Holocaust survivor Sam Schryver during an oral history interview with Ellen Klein

The USF Libraries are home to a wide-ranging landscape of stories told in the first person that are most appropriately called ‘oral histories.’ From the culinary, environmental, and sports history of Florida to the incredible tales of World War II Holocaust survivors and concentration camp liberators, the program’s three collection areas provide one-of-a-kind materials for scholars exploring a variety of local, national, and international issues.

The USF Libraries Oral History Program creates and shares these original interviews using state-of-the-art digital technologies. Few libraries in the world produce and showcase their oral history materials with comparable access. Through streaming audio and printable transcripts, listeners around the world can mine this rich learning resource with three areas of emphasis: urban development and sustainability; Holocaust, genocide, and crimes against humanity; and culture and identity.

Two of the most popular oral history collections in the USF Libraries program are the community-focused Otis R. Anthony African Americans in Florida Oral Histories and the Holocaust Survivors Oral History Project, whose stories relate moving accounts from local residents that hold relevance worldwide.

Otis R. Anthony

The Otis R. Anthony oral histories were primarily recorded between 1977 and 1978 as part of the Black History of Tampa Project, sponsored by the Tampa Urban League and the Hillsborough County Museum, under the direction of community activist Otis R. Anthony. In 1994, Anthony donated the collection to the USF Department of Anthropology, to support its Central Avenue Legacies Project. The Department of Anthropology conducted additional interviews, focusing primarily on Central Avenue and the Afro-Cuban community. Listen here.

The Holocaust Survivors Oral History Project was begun by USF Department of Communication Professor Carolyn Ellis and her graduate students, in collaboration with the USF Tampa Library and the Florida Holocaust Museum. This growing collection of oral histories documents the memories of Holocaust survivors now living in the Tampa Bay area. Listen here or watch selected videotaped interviews here.

Jane Duncan records an oral history interview

Each oral history collection is a time-intensive labor of love, requiring many hours of student and staff time to digitize, transcribe, and process the recordings, in addition to the initial research and investment on the part of the interviewers. As a result, archival-quality collections are carefully organized and preserved for current and future generations of researchers and curious minds.

Experience history first hand by listening to some of these oral histories, then contact Merrell Dickey at (813) 974-1654 or mdickey@usf.edu to support the oral history program, and benefit students and community alike.

Sue Vastine has been helping the USF Tampa Library grow and serve students for much of her adult life

Longtime USF Libraries ‘family member’ and former president of the USF Women’s Club Sue Vastine has made a significant bequest to the USF Tampa Library. Her generous gift will benefit the USF Women’s Club/Grace Allen Library Endowment.

Sue, as well as her husband Jim, worked for the USF Tampa Library for many years, beginning when the library was housed in what is now the Student Services building (SVC). Sue began in cataloging and later moved to serials. She tried to stop working when their son was born, but as she said, “You can’t keep a good librarian down” and was pressed into service during the great card catalog conversion to digital, as she had the rare ability to read and catalog Russian. Sue has also been involved with the USF Women’s Club since 1965, and recalls when the Women’s Club began raising enough money to go from providing textbook funds for one or two students to contributing on a larger scale, by providing collections for all Library patrons to use.

Sue’s late and widely-revered husband Jim Vastine was a charter student at USF beginning in 1960 , beginning his long career in the USF Tampa Library in a Federal Work-Study position while he was an undergraduate student. Listen to Jim’s oral history.

After graduation, Jim went to graduate school at FSU and was later drafted into military service. When home on leave, he would visit his parents in Bartow and then come visit the USF Tampa Library. The Library management would ask him each time if he was out of the Navy and would like to return to work at the Library. “Hiring was very different back then,” says Sue. “Mary Lou Harkness, the library director at the time, was on vacation and on the golf course. They called her and said, ‘Jim Vastine is here and he is out of the Navy. He would like to come work here’ …and she said ‘Fine!’ and he was hired.” Jim took an available cataloging position and then was able to move into his desired role as a reference librarian a year later. He later served, for a time, as assistant director for public services under Sam Fustukjian, even though reference and instruction were his true loves.

Sue and Jim Vastine spent much of their adult lives helping the USF Tampa Library grow and serve the USF community. She chose to give to the Library because of the important work that goes on here, and because it is “near and dear” to the Vastine family. To make your own contribution, contact Merrell Dickey at (813) 974-1654 or mdickey@usf.edu.

Undergraduate researcher Olivia Means with USF Libraries donor and Director of Academic Services Nancy Cunningham

“Good research begins not only with an idea but also an understanding of what has gone before.  Navigating, evaluating, and applying the knowledge contained in scholarly literature is a challenge for even the most seasoned researchers.”

