Monthly Archives: December 2014

Remembering Omer Hamlin, Jr., Milligan’s first Head Librarian, 1930-2014

Posted on by

Omer Hamlin, Jr.
July 16, 1930 – December 25, 2014

Hamlin_Omer002  Hamlin_Omer001  Hamlin_Omer_004

The Library remembers Omer Hamlin, Jr., who passed away on Christmas Day, 2014 in Lexington, Kentucky. Omer was born on July 16, 1930 in Tollesboro, Kentucky. He was a Milligan College alumnus (1956), President of the Milligan College Student Council 1955-56, and later Milligan College Trustee and Trustee Emeritus.

But the Library especially remembers Omer as our first Head Librarian, from 1959-62. He earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Kentucky and was hired at Milligan College on September 1, 1959. He oversaw the move into and early management of the new P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library. During his tenure, Milligan College received a $25,000 grant from the U.S. Steel Foundation and another grant of $2,000 from the Babcock Foundation of Winston-Salem, NC. These monies were earmarked by the College administration and trustees for the purchase of new books for the Library, toward the goal of increasing holdings from 25,800 to 50,000 books.

At the Service of Dedication of the P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library building on November 24, 1961, Omer had the honor of formally opening the doors for the symbolic entry of the books from the liberal arts disciplines (carried by various faculty members)–Bible, Science, Government, Fine Arts, and Literature–to find their places on the new shelves for current and future use by students and faculty.

Milligan’s Madrigal Dinners, a Celebration of an English Christmas Tradition

Posted on by

Madrigal_Dinner018

Madrigal Dinner, 1983. Milligan College Archives & Special Collections.

Written by Cynthia Capps, Sophomore ’17, Archive Student Assistant.

The Madrigal Dinners held at Milligan celebrated English Christmas customs from the 16th century. A medieval banquet featuring a full course meal and a Christmas concert performed by minstrel singers are what the Madrigal Dinners are still remembered for today. In 1967, the first Madrigal Dinner was a production by the speech and music departments; specifically, Dr. William Moorhouse and Sherwyn Bachman. Dr. William Moorhouse and his wife Lowanna Moorhouse did extensive research on costume design while traveling to several museums in England to ensure each costume worn at the dinners were as authentic as possible. The dinners proved to be a success lasting 34 consecutive years ending in 2001. Continue reading →

Homecoming Book+Art exhibit (belated report)

Posted on by

IMG_9439Oops! The weeks since Homecoming (October 24-25, 2014) have blown by in a flurry of Library activity. It just dawned on me that I failed to write a follow-up to our 2nd Annual Book+Art exhibit.

The idea behind Book+Art is that books not only inspire artistic creation, they can also be the medium for that artistic creation.

The growing popularity of the “book as art, art from books” trend has been documented in a number of recent publications, including Art Made From Books by Laura Heyenga (Chronicle Books, 2013), a fascinating account, which is available for checkout from the Library.

This year’s exhibit was a bit smaller than last year, with only four submissions. But all the entries were very creative and cleverly designed (see photos below–click to enlarge). Bethany Fitzgerald won the $25 Amazon gift card in a random drawing open to all entrants.

User Services Librarian, Anne Reever Osborne expressed appreciation to this year’s participants: “Thank you for your participation in this Homecoming Event sponsored by Welshimer Library.  The submissions received were representative of the great talent that Milligan College students and faculty have in creating new works of beautiful art with gently used books!”

Director of Library Services, Gary Daught envisioned Book+Art as a Fall semester creative event in the Library to complement the Spring semester’s Edible Books Festival–which will celebrate its 5th anniversary in Spring 2015.

IMG_9434 IMG_9433 IMG_9445 IMG_9435