June 20, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on Hello Cinda Nofziger! – The 2014 Elizabeth M. and P.T. Reilly Intern

Hello Cinda Nofziger! – The 2014 Elizabeth M. and P.T. Reilly Intern

I’m excited to be the Reilly Intern at the Cline Library. My family and I arrived in Flagstaff a week ago after bicycling from Ann Arbor, Michigan–where I’m a Masters student at the School of Information–to Colorado. We drove the rest of the way.

Heading to Flagstaff with our bicycles in tow. Photo courtesy of Cinda Nofziger.

The trip was challenging, but it was also a great experience for all of us. Jackson, nearly three, alternated riding in the “front seat” of Dad’s bike, in the trailer, or occasionally on his bike if we were on a trail.

At the beginning...Photo courtesy of Cinda Nofziger.

All smiles, as we prepare to start our journey, 2014. Photo courtesy of Cinda Nofziger.

If that's not a Flagstaff beard...Brad and Jackson crossing a bridge. Photo courtesy of Cinda Nofziger.

Brad and Jackson merrily riding across a bridge, 2014. Photo courtesy of Cinda Nofziger.

Jackson, taking the path less travelled, 2014. Photo courtesy Cinda and Brad Nofziger.

He had a great attitude most of the time. And he always had lots of energy at the end of the day—when my husband and I were most worn out. We saw lots of small (and some large) Midwestern towns, battled hills, wind, and some initial cold weather. Cars on the road were more or less aware (sometimes much, much less) and considerate of our presence beside them. We camped the majority of the nights, sometimes in state parks, sometimes in city parks. Jackson climbed, slid, and swung on countless playgrounds. We met some kind and generous folks along the way who offered us water and snacks, fed us breakfast, or bought our dinner. Jackson got lots of free ice cream! Overall, it was an amazing trip. I feel lucky and grateful that I had the chance to do it.

The bike tour was a great start to what I’m sure will be a great time in Flagstaff and at the Cline. This week, I’ve begun planning Special Collections and Archives’ 2014 exhibit showcasing John Running, freelance photographer from Flagstaff. To get inspired for the exhibit design, I’ve been listening to John Running’s oral history interview with Jonathan Pringle and Jess Vogelsang. Running has had an amazing life; for over forty years, he’s traveled and photographed around the Southwest, the United States and internationally, in Trinidad, Palestine, Mexico and Scotland. I’m eager to delve into representing his life and work in the exhibit. As a photographer of people, Running believes making a portrait is a gift; as a documentarian, he believes one must “try to photograph the truth and present it honestly.” He approaches his subjects with humility, grace, and kindness, which come through in his images. I was pleased to meet him in person and found him to be just as kind and gracious in person. He’s also a great story-teller. I will work to infuse his approach to photography into this exhibit.

I’ve only had time to scratch the surface of his collection, but here are a few of my favorites so far…

Salina Bartunek in the Grand Canyon Cafe, Flagstaff, AZ, 1994. Photo courtesy of the John Running Collection (NAU.PH.2013.4.1.13.5.67).

Leonard Deal Cooking in the Shade. Photo courtesy of the John Running Collection (NAU.PH.2013.4.1.5.15.257)

Hackberry, Arizona, 2000. Photo courtesy of the John Running Collection (NAU.PH.2013.4.1.10.6.22).

Crow Fair, 1979. Photo courtesy of the John Running Collection (NAU.PH.2013.4.1.1.10.36).

Man on bus, Palenstine. Photo courtesy of the John Running Collection (NAU.PH.2013.4.1.22.23.244).

I’m really honored to be here working on this project and am thrilled to be in Flagstaff. I look forward to exploring the city and surroundings, as well as learning more about Running’s life, career, and photographs.

June 19, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on Happy 100th Birthday – Jerry Emmett!

Happy 100th Birthday – Jerry Emmett!

: Mrs. Jerry Emmett sitting for her oral history with Eric Dueppen, 2014. Photo courtesy of the Gary Emanuel Collection

SCA is highlighting a very special graduate of NAU. Jerry (Geraldine) Johnson Emmett was born in 1914 and graduated from Arizona State Teacher’s College (NAU) with a teaching degree in 1937. Jerry met her husband Cecil Emmett while attending ASTC. Cecil went on to a career in coaching in Phoenix and unfortunately passed away in 1962.