-Nancy Cunningham, library donor and director of academic services for the USF Libraries

Nancy Cunningham, director of academic services for the USF Libraries, recently made a financial gift to establish an award for the best use of the research literature by an undergraduate researcher. Open to application from students accepted to participate in the Office for Undergraduate Research’s annual Undergraduate Research and Arts Colloquium, it recognizes a sophisticated and comprehensive use of scholarly literature and library archives. USF biology major Olivia Means won this year’s award for her investigation into the historical role the USF Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) played in children’s mental health advocacy.

Olivia was mentored by USF librarian Tomaro Taylor and worked with primary source materials, which are an important part of the research process, as well as scholarly literature. Of working with Olivia, Tomaro says, “Olivia was incredibly motivated and a joy to work with. She had done some fascinating background preparation that I hadn’t anticipated a student would do. It was a great experience working with her because she put forth so much genuine effort.” Olivia has quickly become an accomplished researcher during her studies at USF, and participated in FMHI’s Summer Research Institute in 2012. The resulting project, “Barriers to Seeking Help for Mental Health Issues in Women Ages 22-64” was published in the Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences and accepted for the poster session at the 7th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental health this summer in Los Angeles. Olivia is active as a Sunday school teacher and tutor to children in the community and is applying to medical school this summer.

“This was one of the most rewarding experiences… I’ve never had the opportunity to meet someone who was a direct beneficiary of a donation, shake her hand, meet her mother… this is exactly what I wanted. I could not think of a better use of my money… This is the best money I’ve ever spent.”

-Nancy Cunningham

What is a modest gift to a donor can achieve so much in support of a hardworking undergraduate student. Consider a gift in support of this fund, so that students like Olivia are given a chance to be UNSTOPPABLE. Where else can you see your money go so far? To make a contribution, contact Merrell Dickey at (813) 974-1654 or mdickey@usf.edu.

Mr. Hawes’s career as a journalist began as a young boy and ended in 2004 when, after 50 years, he retired from the Tampa Tribune.

Over the years, Mr. Hawes has served on the Library Advisory Board, was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2005, and in 2006 helped to establish the Patrick Riordan Memorial Fellowship fund in the Library.

Adnan Campara, Stephen Strenges, and Beryl Johnson focused on the Detective Nick Carter series of Dime Novels for their research project. Their instructor, Dr. Cynthia Patterson, is third from the left.

Great things happen through collaboration at the USF Tampa Library. This spring semester, Special and Digital Collections department, the Office for Undergraduate Research, and USF Associate Professor of English Cynthia Patterson worked together to provide a rich research experience to Dr. Patterson’s undergraduate class.

Patterson initially became aware of the USF Libraries extensive collection of dime novels while completing her cultural studies Ph.D. at George Mason University, where a colleague’s dissertation focused on dime novels for women. Dr. Patterson anticipated using the collection one day in a class, but the traditional USF English department curriculum offered few opportunities to integrate historic collections such as the dime novels. She finally found an ideal opportunity to work with the collection while designing her Spring 2013 LIT 3301 Cultural Studies course.

Employing a sophisticated understanding of pedagogical theory gleaned from her Master’s degree in Education, Dr. Patterson created a meaningful experience for the class. They were introduced to the material through critical and contextual secondary sources — primarily articles from the library’s electronic database subscriptions. The students then dug in to the historic primary source materials in the Dime Novels collection. Dr. Patterson designed the course not only to give the mix of juniors and seniors in the class a worthwhile research experience, but also to equip them with technological skills that would be of value in the workplace.

Jennifer Delio, Clayton Prather and Vincent Euliano present their research on Science Fiction in Dime Novels at the USF Office for Undergraduate Research Colloquium

In order for the project to proceed unfettered by technological limitations, she applied for and received an Office of Undergraduate Research CREATTE grant (Creating Research Experiences and Activities Through Teaching Enhancement). The grant allowed Dr. Patterson to purchase handheld scanners for the class to digitize as-yet unscanned materials pertinent to their particular project, to establish an instructor-level Omeka account, and to enlist USF Libraries Special and Digital Collections graduate assistant Kimberly Nordon to facilitate the technological aspect of the assignment. Digitizing elements of the dime novels for their projects also meant that materials not yet available to library patrons in a digital format could now be displayed online, in effect doubling the utility of the process. Special Collections Librarian Melanie Griffin was ‘embedded’ with the class in order to teach them how to conduct research in Special Collections, and how to handle and digitize the fragile materials they would be working with.

