Primary Sources for Teaching and Research inSpecial Collections401 ELLIS LIBRARYSPECIALCOLLECTIONS@MISSOURI.EDUHTTP:/ /LIBRARY.MISSOURI.EDU/SPECIALCOLLECTIONS/

Why use Special Collections in your teaching and research?

Learning requires trust in the process of discovery.University of Missouri, Core Values Statement, http://www.missouri.edu/about/values.php

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Collection Statistics Over 90,000 titles, around 1,000 original works of art, 200+ linear feet of processed archival materials, 8 million microforms

Most materials are for in-house use only, but some can be checked out.

Collections are open to all users – the only qualification is a photo ID.

Writing Technologies and theHistory of the Book

Comics

Artists’ Books

Posters and Propaganda

History of Science

Ephemeral literature,17th-20th century

Women’s HistoryA TOPICAL APPROACH TO THE COLLECTIONS

Evidence of women booksellers and printers in the 17th century

Women’s work (and women authors)

Women as readersEvidence of a women’s book society in the early 19th century

Fashion, beauty, and motherhood.Godey’s Lady’s Book, 1845Rare 050 G54

Women in the workplace (Punch, 1853).

Women in the war effort, 1940s.

How to find materials: MERLIN

http://laurel.lso.missouri.edu/search/Y

How to find materials: the Special Collections Web site

http://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/

How to find materials:Ask the librarians!

SpecialCollections@missouri.edu◦ Alla Barabtarlo, head of Special Collections◦ Tim Perry◦ Kelli Hansen

(573) 882-0076

Submit an instruction request form or email us to schedule a class.

http://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/use/classes/request/

Okay, I can find it. Now what?

Start with your goals. What are your objectives for the semester? What do you want your students to get out of this session? How will this session fit with the rest of your course?

Give them an assignment.

Creative works Short Research Assignments

Reflection Papers Observation Activities

Cultivate literacies and skills.

Information/digital literacy Visual literacy Artifactual literacy Archival and primary source literacies Writing and research skills Observation and close reading Presentation skills

For example… Artifactual literacy: How would this book have been produced or used in the past? How can you tell?

Digital literacy: What problems arise from juxtaposing the book as an artifact with a surrogate – a reprint, digital reproduction, or modern-day publication? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both formats?

Visual literacy: What are the relationships between text and images on this page?

Primary source literacy: Who created this document, for what purpose? What was their point of view? Who was their intended audience?

Information literacy: How would you find out more about this book?

Integrate; don’t isolate. How can you integrate Special Collections research with use of:◦ Facsimiles or digital surrogates

◦ Newspapers◦ Fragmenta manuscripta

◦ Primary sources in translation or transcription◦ Classical texts in early translation

◦ Secondary sources – books, journal articles, etc.◦ Finding out more. What is the first step?

Promote engagement. Independent assessment on undergraduate students doing assigned archival research at the Brooklyn Historical Society found that 98% of students said their work was unique and rewarding; they described it as “touching history.”

One specific moment that will remain with me is when tears began welling up in one student’s eyes as she held an 800-year-old book. “I’m a part of this book’s history now,” she whispered to a classmate standing next to her.

- Ruth KnezevichEnglish

Appeal to multiple learning styles.

Visual learners

Tactile/kinesthetic learners

Experience of the material through the senses, particularly touch and smell, is often what draws students into the learning experience.

Let your students shine.Could your students present their research publicly or publish it in some way? Examples:

◦ Mini exhibitions (digital or physical) curated and presented by students

◦ Class websites (Scalar, Omeka, wikis)◦ Transcription or translation projects◦ Metadata / cataloging projects

(mutually beneficial!)◦ Performance (drama, music, readings)

Special Collections can help with venues for publication and presentation.

More Ideas

Lots more information online

http://libraryguides.missouri.edu/speccollinstruction

Contact us. SpecialCollections@missouri.edu (573) 882-0076 Open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. No appointment needed for research. Submit an instruction request form or email us to schedule a class.