it, is so recent and strong; and my mind is so divided between pleasure and regret—pleasure in the achievement of a long design, regret in the separation from many companions….
Instead of looking back, therefore, I will look forward. I cannot close this Volume more agreeably to myself, than with a hopeful glance towards the time when I shall again put forth my two green leaves once a month, and with a faithful remembrance of the genial sun and showers that have fallen on these leaves of David Copperfield, and made me happy.
The exhibit is on display until March 31, 2013 during regular library hours. Directions to the Montante Family Library can be found here.
The College Archives has a new exhibit space located on the 3rd floor of the Montante Family Library. The first exhibit, David Copperfield: Dickens’ Favorite Child will open in a few weeks. Below are a few sneak peek images of the space renovation and items featured in the exhibit.
The D’Youville College Archives is proud to announce that we will be part of New York Heritage Digital Collections.
Digitization of a portion of the D’Youville College Archives Photograph collection will be completed by 3 students from the University at Buffalo Department of Library and Information Science as part of LIS563, Digital Libraries.
The students will scan and edit photographs, create metadata, and upload all corresponding files and descriptive information to NY Heritage, with work completed by mid-December, 2012.
The D’Youville College Archives Photograph collection contains roughly 1,000 photographs, mainly from the early 1900s to the present. Major subjects are buildings, graduations, student activities, and campus events. This project will focus on photographs relating to College buildings and grounds and consist of 30 images. The majority of photos are black and white, and images on buildings and grounds make up about one-third of the greater Archives Photograph collection.
The College Photograph collection is the most heavily used record group in our institutional holdings [of our current 12 record groups]. Both internal and external patrons use this collection, and requests often cover all subjects. Digitization of photos relating to college buildings and grounds will serve as a pilot project for future digitization of the greater photograph collection and other archives holdings in 2013.
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of D’Youville College, Sr. Mary Sheila Driscoll (1911-1994), second College Archivist, created a pamphlet series on the history and founding of D’Youville College. Periodically, these pamphlets will be digitized and posted online. Below are the first 3 pamphlets in the series:
The Administration Building, 1874 – 1908
To celebrate the start of a new semester, take a look back at past students, the college, and student activities.
Sister Mary Sheila Driscoll (1911-1994) was the second D’Youville College Archivist, succeeding Sister St. Mary Jones. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the College, Sr. Mary Sheila created a pamphlet series on the history and founding of D’Youville College.
Periodically, a new pamphlet will be digitized and linked on this site. Below is the first in this series, The Administration Building, 1874-1900.
Many factors are used, often in combination, to determine if a book is “rare.” Below is a primer describing several factors that can be used in this regard:
The D’Youville College Archives has a small collection of glass plate negatives. The techniques shown below provide a brief introduction in handling glass plate photographic material. Note: These glass plates were small, with no cracks or breaks. For information on the handling and storage of large and/or damaged plates, see Further Resources below.
Further Resources:
Did you know the D’Youville Library is on Pinterest? Boards include new books and movies, children’s books, summer reading, how-to tutorials, and book art. Follow all of the boards (including the Archives board) here.
