Collections
Mark your calendar for our bi-monthly features of digital collections that you can access on your desktop.
Mira Lloyd Dock Collection
At the turn of the last century, Mira Lloyd Dock was a woman ahead of her times. Botanist, environmentalist, and educator, she encouraged city planning for Harrisburg that ultimately created the greenbelt that exists to this day. This collection features more than 450 glass-lantern slides (the precursor of our celluloid-slide shows), dating from 1897 to 1902, that Dock used during her lectures at Mont Alto Forestry School, now a Penn State campus. The site also features contemporary preservation techniques used to maintain the collection.
Pennsylvania German Broadsides and Fraktur Collection
Baptismal, marriage, and other official certificates, adorned with elaborate lettering and drawings form the foundation of this colorful collection that records life events of the eighteenth- and nineteenth- century Pennsylvania Germanic settlers. From the holdings of Rare Books and Manuscripts in the Special Collections Library, this site includes more than 270 images.
Times of Sorrow and Hope Collection
During the Great Depression and World War II, a government-sponsored photographic project created an unparalleled pictorial record of American life. As employees of the Resettlement Administration and later the Farm Security Administration (FSA) and the Office of War Information (OWI), a group of American photographers-some famous, others to become famous, and some who remain largely unknown-fanned out across the country to document the effects of the Depression and the war on the American people. This digital collection features depression-era photos taken in nearly two-hundred Pennsylvania towns, villages, and cities.
Fred Waring's America Collection
Better known as the man who taught America how to sing, Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians entertained audiences throughout the world on stage, radio, television, records, and in motion pictures. One of America 's best-known showman and musicians of last century, his career spanned nearly seven decades, ending with his death in 1984. He conducted world-famous workshops at Penn State and shortly before his death designated Penn State to house his archives and memorabilia, including more than 6,500 song titles. The Web site includes a complete listing of all the music in the Waring Library, a complete list of cartoons, all the CD recordings available for sale, and more.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book
An Act of Congress established the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in 1977, to serve as a focal point for celebrating the legacy of books and the printed word. The function of the center has expanded dramatically since 1984 with the establishment of affiliated centers for the book in 50 states and the District of Columbia. In 2000 Penn State 's University Libraries became Pennsylvania 's center and under the direction of Librarian Steven Herb, its online site has become an indispensable literary resource for Pennsylvania with a Literary and Cultural Heritage Map of Pennsylvania, Family Literacy Activities, and many other items.
Pennsylvania Civil War Newspapers
"War is hell" and newspapers provide real-time accounts not found in other sources. Dynamic search engines allow detailed search capabilities and unique software provides facsimile layout to give a visual sense of the news page and interrelationship of articles. Titles such as the Agitator of Wellsboro, Columbia Spy, and more hint of the content.
Historical Digital Collegian Archive (1887-1987)
The Historical Digital Collegian (1887-1976) provides access to the complete newspaper page including original layout, text, photographs, and advertisements. For those readers who prefer to see the newspaper intact, each issue can be browsed page-by-page. The Historical Digital Collegian affords researchers greater flexibility in locating articles of interest and gives greater access to researchers not able to visit the University Libraries.