A number of students in the class said that the process of researching their topic and creating the online exhibition was such a valuable lesson in hands-on research that they wished they’d had the experience earlier in their studies. There is a  generalization that the current generation is overwhelmingly tech savvy but it turns out that only select students in the class possessed such skills. So it was a fitting complement to the research assignment that an aim of the class was teaching workplace skills such as online file sharing and collaboration on online projects such as their project websites. Graduate assistant Kimberly Nordon taught the students to use hand-scanners to digitize the materials as well as to organize the ultimate form the exhibitions would take — a website using the Omeka platform that the USF Libraries uses to publish its curated exhibitions.

Two of the student groups in the class were accepted to present at the USF Office for Undergraduate Research Colloquium. Jennifer Delio, Vincent Euliano, and Clayton Prather participated in a poster session, presenting their work exploring science fiction and technology in dime novels; Adnan Campara, Beryl Johnson, and Stephen Strenges presented their work on the Nick Carter dime novel detective series. The two other groups in the class focused on sports and adventure themes in dime novels, respectively. Collaborations such as these showcase the powerful potential for academic growth when library resources and programs receive direct funding. Contact Merrell Dickey at (813) 974-1654 or mdickey@usf.edu to support projects that directly benefit student learning and real world skills.

]]> http://www.lib.usf.edu/donate-usf-library/your-library-in-action/state-of-the-art-teaching-using-turn-of-the-century-collections/feed/ 0 http://www.lib.usf.edu/donate-usf-library/your-library-in-action/usf-honors-college-class-discovers-500-years-of-florida-history-in-the-usf-tampa-library/ http://www.lib.usf.edu/donate-usf-library/your-library-in-action/usf-honors-college-class-discovers-500-years-of-florida-history-in-the-usf-tampa-library/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:19:07 +0000 Eileen M. Thornton http://www.lib.usf.edu/donate-usf-library/?p=822 “It should be required viewing by all in Florida.”

-the Honorable E.J. Salcines

A desire to introduce his USF Honors College major works/major issues class to the historic treasures of Special Collections  led Andy Huse to devise a semester-long project that would provide them with a hands-on research experience. Huse, a USF Tampa Library Special Collections assistant librarian and USF Honors College instructor, knew from past projects that first-hand research can be a transformative experience for undergraduates. Having an intimate familiarity with the library’s Florida Studies collections, he knew that this would be fertile ground for a range of research projects and that the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon was approaching.

Instructor Andy Huse (back row, left) with his USF Honors College students in the Spring 2012 research colloquium

The class of 11 students approached the assignment with great interest, choosing wide-ranging topics from the initial discovery of Florida 500 years ago to the development of professional sports in the state throughout the past 100 years. Anthropology major Jessica Alleyn spent several days a week in Special Collections, digging through 30 boxes of primary source material such as tuberculosis bonds and yellow fever immunity cards in order to piece together meaning for her extensive history of infectious disease and mosquito control in the state.

Senior Mary Elizabeth Weigel focused on Florida archaeology — from Jacques LeMoyne’s depictions of early habitats to the actual unearthing of sites around Crystal River, an apparent focal point of pre-Columbian Native American ceremony and commerce. Archaeological discovery in Florida is unique in that many sites are located under water offshore and in rivers, sometimes preserved in porous limestone formations.

The Florida Studies collections at the USF Tampa Library have many champions. Among them are retired District Court Judge E.J. Salcines. Of this project, Salcines says,

“This unique and timely online project is a well-done introduction to Florida history using 21st century technology.  It should be required viewing by all in Florida.  This is the 500th anniversary of the European encounter with La Florida (1513-2013) that spread throughout North America.  It was the start of Florida’s 3 major industries:  cattle; citrus; and tourism; plus Christianity in America starting in our Florida missions.  Bravo! to Andy Huse and his team of researchers.”

Experience the online exhibition “500 Years of Discovering Florida” for yourself, then contact Merrell Dickey at (813) 974-1654 or mdickey@usf.edu to support student research of this kind.

Click to visit the online exhibition “500 Years of Discovering Florida”

Jan Platt, longtime Hillsborough County Commissioner, and USF Libraries donor

A passion for helping students grow inspired longtime Tampa-Hillsborough elected official Jan Platt to give to the USF Libraries. Mrs. Platt characterizes her direct support of learning as “…a brilliant new way of giving. You’re giving to an individual, rather than to put your name on a wall, and giving them the opportunity to grow.”   Justin M. White is glad she understands the importance of her contribution. As the recipient of the Jan Platt Graduate Student Assistantship in Special & Digital Collections, Justin gets valuable experience working in Special Collections that he otherwise would not.

“Most of the things I do here, I do before I learn about them in class.”