Cecil Emmett, Class of 1936. Photo courtesy of La Cuesta Yearbook, Arizona State Teachers College, 1934.

Cecil Emmett, Class of 1935. Photo courtesy of La Cuesta Yearbook, Arizona State Teachers College, 1934.

When you stop to think about it, during Jerry’s lifetime, NAU has gone through some significant changes. The campus grew from 26 buildings in 1934, when Jerry first came to ASTC, to over 100 buildings today. Enrollment grew from 470 students in 1934 to 26,606 in 2014, and NAU has had 8 presidents since Jerry’s graduation, including President Walkup who served for over 27 years. Most of all, NAU is widely recognized as the preeminent institution of higher education in the state of Arizona- well, at least in northern Arizona.

Geraldine Johnson, Class of 1937. Photo courtesy of the La Cuesta Yearbook, Arizona State Teachers College, 1934.

Jerry taught for many years in a variety of locations in the state including: the Navajo Reservation, Seligman, Tombstone, Scottsdale and Phoenix. Jerry’s teaching career extended over a period of 45 years. Today, Jerry lives in Prescott- where family is her priority and involvement with the Democratic Party remains her passion.

The following excerpts are from a 2014 interview with Jerry which will soon become part of Special Collections and Archives digital archives (http://archive.library.nau.edu):
Interviewer- “So what was the social life like [at ASTC] at that time?”
Jerry-“Everybody was on the same page. We all understood each other because we were all so lucky to get to go to college. Nobody thought they would ever- you know in those days, it was so bad. All the banks had closed. People don’t have any idea what a great depression was…”

“And we all got together…We went down [to ASU] and beat the hell out of Tempe- every whipstitch. They stole our Ax, we caught ‘em and took it back and painted their heads green… made ‘em sing the school song, fed ‘em a good dinner, put ‘em on the train and sent ‘em back to Tempe. Blew up their A on A mountain. Went down and lit their bonfire for their homecoming two days early… … Oh they were furious with us. But they had our axe and we got it back.”

To hear more of Jerry’s interview and experiences from her 2009 oral history interview, it can be accessed via the following link:
http://archive.library.nau.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/cpa/id/103589/rec/1

For more alumni images from La Cuesta (the yearbook) and to view and listen to oral histories from the Lumberjack Timbres Collection, which highlights NAU alumni – please visit our website at:
http://archive.library.nau.edu/cdm/

June 17, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday

Where in Flagstaff is this café? What is it today? Whatever happened to Lumberjack #1? Photo was taken in 1970.

Answer: Lumberjack # 1, a prototype made at International Fiberglass, Los Angeles, CA. found a home in front of the old Lumberjack Café (now Granny’s Closet) on S. Sitrgeaves Street. Today, Louis (Lumberjack #1) resides in the Dome on the campus of NAU, donated by the Zanzucchi Family- the owners of Granny’s. Lumberjack #2 was also donated to NAU, and can be found in front of the Dome.

June 13, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on Louie’s Legacy: The North Quad QR Code Project

Louie’s Legacy: The North Quad QR Code Project

An early image of Old Main during construction, ca. 1899. Note the absence of glass windows on the lower story windows. Photo courtesy: University Archives

Louie’s Legacy: The North Quad QR Code Project is a collaborative effort of the Northern Arizona University (NAU) History department, its first Public History class, and Cline Library Special Collections and Archives. Over the spring 2014 semester, five M.A. public history students, their professor, and a digital archivist identified thirty six sites in NAU’s historic district near Old Main, researched their histories, and found unique photographs, oral interviews, and original news stories about each site. The students then wrote and installed the data to web sites accessible by using a smart phone or tablet to scan QR codes placed on the historic sites in the district. The result combines history and cutting-edge technology to allow everyone with a smart phone or tablet to create their own personal, self-guided digital tour of the North Quad. Further, with tags applied to each site that cross reference features such as “architecture” or “campus life,” visitors can construct unique thematic tours as well.

For additional images of buildings on campus and university history, please visit the University Archives via our digital archives.

June 12, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on Throwback Thursday!

Throwback Thursday!

These buildings were once in the vicinity of the Cline Library on the campus of Northern Arizona University.

This image dates to 1941. What’s there now?

