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...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/06/12/cleveland_artists_and_early_play_house_promotional_artwork_john_lorin_black

Cleveland Artists and Early Play House Promotional Artwork: John Lorin Black

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:02:51 EST

Among the items selected for display at the March 26th event announcing the donation of the Cleveland Play House Archive to the Kelvin Smith Library were several wooden printer’s blocks used in the creation of early publicity pieces for the organization. Of these, one block (below) resonated with exhibit creators...

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

Cleveland Play House Photo Essay

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:02:00 EST

In early March we welcomed photographer, Laura Webb, and CWRU Think Magazine's Tricia Schellenbach and Melissa Evans Persensky to Kelvin Smith Library for a sneak preview of some of the gems in the Cleveland Play House Archives. It was a fascinating glimpse at how skilled photographers set up near-studio conditions...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/05/18/christopher_plantin_of_antwerp

Christopher Plantin of Antwerp

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:15:01 EST

The Department of Special Collections begins a series of postings highlighting the great printers and publishers with Christopher Plantin of Antwerp. Plantin turned Antwerp into the most important center for book production during the second half of the 16th century and he is one of the greatest names in...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/05/17/curtain_pullers_at_cleveland_play_house

Curtain Pullers at Cleveland Play House

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:53:50 EST

The Play House was interested in education at many levels. One program which was extremely successful was The Curtain Pullers. Originally known as The Children’s Theatre when it was founded in 1933 by Play House actress Esther Mullin, the Curtain Pullers produced plays acted by children for children. Local schools...

http://blog.case.edu/ksl/specialcollections/2012/05/10/the_cleveland_play_house_club

The Cleveland Play House Club

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:57:09 EST

Planning for a non-profit theatre supper club, to be called the Cleveland Play House Club, was begun in the late 1950’s by the Men's Committee. Their goal was to enhance the theatre going experience and bring added income to the organization. The only requirement for membership was that the applicant...