Milligan Library Life
by the staff of P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library & Seminary Library
Homecoming Book+Art exhibit (belated report)
Oops! 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.
New Books and Media Received (September-October 2014)
The following Books and DVDs (268 items) were received into the Library collection through the Acquisitions Budget during September and October 2014:
Jake the Therapy Dog returns to the Library during Fall Finals Week
Jake the Therapy Dog, along with Dr. Julia Wade, his owner/trainer will be returning this year to visit students Monday-Wednesday of Finals Week at the Library. Meet Jake and Dr. Wade in the Welshimer Room from 10-11 a.m.
Robert Milligan exhibit and book reading in the Library
The P.H. Welshimer Memorial Library and Milligan College Archives and Special Collections is especially pleased during this 2014 Homecoming season to present an exhibit entitled Celebrating Robert Milligan’s 200th Year. Robert Milligan, whose name graces our college, was born on July 25, 1814. He was a preacher, author, teacher and professor, influencing many with his scholarship on Christian reform.
Josephus Hopwood (1843-1935) was a student at the College of the Bible in Lexington, Kentucky, where he studied under Professor Robert Milligan. In 1875, Josephus and his wife, Sarah, served as administrators at the Buffalo Male and Female Institute. In 1881, Hopwood chose to rename the school Milligan College, after his beloved professor.
The exhibit, displaying photographs, manuscripts, and publications of Robert Milligan’s personal and professional life, has been curated by Lindsay Kenderes, Information Resources Librarian and College Archivist. The exhibit can be viewed at the back of the main floor of the Library during open hours. Many of the items in the exhibit are from the Robert Milligan Research Collection, donated by Clinton J. (Class of 1995) and Adele M. (Class of 1996) Holloway.
Accompanying the Robert Milligan exhibit is a book reading and signing by Clint Holloway, author of He Still Speaks: A Literary Biography of Robert Milligan (2014). Clint wrote his book out of a sense that there was a need for people to know more about this man. “Who was this person of whom it was said he was the ‘best and purist man I have ever known,’ and who so clearly exemplified the Christian liberal arts?”
Holloway identifies four themes in which he believes Robert Milligan “still speaks” to us today: He was a ‘servant leader’ long before that term entered into common parlance; he was a champion of the Bible; he was irenic (a peacemaker) in the face of many large egos in the movement; and he was a defender of the under-represented in the church.
Clint will be reading from his book in the Library (main floor) on Saturday, October 25 at 2:30 p.m. Following, he will be making his book available for sale ($10, $5 for students) and he will be on hand to autograph copies. Light refreshments will be served.