A Look Back: Step Sing in the '60s and '70s

Step Sing began on campus in 1951, but really got going in the 1960s when costumes and props were added to the performances. 

Here are some pictures from the Special Collection of Step Sing performances of the past. 

The Step Sing winners of 1962 pose with their trophies.

Sandra Evans sings during the Delta Zeta Step Sing show in 1966.

Alpha Phi Omega performs in Step Sing in 1972. Their show had a river boat theme and they won first place in the Organizational Division of Step Sing.

Phi Kappa Pi performing in Step Sing on November 16, 1974. The show as entitled, "My Special Angel". Phi Kappa Pi won the Fraternities Division of Step Sing that year.

Chi Omega performs in Step Sing in 1979.

Next week, we'll share some pictures from Step Sing in the 1980s and 1990s. Good luck to all the groups performing this year!

Text and photographs provided by Rachel Cohen and the Special Collection.

Lonnie G. Johnson, Inventor

"Lonnie G. Johnson, inventor and engineer, was born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1949.  Mr. Johnson holds over 80 patents, with many still pending, and worked on the Galileo, Mars Observer, and Cassini Missions, but he is best known as the inventor of the Super Soaker.
  
"Lonnie attended W. H. Council Elementary School and Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama.  At the age of 18, as a senior in high school, he won first place in a national science competition at the University of Alabama for his invention of a remote controlled robot, called 'Linex,' which he made from junkyard scraps.

"He attended Tuskegee University on a mathematics scholarship and was elected to the Pi Tau Sigma National Engineering Honor Society. He graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1973, and completed a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering two years later. In 2001, Lonnie was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Science from Tuskegee University, and currently serves on the faculty as an adjunct professor.

"As a Captain in the Air Force, he was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal, and received the Air Force Commendation Medal on two separate occasions. During his Air Force career he received the CINC SAC Nomination for Astronaut Training as a space shuttle mission specialist.

"He served as Chief, Data Management Branch of the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, Strategic Air Command, Edwards AFB, California. He also served as Manager, Advanced Space Systems Requirements for Strategic Air Command (SAC) Headquarters, Offutt AFB, Nebraska; and as Acting Chief, Space Nuclear Power Safety Section of the Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirkland AFB, New Mexico.

"During his nine year career with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, he received multiple achievement awards from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for his work on spacecraft system design. He worked on the Galileo and Mars Observer projects, and was instrumental in the Cassini (Saturn) Mission.

"In 1992, Lonnie’s invention, the Super Soaker® water gun, generated over $200 million in retail sales. Total retail sales to date are close to one billion dollars. In 2000, Lonnie was named to the Inventor Hall of Fame for his invention of the Super Soaker®.

"Also in 1992, the Cobb County, Georgia Chamber of Commerce named Johnson Research and Development the 'Small Business of the Year.'

"Articles on Lonnie Johnson have been featured in a number of publications including Inventor’s Digest, the New York Times, and Time Magazine. He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and was featured in a Science Times/National Geographic television segment.

"Lonnie Johnson currently holds over 80 patents and has over 20 more pending. He has authored six technical publications. Additional patents are held by his companies, Johnson Research and Development, Excellatron Solid State, and Johnson Electro-Mechanical Systems.

"Johnson serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Alliance for Children and the Hank Aaron 'Chasing the Dream' Foundation; and has served on the Board of the Commonwealth National Bank."

You can find out more about Lonnie Johnson in the library's "Leading Alabama" display on the first floor in front of the Circulation Desk. 



Text from the Johnson Research and Development profile.

Poetry from the Special Collection

While looking for an article last week to answer a patron's request, the Special Collection staff came across this poem published in the Howard Crimson. 

The poem gracefully illustrates that no matter what year college students are eating in the Caf, no one likes people who cut in line. Jim Summers, the author, wrote many other pieces of comic poetry that appeared in the Crimson through 1961 and 1962, but this was our favorite. 

Text and photograph contributed by Rachel Cohen of the Special Collection.

Welcome Back for Spring Term!

The library hopes that everyone enjoyed their Jan terms, whether taking a class here, studying abroad, or committing yourself to impacting our world in all of the wonderful ways that make Samford students outstanding.

Now, back to business!

Here are some things you can do to be prepared for Spring in the Library:


In the Library:

• Here's the library's website: http://library.samford.edu/
• And here's where you can find our hours: http://library.samford.edu/about/hours.html
• Our hours are subject to change during Midterms and Finals, when we usually stay open later to help you get more study time in.
• To reserve a study room, for individual, group, or practicing a presentation, you'll need to check out the room from the Circulation desk. 
• Ask Us!  You can find reference librarians on the 2nd floor of the library, and we are exited and available to help you. You can text us, tweet us, call us, drop by, or make an appointment.  Don't underestimate this valuable resource! 

All Campus:

• When you're here in the library, or anywhere else on campus be mindful of your laptops and any other materials or devices.  Do not leave them unsecured!  We have an open campus, and thefts do happen. 
• When you're in the library, we have cables available to check out for securing laptops.
• If you have had something stolen, or feel threatened, or if you see suspicious activity, please, call Public Safety at 205-726, 2020.  
• You can visit their webpage here for more information: http://www.samford.edu/publicsafety/Default.aspx

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Davis Library will close at 4:30pm on December 23rd, 2014, and will reopen with our Jan term hours from 7:30am until 8:00pm on January 5th, 2015.

From Godey's Lady's Book in December of 1850, courtesy of the Samford Special Collection

We wish everyone in the Samford family a safe and happy holiday season!

Fall Finals Stress-Busters @ Samford University Library

Finals are coming up next week at Samford University, and we've got a few things planned here at the library (in addition to our long study hours) to help you keep calm and do well during your exams.

Sunday night, 12/7, we're going to have coffee, cookies, and tutors, provided for your edification and enjoyment, on the 2nd floor of the library.  On the first floor, near the front doors, we're going to be handing out trail mix, courtesy of Parent Programs.

On Tuesday night (12/9), we're going to have late night pizza-- free!  Make sure you're here between 11:00 and 11:30 pm Tuesday night to score some delicious Papa John's slices on the first floor next to the circulation desk.

We're continuing our holiday tradition of asking students to help us decorate our Christmas trees with snowflakes, and we've got a snowflake station right near the front doors where you can take a break and get creative.

If you decorate and address an "I survived finals @ Samford University Library" postcard for us, we'll mail it for you!  You can find the postcards and supplies near the snowflake table, starting Sunday (12/7).

Finally, if you need a study break, we've got just the activity for you.  Grab one of the Goodwin Scavenger Hunts from the front desk (or anywhere else you might find some), and if you complete it correctly and return it, you can get a sweet reward-- a full sized candy bar!

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or follow Goodwin on Twitter, for any updates!

So don't stress next week, Samford-- visit your library!