I was disappointed after the fall board meeting of the Virginia Glee Club Alumni and Friends Association to head to the door of the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia, only to note that they have discontinued Saturday hours. A shame, as much of the research that made up the history I assembled in Ten Thousand Voices was gathered in Saturday afternoon sessions in that library. I shall have to arrange to fly in earlier on Fridays in the future.
All is not lost, though, as I made my way to Gingko Bookshop (formerly Heartwood Books, as longtime proprietor of the latter Paul Collinge finally retired and sold the business to a younger energetic crew) and made my way through their Virginiana and “UVA-ana” section, finding more than a few treasures.
Alderman Library 50 Years is a slim pamphlet discussing how the University’s library came to be built, how the major collections that lent it prominence were acquired, and how the library system expanded in its first 50 years. An entertaining read, if now outdated by momentous events in the 38 years that have followed.
The University of Virginia Magazine vol. 1, no. 1 from Spring of 1956 is an interesting tome that includes what is believed to be influential folk music collector Paul Clayton’s first published article about his research into Virginia folk songs, under the supervision and encouragement of Arthur Kyle Davis. Clayton inspired Bob Dylan (the former’s song “Who’ll Buy You Ribbons (When I’m Gone)” became the latter’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”), so that’s a nifty bit of history.
Harry Clemons’ 1961 Notes on the Professors for Whom the University of Virginia Halls and Residence Houses are Named, with an introduction by Edgar F. Shannon, is that perfect little reference book: well-written, engaging, and above all short. I went in looking for information about a few names and came away howling with Clemons’ dry wit. More to come on this…
The Colonnades 1987–1988 is a reference book for undergrads of the sort that would be an impossible to browse website on some subdomain of Virginia.edu today. It was fun to see the notes about the different student organizations and to reflect that at the time, if you wanted a cappella song, there were only two options and the directory didn’t see fit to including the Belles. Later that fall Halsted Sullivan formed the Hullabahoos, leading to the Cambrian explosion that has led to the current plethora of groups to be found on Grounds today.
Last but not least, and slightly unrelated to the rest, is a book of verse by one of my undergraduate professors, Stephen Cushman. Looking forward to digesting this one and digging in as well.
So: I have lost my chance to visit the Small Special Collections Library, but gained a few books for my own small library. Now off to lose myself in tales of the University.