Category Archives: Guide to Literary and Related Materials

Rosalind Franklin

Rosalind Franklin was born on this day in 1920.  She was an English chemist and x-ray crystallographer who among other accomplishments made significant contributions to the determination of the double helix formation of DNA.  Her contributions were only acknowledged long … Continue reading

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To Ban or not to Ban?

To Ban or not to Ban? Tomorrow concludes Banned Books Week for 2017. Banned Books Week has been around since 1982, in response to what many describe as a sudden rise in books that were not permitted in schools, libraries, … Continue reading

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James Ronda Jazz Library

The Department of Special Collections and University Archives has received the James Ronda Jazz library and the James Ronda Library over a period of time now. The Special Collections librarians have completed cataloging the collections this week,and they will be available … Continue reading

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Oklahoma, Where Green Grow the Lilacs and the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plain

Born in 1899 near the small Oklahoma town of Claremore, Rollie Lynn Riggs, better known as Lynn Riggs, was an American author, playwright, and poet. Of Cherokee descent, Riggs wrote 21 plays, several short stories, a television script, and several … Continue reading

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WWI diary- An experience at sea

The Department of Special Collections and University Archives at McFarlin Library has a vast collection of WWI material for faculty, students and researchers. One example is the personal diary of William John Thorne. W.J. Thorne, a leading telegraphist, kept a … Continue reading

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What Good Is A Newborn Baby? – Benjamin Franklin and his works

Anyone who is familiar with that phrase, would be so with Dr. Benjamin Franklin’s satirical style of writing that examined the political, personal, and social issues of the time.  Among his many other interests as a politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, … Continue reading

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George Orwell, a literary genius

This week, the Department of Special Collections and University Archives celebrates the literary works of George Orwell. He may be thought of as a serious thinker with a prophetic vision. Orwell was born Eric Arthur Blair on 25 June 1903 … Continue reading

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The Clansman: Controversy and Context

Originally published in 1905, Thomas Dixon, Jr.’s novel is actually the second book in a trilogy about the post-Civil War era. The general plot follows the character of Augustus Stoneman as he attempts to reconstruct the South. Stoneman believes he can keep … Continue reading

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Cookery Collections

Nearly every house has a cookbook, assorted favorite recipes and household manuals, even if they don’t realize it. Cookbooks, next to religious texts, are probably the most widely owned and recognized form of literature, at least in the Western world. … Continue reading

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Happy Holidays and more!

When we think postcards, we think Holiday season. With the festive season around the corner, it may be interesting to shift our attention to postcards in this entry of our weekly blog. As technology dominates our lives in this digital … Continue reading

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