http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2014/08/29/the_allston_dana_papers_and_the_panama_canal

The Allston Dana Papers and the Panama Canal

Fri, 29 Aug 2014 19:04:13 EST

August 15th marked the 100-year anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. Coincidentally, August also brought a visit from Dr. Peter H. Dana who had the distinct pleasure of conducting research about the canal in his grandfathers’ papers. Housed in the Kelvin Smith Library Special Collections, The Allston Dana...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/12/26/posters_from_our_fall_exhibit_around_the_world_in_80_books

Posters From Our Fall Exhibit: "Around the World in 80 Books"

Thu, 26 Dec 2013 21:07:56 EST

The Scholarly Resources and Special Collections team collaborated on an exhibit this fall entitled "Around the World in 80 Books", a presentation of travel-related books and manuscripts in accord with the 2013 Octavofest Travel theme. Over the past year or so the team has experimented with selection and display of...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/11/25/monitoring_the_environment

Monitoring the Environment

Mon, 25 Nov 2013 19:58:54 EST

If asked, many people would define a library as a building that houses books. While this is an adequate description, many people don’t realize the sheer amount of personnel, knowledge and work needed in order to keep a library running smoothly, efficiently, and into the future. Books don’t magically...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/10/24/preserving_your_travel_journal_octavofest_2013_at_kelvin_smith_library

Preserving Your Travel Journal/ Octavofest, 2013 at Kelvin Smith Library

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 20:00:35 EST

Following a short summary of this year’s Octavofest events at Kelvin Smith Library, this blog provides tips from a conservator on how to preserve your paper-based travel journal(s). Kelvin Smith Library supports and actively participates in Octavofest, a multi-institutional yearly celebration of book and paper arts unique to Cleveland, Ohio....

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/09/15/thomas_bird_mosher_the_pirate_of_portland

Thomas Bird Mosher: The Pirate of Portland

Sun, 15 Sep 2013 19:53:27 EST

"Nothing is worth printing that is not worth printing well, accurately, beautifully; yet with simplicity and at moderate cost, so as to be within the reach of everyone" was the belief expressed by the private publisher Thomas Bird Mosher of Portland, Maine. Active during the years of the private press...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/05/17/barclay_leathem_and_the_national_theatre_conference

Barclay Leathem and the National Theatre Conference

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:29:43 EST

Barclay S. Leathem began teaching in the English Department at Western Reserve University (WRU) in 1921 while a law student. (He received his law degree in 1924.) He moved to the Speech Department in 1927 to teach the first theatre classes at WRU. Barclay Leathem in the classroom, Western Reserve...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/04/26/frederic_mcconnell_and_the_national_theatre_conference

Frederic McConnell and the National Theatre Conference

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:53:23 EST

The post-World War I era saw a number of significant changes in the national professional theatre dynamic, most notably the end of road company empires, the rise of motion pictures, and the collapse of the big stock companies. At the same time came the rise of the non-commercial theatre in...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/03/30/natural_science_highlights_perrys_conchology

Natural Science Highlights: Perry's Conchology

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:27:55 EST

The rare book holdings include one of the most beautiful color seashell books ever published, Conchology, or, The natural history of shells, by George Perry, which appeared in 1811. In the opening paragraph of his Introduction he states: "The study of Shells or testaceous animals, is a branch of...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2013/03/18/the_womens_committee_of_the_cleveland_play_house

The Women's Committee of the Cleveland Play House

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:58:27 EST

The Women’s Committee of the Cleveland Play House was founded to further the interests of the Play House, initially serving as liaison between the theatre and the public. The first Women’s Committee meeting was held in the Brooks Theatre in May 1932 at the request of the Board of Trustees....

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/09/20/restoration_of_charles_w_wasons_letters_of_a_trip_around_the_world

Restoration of Charles W. Wason's "Letters of a Trip Around the World"

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:34:43 EST

Working in a Preservation Department of a university library is a challenging and rewarding job. One of the most enjoyable activities involved with this profession is the conservation of rare and historic bindings. I recently had the opportunity to restore the damaged binding for a unique book with ties...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/08/19/the_house_of_elsevier

The House of Elsevier

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:10:37 EST

Our postings on the great publishers and printers continues with the house of Elsevier. The Elseviers were a Dutch family of printers, publishers and booksellers who flourished in Holland for over one hundred years from about 1585 until 1712. They were one of many fine printing establishments that conducted...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/07/23/samples_from_the_kelvin_smith_library_bookplate_collection

Samples from The Kelvin Smith Library Bookplate Collection

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:57:52 EST

Special Collections is the repository of a collection of over 5,000 bookplates from a handful of collectors who pursued that fascinating hobby. Begun with a gift in memory of their daughter Lucia to Western Reserve University by Mr. & Mrs. Paul Lemperly in 1917 the collection continued to grow through...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/07/17/the_printers_art_and_the_playbill

The Printer's Art and the Playbill

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:26:38 EST

Though the Cleveland Play House struggled early on to find it’s financial and managerial footing, there was never a lack of artistic talent available to produce first class promotional material for a wide variety of productions each season. By 1922, the number of hand-drawn programs and playbills had been augmented...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/07/06/summer_interns

Summer Interns

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 23:06:18 EST

Our processing efforts received a boost this summer through the work of three students, Mike Muth, Michael Wilson, and Char'ta Cleggett. Michael and Char'ta were part of University Circle, Inc's Future Connections program, a summer internship program for rising high school seniors. Mike joined us as an intern in Kent...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/06/18/small_scale_disaster_recovery_or_the_ksl_disaster_plan_works_again

Small scale disaster recovery, or: the KSL Disaster Plan Works Again!

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:35:43 EST

The Preservation Department of Kelvin Smith Library’s Scholarly Research and Special Collections team received the phone call on Wednesday, June 13th, a perfectly normal day. Workmen on the roof were performing maintenance on an air-conditioning unit when suddenly a water pipe burst, sending water cascading through the ceiling and onto...