Illustrations By William Roderick James

Posted on 2018 September 6 by Molly McVey

French Canadian artist and writer, William Roderick James, was well-known for his illustrations on the American West, specifically of horses and cowboys. He is most known for writing and illustrating Smoky the Cowhorse, which won the Newbery Medal in 1972. He created numerous illustrations for articles in the Sunset Magazine, Scribner’s, the Saturday Evening Post, The Bookman, and other periodicals dating from 1920 to 1932.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James didn’t start out as an artist, but always found a way to incorporate drawing into his life. While working on ranches he would create drawings on bags, doors, floors, and old catalogs. James realized that he wanted to make a career out of art after he spent time in the Nevada State Prison for cattle rustling. He created several illustrations during his time in jail, “The Turning Point,” “The Past,” “The Present,” and “The Future,” each showcasing a different aspect of his life, ultimately leading to him becoming an artist.

He depicted an accurate representation of western life with its daily drama, excitement, and the various conflicts that arose. Most people during this time period wanted to know more about the lives of cowboys, since a majority of their knowledge came from Hollywood movies. James was able to accurately portray this lifestyle with his outstanding illustrations of bears, cattle, and especially bucking horses. When looking at his illustrations, you can see that James knew every aspect of the Western American lifestyle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The William Roderick James Publication Collection is composed of 79 items including illustrations, articles, and biographical materials. If you are interested in seeing more illustrations, you can always come see us in Special Collections, located on the 5th floor of McFarlin Library, Monday through Friday 8:00 am until 4:30 pm.

 

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Rare, possibly only known footage of Edward Dahlberg

Posted on 2018 September 6 by Melissa Kunz

Based on a recent patron request, we had this Super 8 film footage of Edward Dahlberg in September 1968 converted into a digital format. The footage is of Dahlberg and his editor, Harold Billings, along with Billings’s wife and their children.

Dahlberg was famous for writing books like Bottom Dogs, The Flea of Sodom, and The Sorrows of Priapus, his most successful book. He worked to promote human rights, speaking out against mistreatment of African Americans, Native Americans, Jewish people, immigrants, and workers, for which he was jailed multiple times.

This may be the only known footage of Dahlberg, who was an expatriat writer in Paris during the 1920s, and knew James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, D.H. Lawrence, and many others whose papers and works we collect in Special Collections.

You can request to see more of the Edward Dahlberg collection and visit us on the 5th floor of McFarlin Library, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

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A new article about the late Sir V. S. Naipaul

Posted on 2018 August 30 by Marc Carlson

TU houses the late Nobel Prize-winning author V.S. Naipaul’s entire archive

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Tulsa Municipal Airport Ledger books

Posted on 2018 August 28 by Melissa Kunz

On August 28, 1963, Tulsa’s airport name was changed from Tulsa Municipal Airport to Tulsa International Airport. Today marks the 55th anniversary of the switch. TIA has gone through many changes and renovations over the years, but it started as a small private field that was boosted and supported by local oilmen and businessmen, including William G. Skelly, until the City of Tulsa purchased it in 1929.

Special Collections houses 3 Tulsa Municipal Airport ledger books dating back to 1928 through 1931. When planes landed at Tulsa’s airfield, the pilot would sign the register and record important details: where they’d come from, how many passengers were with them, and what type of aircraft they were flying that day.

Our three ledger books contain some famous pilots throughout their pages, including visits from Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post, James Harold Doolittle, and even Charles Lindbergh.

The books have been digitized and are available to view on our Archives Catalog. Select the ledger you’re interested in, then click on the ‘Digital Material’ tab to open a fully scanned copy of each book, viewable by the page. We’ve made sure to note which pages include famous autographs and visits.

If you’d like to visit Special Collections in person, we’re open Monday – Friday, 8am to 4:30pm to all visitors with a TU ID card or a photo ID.

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‘F.R. first gift of ephemera.’

Posted on 2018 August 27 by Bobby Frame

There is a particular fascination from modern day society with both World War I and World War II. Whether it is the old photographs, the soldier’s outfits or the patriotic propaganda posters, there is almost always something that can pique the interest of the average person.

