Every year, the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library welcomes a steady stream of students and researchers who dive into its vast collections of rare books, manuscripts and other fascinating holdings. But even its most dedicated users rarely get a glimpse behind the scenes to appreciate its inner workings.
Rose Library has a wealth of treasures in its archives, as this student in a Rose instruction class had the opportunity to study up close. Some of the archival items will be on display at the Rose Library Open House on Oct. 21, which is free and open to the public. Photo by Emory Photo/Video.
On Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Rose Library’s Open House will pull back the curtain on some of its projects and programs, with staff members stationed throughout to answer questions from both regular patrons and curious first-time visitors.
The event is free and open to the public, and registration is suggested. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. The event has a drop-in format.
“We’re excited to welcome first-time visitors and Rose Library regulars to the Open House to learn about our current projects, collections, and services,” says Rose Library director Elizabeth Ott. “It will be a ‘Choose your Own Adventure’ experience. Visitors can move between a social space, an Oral History listening room, and a display of special collections. We’ll have staff members throughout, answering questions about our programs and collections.”
Visitors will have a chance to see materials from recent acquisitions and to meet new Rose Library staff, including Monet Lewis-Timmons, curator of literary and poetry collections, and new members of the Collections Services team who work to describe and make available rare and unique resources in special collections. Guests will also be able to view materials from Rose’s major collecting areas – African American collections; political, cultural, and social movements; Emory University Archives, and literary and poetry collections.
Throughout the event, attendees can learn about:
- Collections and projects, such as the Jim Alexander documentary photography collection. Last year, Rose Library received a Getty Foundation grant to hire a visiting archivist, process the collection and make it searchable for researchers, and create an oral history of interviews with Alexander.
- The Emory Oral History Program, which will be set up with listening stations so visitors can hear sample interviews and learn more about its expansion into five subcategories, including two that are community-focused and another on Stories from the Coronavirus Pandemic.
- An initiative that is addressing the dangerous arsenic green dye used on some 19th century book covers. Rare book librarian Dylan Lewis will be on hand to talk about his involvement in the national Poison Book Project to help manage this toxic legacy.
- Rose’s instruction program, which offers experiences ranging from an archivist or curator bringing items to a classroom to students spending time in the Rose Library for deeper interaction with its materials. Instruction archivist Shanna Early will answer questions for faculty who want to learn more.
- Rose’s outreach programs, including its Miscellaneous Monthly themed collection viewings, its annual table presence at Atlanta’s Pride Festival with items from Rose’s LGBTQ collections, and its partnership with the Preservation Office for a Retro A/V petting zoo of vintage media like cassette tapes, floppy disks, and reel-to-reel tape players.
- Emory University Archives, the official repository of the university’s records, which also holds past eras of the Emory Wheel and prior student newspapers, yearbooks, and photographs.
- “Back of house” processes, including how materials are preserved, described, and made available for researchers.
For more information, visit the Rose Library website.
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