-Graduate student and Special Collections assistant Justin White

Justin has already earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. Now pursuing his master’s in library and information science at USF, he aims to become a public historian or archivist. He characterizes his work in Special Collections as ideal preparation for his chosen career. ”Most of the things I do here, I do before I learn about them in class,” says White. Justin is currently processing the donated papers of hydrogeologist Garald G. Parker. Known as the “Father of Florida groundwater hydrology,” Parker contributed much to the understanding of the Floridan and Biscayne aquifers underlying the state. He recently worked with the papers of Bernard H. Kendrick, a fiction author known for his insightful blind detective character Duncan McLain, and those of former Lieutenant Governor Tom Adams.

Justin White, recipient of the Jan Platt Graduate Student Assistantship, discusses his work with the position’s benefactor

“This is a brilliant new way of giving. You’re giving to an individual
…and giving them the opportunity to grow.”

-USF Libraries benefactor Jan Platt

The USF Libraries offer a host of graduate assistantships and fellowships, from environmental sustainability and mapping to Holocaust and genocide studies, all of which offer opportunities for giving. Jan Platt appreciates that, “with this particular type of giving, the donor has an opportunity to see an individual grow as a result of the gift.” Which student program would you like to support? To fund a graduate student for a year of hands-on experience, contact Merrell Dickey at (813) 974-1654 or mdickey@usf.edu.

Dr. Rachel Baum leads Florida educators in a workshop on teaching empathy in the classroom

Dr. Baum, a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin, led two events during her visit. The first was an interactive workshop for educators, which focused on teaching the holocaust with empathetic perspectives in the classroom. Baum also gave a public lecture in the evening, focusing on subsequent generations’ ways of remembering the Holocaust. The talk added a layer of nuance to how we consider historical memory, suggesting that stories told out of context, in a museum, may not resonate as well as in-situ or in-context historical reminders that tie struggles of the past to contemporary life.

Click to watch Dr. Rachel Baum’s lecture online

The USF Libraries Holocaust and Genocide Studies Center relates these experiences to current and future generations through first-hand oral history testimonials and meaningful programming. To make your contribution to understanding, scholarship, and public policy contact Merrell Dickey at (813) 974-1654 or mdickey@usf.edu.

“As a former President of USF, I  wouldn’t consider any other location for my own papers.  Along with some of the state’s premier public servants, the record of female figures in our community provide a treasure trove of information for students and the public.“

~Betty Castor

It can sometimes seem like the inner workings of public office are secretive, behind-the-scenes machinations, the true nature of which will never be known to the average citizen. But did you know that many elected officials choose to make available the archive of their term in office for public inspection and scholarly research? It is in that spirit that notable national, state, and local politicians such as Betty Castor, Jan Platt, Jim Davis, and Sam Gibbons have contributed their records to the USF Tampa Library as part of its political papers collection.

Former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio; Former USF President, Florida Education Commissioner, and State Senator Betty Castor; and Former Hillsborough County Commissioner and Tampa City Councilwoman Jan Plat

While the USF Tampa Library’s political papers collection is notable for its documentation on issues of importance to Floridians, it is especially strong in its representation of women public servants. Among its collections are the official archives of groundbreaking Florida Congresswoman and State Senator Helen Gordon Davis; former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio; longtime Hillsborough County Commissioner and City Council member Jan Platt; and Betty Castor, who may be best known in the USF community for her tenure as the University’s president, but who also served as Florida’s Education Commissioner, a Florida State Senator, and Hillsborough County Commissioner. Castor finds that “The USF Tampa Library is an important location for the official records and other papers of women from the Tampa Bay area who served in public office.  The Tampa Bay area elected many women, beginning in the early seventies, to local government positions as well as state offices.”

Former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio reflects on the important role these collections play, and the obligations of officeholders to make their papers available: “Part of what makes our political system so interesting is its’ transparency – the ability to look through a former public official’s documents and piece together the events, people and facts that formulated decisions. Today, with so much kept electronically we are losing a large part of the historical record. I have always believed that keeping a record of one’s time in office was part of the responsibility of public office – to share information so that future researchers could better understand the context of the times. USF’s Special Collections does a remarkable job of preserving the past and making history available to researchers.”

Jan Platt was a Hillsborough County Commissioner for 20 years, as well as a member of Tampa City Council. She began her career in public service at a turning point for women elected officials. Platt says of her office’s archive, “These papers are helpful for explaining the past for those who are preparing for the future. Because they really are the public records of the history during my period of office — a turning point for Hillsborough County, beginning in the early 1970′s and going through 2004. The population of the County doubled during that period. It became an urban community, which it had not been before. These collections give a keen view into our past so that we can understand our present.”

As the political papers collection continues to grow, support from donors enables our trained staff to catalog, preserve, and make available these records for public and scholarly use. Financial support can also help fund student and class research projects. If you would like to support research and learning, make a financial contribution by contacting Merrell Dickey at (813) 974-1654 or mdickey@usf.edu.