A Look Back: Howard College Alma Mater Plate

Printing Plate and Alma Mater Print

This printing plate, dated 1927, is for the Howard Collage Alma Mater. The plate came into the Special Collection in 1961, four years before the name was officially changed to Samford University. The lyrics of the Alma Mater seem to have stayed the same after the name change, except for a necessary replacement of Howard with Samford, as can be seen on a print of the Samford Alma Mater from 1994. 

Printing Plate marked with acid

Like most music printing plates, the Howard College Alma Mater plate is etched in mirror image to be used in an intaglio printing process, so it no doubt looks strange to anyone who can read music. Though our records indicate the plate is made of steel, zinc was a far more commonly used metal for engraving plates, as it was easier to etch with acid and on the back of the plate, the marks of the acid can clearly be seen. 

 Though perhaps not the flashiest piece in the Special Collection, SC 186 reminds us that our Alma Mater has been sung for at least 87 years. 

Text and Photographs contributed by Rachel Cohen of the Samford Special Collection.

Earth Week 2014

Happy Earth Day!

Have you checked out the library's trashy display?

We didn't just get lazy with our recycling, we wanted to make the Samford Community aware of how we can conserve every day.

The computer labs use approximately 800,000 sheets of paper each semester…

that is equal to approximately 1,600 reams...

which is about 160 boxes of paper…

which takes ~67.2 trees to make.

By recycling & purchasing recycled paper, we save trees…

and energy and water…

plus, we produce less pollution…

and create more jobs.

Print Smart, Recycle, Save Trees  

(and a whole lot more).

Library Closed for Easter

The Davis Library will be closed Saturday, April 19th, through Monday, April 21st, to allow for the celebration of Easter Sunday.

The Library will re-open for normal hours on Tuesday, April 22nd.

Have a blessed, safe holiday, Samford!

"The Resurrection." The Bridgeman Art Library Archive. London: Bridgeman, 2008.
Credo Reference. Web. 18 April 2014.

Congratulations to Bob Barnett, Samford Student Employee of the Year!

We are delighted to announce that the library's very own Bob Barnett has been named Samford's Student Employee of the year for 2014!

Bob, hard at work.

Bob has worked in the Reference Department and in Interlibrary Loan at the Davis Library for the past four years.  He is very highly regarded by all of the faculty, staff, and his fellow student workers.

Daniel and Bob at the Ask Us desk.

From Dr. Stephanie Rollins' nomination letter for Bob:

"Bob’s upbeat demeanor and can do attitude brightens anyone’s day he encounters and make him a highly desired employee. He starts each shift by asking “Is there anything I can do to help YOU today?”  He is the only student who asks such a sincere question and is willing to do anything that is asked of him.  His strong human relations skills enable him to interface very effectively with many different constituencies including library staff, faculty, staff, and students.  Bob’s strong verbal and written communications skills allow him to relay information in a clear and coherent manner. Bob is a naturally caring person with a strong assistance orientation who consistently demonstrates a solid service orientation towards whomever he is helping."

Bob and Dr. Westmoreland 

Bob was honored for his excellent work in a ceremony in the Howard Room on April 17th, 2014.

Gail Barton, Bob, and Dr. Stephanie Rollins

We will all miss Bob's cheerful smile, friendly demeanor, and helpful attitude when he graduates at the end of this semester.

Librarians and Bob 

Thank you, Bob!

Celebrating National Library Week 2014!

This week is National Library Week, and we’ve got some great activities planned here at Samford to celebrate!  

Don’t miss the Book Fair, April 15th and 16th from 8:00am to 5:00pm on the first floor in Davis Library next to the circulation desk.  A percentage of the proceeds go to benefit BackPack Buddies, a local charity that provides food for children in need.  Read more about BackPack Buddies here.

We’ll also be giving away a $50 gift card to Amazon.com and a $50 gift card for iTunes on Thursday and Friday.  You can register to win by submitting your name and Samford email address at the Circulation Desk.  

Be sure to view our great displays while you’re in the library, including the Missiography display in the 2nd floor reading room.  

Join us in celebrating the way Lives Change @ Your Library, here at Samford and all over the world!

Here's a short video with more information:

Live @ the Library: The Saint John's Bible

From Inspiration to Illumination, an Introduction to The Saint John's Bible

Presenter:   Tim Ternes
                  Director, The Saint John's Bible
                  St. John's University
Date:          Friday, April 11, 2014
                  Preview for Students, Convo Credit Available, 10:00am, Davis 233
                  Reception 6:00 p.m. — Presentation 6:45 p.m.
Location:    Main Reading Room, University Library

Open to the public and Convo credit available

Please RSVP to assist with seating and refreshments.

The University Library invites you to attend a presentation on and a viewing of The Saint John's Bible Heritage Edition.

The limited edition will be on view at a reception and presentation on Friday, April 11th, 2014 at 6:00 pm in the University Library.

Mr. Tim Ternes, Director, The Saint John's Bible, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library will be presenting "From Inspiration to Illumination, an Introduction to The Saint John's Bible."

"The mission of The Saint John's Bible is to ignite the spiritual imagination of people around the world"

– Fr. Robert Koopmann, OSB, president of Saint John's University

We hope you can join us for this special event and experience the beauty, artistry and inspiration in person.
Please complete the RSVP form to assist us in providing adequate seating and refreshments.

 "The Saint John's Bible is a monumental work capturing the spirit, scale, materials and techniques of the great medieval European bibles, while bringing them into the present with a New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) text. This exceptional new addition to Samford's collection is the culmination of more than 40 years of research and artistic labor by Welsh artist Donald Jackson and a host of theological advisors and craftspeople.

"The Saint John's Bible is the only handwritten and illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery since the advent of the printing press more than 500 years ago. The Heritage Edition is a work of art in itself, a fine art reproduction of the original manuscript. Only 299 sets of the Heritage Edition were created and Samford University is the only location in the state to own a set. "The Heritage Edition provides an accessible link to the original artwork for those who wish to bring its beauty, spiritual and historic significance into their lives and the lives of others," said Eric Hollas, OSB, senior associate for Arts & Cultural Affairs, Saint John's University.

"The Saint John's Bible represents a 15-year collaboration of scripture scholars and theologians at Saint John's Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minn. with a team of artists and calligraphers at the scriptorium in Wales, United Kingdom under the direction of Donald Jackson, one of the world's foremost calligraphers and Senior Scribe to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Crown Office at the House of Lords. Written and drawn entirely by hand using quills and paints hand-ground from precious minerals and stones such as lapis lazuli, malachite, silver and 24-karat gold, The Saint John's Bible celebrates the tradition of medieval manuscripts while embracing 21st century technology to facilitate the design process and collaboration between Saint John's in Collegeville and the scriptorium in Wales."

Press Release from saintjohnsbible.org:
http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/promotions/news/samford.htm

Text contributed by Kimmetha Herndon, Dean, University Library

and Catherine Evans, Systems Librarian

A Look Back: the Willough-Wets, Samford's synchronized swimming team

The Willough-Wets

The Willough-Wets were organized in the late 1960s and continued into the 1980s. The group was formed by Avalee Willoughby who was the chairman of the Division of Health and Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Department for eleven of her twenty-seven years at Samford University.  

The graceful Willough-Wets performed and competed in synchronized swimming competitions throughout the South. The team had both male and female members and are featured in the 1979 Entre Nous year book.

Thanks to Rachel Cohen and the Special Collection for text and pictures.