Reprint from Collections & Connections
Spring 2000, Vol.4, No.2
 

Genealogical, Political, and Satirical Cartoon Materials Arrive

The Kentucky Library in the Department of Library Special Collections has been the recipient of three significant donations. In May 1999, Dorothy Roberts of Decatur, Georgia, gave 54 notebooks that document 21 Warren County families. She also presented a number of genealogical books for the collection. Mrs. Roberts' husband, Edwin Thomas, who died in 1998, compiled these notebooks over a fifteen year period. As Kentucky Library Coordinator, Connie Mills, said: "This was Mr. Roberts' "Roots' project." Each family of Warren County; eleven of the families have one notebook apiece, but others vary from two to sixteen volumes. The library faculty and staff painstakingly numbered each page in every volume, so they could be cataloged. They also removed all historic photographs and manuscript material, placing each in safe housing. This comprehensive collection is now available to the hundreds of genealogists who visit the Kentucky Library annually. Mr. Roberts, himself, made frequent treks to Bowling Green to do research at the Kentucky Building.

Robert Westerman, of Louisville, contributed a significant gift of political memorabilia to the Julius Rather American Political Memorabilia Collection in December. This is Westerman's second gift to that collection. The Rather Collection now numbers over 8,000 pieces. The donation consists chiefly of paper memorabilia generated by candidates in Louisville and Jefferson County, including, but not limited to, Jerry Abramson, M.G. "Gene" Snyder, Harvey Sloane, and Martin Tori, and a number of Kentucky gubernatorial candidates. The majority of the material is from the last quarter of the twentieth century, but some broadsides and small paper pieces date from the 1920s and 1930s. The growth of the Rather Collection assures its position as one of the top Kentucky political memorabilia collections. Vicky Jungers and James M. Tuggle, Jr. added 67 editorial cartoons to a large cartoon collection already housed in the Kentucky Library. These original art pieces by WKU alumnus William "Whitey" Sanders represent social, economic, and political events form the 1960s through the 1980s. Most of the satirical scenes were produced when Sanders worked for the Milwaukee Journal. One cartoon features Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan in cowboy outfits ready to draw their six shooters. The caption reads: "Shootout at the KC Corral." There materials are great for classes, because they require students to research a drawing's context in order to comprehend the intended message. In the mentioned drawing, one would have to know how close the 1976 Republican nomination was prior to its National Convention which was held in Kansas City. Each drawing represents a mini-history lesson.

Each of these donations represents an important addition to existing collections, which assist students, the public, and researchers in better understanding the history of the Commonwealth.

~Jonathan Jeffrey

Expressing Kentucky Update

Since the Expressing Kentucky project began in July 1999, many school groups have visited the museum and taken part in museum tours and workshops. Themes taken from museum exhibitions were followed by hands-on visual arts activities emphasizing Arts and Humanities Core Content. Student artwork has been exhibited in the museum and on the Expressing Kentucky web site at www.wku.edu/Library/onlinexh/exky/. Workshop projects have included drawing, watercolor painting, collage, weaving and paper sculpture.

Two related community projects took place last summer. The public was invited to participate in the design and execution of the Capitol Arts Center 1999/2000 Season Mural, and last fall participants in Girls Inc. made a mural size wall hanging. The Expressing Kentucky exhibition that opens in June 2000 and the Expressing Kentucky web site will feature both artworks.

Two new community projects began in January 2000 with the Barren River Adult Day Care Center at WKU and Special Olympics at Bowling Green Parks and Recreation. These groups are creating mural size wall hangings that represent their points of view in the Expressing Kentucky theme. The Barren River Adult Day Care Center will be featured in an April exhibition at the Kentucky Museum, and the closing exhibit in June will include the Special Olympics wall hanging. Upcoming school workshops involve activities using principles of design with oil pastels, markers and mixed media. During April and May, students will study the "Joe Dudley Downing 2000" exhibit and have a unique opportunity to learn more about artist and his work.

A teacher professional development session, Expressing Kentucky Using Principles of Design, is scheduled for June 21 at the Kentucky Museum. This workshop is a KERA-friendly workshop for elementary and middle school teachers. For information, call Dalaire Rowe Finley at 270/745-6082, e-mail her at delaire.rowe-finley@wku.edu, or check out the Expressing Kentucky web site.

~Delaire Rowe