When looking through our collections at McFarlin Library special collections, I happened to find a collection named ‘F.R. first gift of ephemera.’ This collection contains photographs and history of the 390th Bombardment group (568th, 569th, 570th and 571st squadrons) that belonged to the United States air force during the 2nd World War and the Cold War. The collection holds three main items: a page of beautiful squadron logo’s that have a vintage look with the fantastic use of color. The logos accompany a color photograph of one of the Warplanes that was used to carry out missions, as well as an air base map for their headquarters in Parham, United Kingdom.

The 390th bombardment group was a part of the 8th Air Force which was a specialized branch of the Air Force comprised of forty-one bomb groups. The group was a specialized aircraft unit that was used to combat the German military in World War II; they contributed in many vital missions that would later help to win the war. The unit was involved in missions such as D-Day and Munster where they were forced to take on over 600 German Aircraft, conditions where the bomber boys managed to beat psychological and physical demands associated with being a war pilot, potentially some of the most testing conditions a human can face. The 8th Air Force had the most fatalities out of any branch of the military at any time, with the average age in the unit being 19, it was a reality that they would probably not make it home alive.

Some exciting logo designs belong to this collection. The Svr Le Nez emblem was the emblem that represented the 390th bombardment group (center of the page), and each aircraft would carry a ‘J’ on the tail. Additional to that, each squadron had their war logos. The 568th squadron featured a black panther on a missile, the 569th squadron had a bear dropping a bomb; the 570th squadron had a joker with aces, and the 571st squadron had a dog in a military outfit holding a missile. These symbols have a very “old school” feel to them with the use of beautiful coloring and very classic design styles; this was the main drawing factor for me.

It is important to note that the 390th bombardment group was supported by a large group of ground crew that enabled these missions to take place and be successful, for every pilot there was twenty ground crew working. The collection is indeed is an incredibly small piece of history for the contributions that this bombardment group made towards winning the Second World War.

 

If you would like to come and check out more of our incredible collections of World War 1 and World War 2 materials you can always come to see us in Special Collections, located on the 5th floor of McFarlin Library, Monday through Friday 8:00 am until 4:30 pm.

 

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Anamorphic Art: Illustrations Come to Life

Posted on 2018 August 22 by Molly McVey

The short story, Direction of the Road, written by Ursula K. Le Guin caught my interest while exploring Special Collections earlier in the week. American writer Ursula K. Le Guin was born in 1929 in Berkeley, California. She attended Radcliffe College and did graduate work at Columbia University. She is known for her work within the genres of fantasy and science fiction. She’s written a multitude of novels, short stories, essays, children’s books, and poetry. Throughout her career she’s accumulated multiple awards, such as the National Book Award, five Hugo Awards, five Nebula Awards, SFWA’s Grand Master, the Kafka Award, a Pushcart Prize, and many more.

Anamorphic Art

Her short story, Direction of the Road, stretches the definition of what a book can be; it’s both a book and a piece of art. The story, which is housed inside a portfolio box, is accompanied by an anamorphic illustration of an oak tree. The story is written from the perspective of the oak tree who is watching the world change before it. The tree tells of a time before automobiles were invented and how the land and human behavior changed when they became popular. It’s a true tale of perception and perspective.

The woodcut illustration created by Aaron Johnson interested me the most, because of it’s unique style and relation to the book. First, the illustration is a form of anamorphic art or illusion. This particular style of art deals with optical illusions that require assistance to reveal the true image. At first glance the illustration does not appear to be a mighty oak tree that the story depicts. By using the mirrored cylinder found in the center of the box spine and standing it on the printed circle, the “corrected” image of the oak tree seemingly pops off the page. Second, this use of anamorphic art gives the illustration an interactive role when paired with Le Guin’s short story. The reader is able to connect with the book in a unique way. Ursula K. Le Guin and Aaron Johnson have pushed the boundaries of what a book can be by combining literature and art.

If this short story and anamorphic art sparks your interest, you can always come see us in Special Collections, located on the 5th floor of McFalin Library, Monday through Friday 8:00am until 4:30pm.

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Sir V. S. (Vidiadhar Surajprasad) Naipaul

Posted on 2018 August 13 by Marc Carlson

Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul

Post by Tracy Ashby

Nobel laureate Sir V. S. (Vidiadhar Surajprasad) Naipaul died in his London home on Saturday August 11, 2018 at age 85. He was known for his fiction and non-fiction novels, travel writings and essays, and autobiographic works. His most recognizable and acclaimed works include, A House for Mr. Biswas (1961), The Enigma of Arrival (1987), and In A Free State (1971). He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001.

Naipaul was born on August 17, 1932 in Trinidad to Droapatie and Seepersad Naipaul. In 1950, Naipaul won a scholarship and moved to England to study at Oxford. He traveled around the world to capture the cultures of India, South America, Africa, and Islam.

The Department of Special Collections acquired the V. S. Naipaul archive in 1993 which includes manuscripts, correspondence, and memorabilia. In 2011, a second assortment of his materials were received which included 23 binders, notebooks, correspondence, and a text copy of Half a Life (2001). These materials bring visitors from around the world to experience his original and creative manuscripts.

Naipaul will be remembered for his unique perspective and controversial writings on race and Western colonization.

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Bert Hebbes WWI Letters archive, Coll No. 2007.017

Posted on 2018 August 9 by Marc Carlson

Post by intern Tracy Ashby

In 2007, the Department of Special Collections acquired a collection of letters that belonged to Bert Hebbes, a British Rifleman during the First World War. The Bert Hebbes WWI Letters archive, Coll No. 2007.017 is now available on our Archival Catalog.

Bertie (Bert) Hebbes was born in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England on February 17, 1893. He was the youngest of 11 children to Walter (b. 1849) and Emily Hebbes (b.1851). His father, Walter served as the local Postman in Eastleigh. His siblings were Eva Hebbes Fordham (b. 1873), William Hebbes (b. 1874), Ada Hebbes (b. 1876), John Hebbes (b.1878), Ethel Hebbes Fisher (b.1880), Emily Hebbes Richards (b.1882), Walter Hebbes (b.1884), Percy Hebbes (b. 1888), and Stanley Hebbes (b.1890). Before the war began, Bert worked at a Book Stall.

Do not confuse either father or brother with Walter Henry Hebbes, Eastleigh, Hampshire (b. 1899), parents John and Mabel, sister, Ada M. (b. 1900).

He joined the war in January 28, 1916 and served as a Rifleman in the 1/8 Battalion Hampshire Regiment in the 163rd Brigade of the 54th East Anglian Division. His first letters began in July of 1916, where he was stationed in Alexandria, Egypt. The 54th Division became a part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) where he occupied the Suez Canal defenses, as part of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. In 1917, the 1/8 Battalion marched across the Sinai Dessert to Gaza, and fought in the First, Second, and Third Battle of Gaza from March to November of 1917. They remained in Palestine until the Turks were defeated in September of 1918 when the unit sailed back to Alexandria, Egypt.

After the war ended, Bert stayed on with the 54th Division when the Egyptian Revolution began, and rioting broke out in January of 1919. They remained in Cairo until the rioting ended. He was then sent to Khartoum, Sudan where he stayed until his demobilization in November 1919.

In March of 1919, during the Egyptian Revolution, Bert’s father died. Because he was the eleventh child of Walter Hebbes and the severe conditions in Egypt, he was not granted leave for his father’s funeral.

When Bert was not working, he read up on England and church news and politics, wrote letters to his family and drew in his sketchbook. He loved to garden and frequently spoke of his tulip garden back in Eastleigh and local flowers and vegetation where he was stationed in his letters. He was dedicated member of the Church of England and was involved in the Church Army Recreation Huts. He frequently attended services and volunteered to help with services and play the organ.

Bert lived a long life and died in February 5, 1977.

This collection presents a unique perspective on the First World War in the Middle East. It also provides insight into how the British perceived Middle Eastern cultures.

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Administrative Note

Posted on 2018 August 9 by Marc Carlson

This blog will be changing servers at some point in the next month.  We will try to keep a redirect in place, but that will not be under our control.

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Alice Welford WWI photograph album and military nursing lecture journal, 1911-1918

Posted on 2018 July 31 by Marc Carlson

As has been discussed before, the Alice Welford archive is available for research.  It has been recently reprocessed to take advantage of the new ArchivesSpace Archival Catalog we are now using.  Please take a look at it, if you are interested in either historical military nursing, or the direction we will be gradually taking our finding aids.

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