Answer: This was Cottage City a.k.a. Married Housing, located at the corner of Knoles Drive and Osborne Drive across from what is now the Cline Library on the campus of Northern Arizona University. Today, it is better known as Parking Lot P16.

The photo is part of the Northern Arizona University Archives photo collection, and is photo number NAU.ARC.1941.2.2 .

June 9, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on What’s a Doggerel Log?

What’s a Doggerel Log?

Cover of the Doggerel Log, Carnegie-Cal Tech Expedition Collection (MS 293), Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives.

Before I get to the definition of a doggerel log, a little backstory might be helpful. In 1937, researchers from Carnegie Institute of Washington and the California Institute of Technology joined to together to study the igneous and metamorphic formations of the Grand Canyon. The most efficient way to do so at this time was by boat; so six hardy researchers and three boatmen rowed three boats down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon studying geological formations and rocks. One of the geologists on this trip, John Stark, kept a “journal” that he titled “The Doggerel Log of a Canyon Trip.”

Dedication page of the Doggerel Log, Carnegie-Cal Tech Expedition Collection (MS 293), Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives.

By definition, doggerel is an adjective describing verse that is crude and comical. The sixteen page Carnegie-Cal Tech Doggerel Log is far from crude but rather an artful journal of the1937 expedition down the Colorado River, containing hand drawn, color illustrations and verse captured while on the trip. Special Collections and Archives owns copy number 7 of nine copies created by Stark.

The log succinctly captures the events of the trip. One such event was an encounter with fellow river runner Haldane “Buzz” Holmstrom near Diamond Creek, located at river mile 226 of the nearly three hundred mile journey down the Colorado River. Holmstrom’s journey to this point was perhaps even more dramatic and exciting than the scientific journey. Buzz built his boat in Oregon, drove it to headwaters of the Green River in western Wyoming and then proceeded to row it over 1000 miles from the Green River to the terminus of the Colorado River at Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) unsupported and solo.

Buzz heard about the scientific trip and had been chasing the Carnegie-Cal Tech group for weeks. Up until this point, only a few intrepid souls dared to navigate the treacherous rapids of the Colorado River, so seeing others on the river was an extremely rare event. Below, you can see how Stark colorfully captures the encounter.

Pages 12 and 13 of the Doggerel Log, Meeting “Buzz” Holmstrom at River Mile 226, Carnegie-Cal Tech Expedition Collection (MS 293), Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives.

Both Buzz and the Carnegie-Cal Tech expedition successfully completed their trips down the Colorado River, and John Stark’s doggerel log beautifully documents the meeting of those historic trips.

To see the entire Doggerel Log of a Canyon Trip, visit the Colorado Plateau Archives.

You can learn more about the Carnegie-Cal Tech Expedition and Haldane “Buzz” Holmstrom, by viewing their finding aids on the Arizona Archives Online.

June 5, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on Throwback Thursday!

Throwback Thursday!

What is this building now in downtown Flagstaff?

Where is it located? The image dates from 1915.

Answer: This was the Aubineau Bros. Fancy Groceries store at the corner of Leroux and Santa Fe Streets. Today, it is better known as Collin’s Irish Pub at 2 N. Leroux Street. The image is from the Hill, May Hicks Collection and is photo number: NAU.PH.91.7.266 .

May 27, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on DamNation and Katie Lee

DamNation and Katie Lee

It’s been a little over a month since DamNation made its world premiere at the SXSW film festival in Austin, Texas. DamNation, a documentary film, explores the sea change in our national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that our future is bound to the life and health of our rivers The film features historic moving images from the Katie Lee Collection housed in Special Collections and Archives.

Katie Lee, bathing in a water hole, Glen Canyon. Image courtesy of Tad Nichols Collection NAU.PH.99.3.1.15.22

For the few who may not know, Katie is a musician, entertainer, environmentalist activist, river runner, writer, and a longtime Southwest desert rat. Katie first floated into the red-rock labyrinth of Glen Canyon (now Lake Powell) nearly 60 years ago. Since her first visit to Glen Canyon, it has remained a very dear and special place for Katie. Tragically, the grandeur and beauty of this riparian canyon was drowned in the name of “progress.” To learn more about Katie Lee and her collection at Cline Library, please check out “Naked Truth: The Katie Lee Exhibit”. To further explore the beauty and controversy surrounding Glen Canyon, Special Collections and Archives has a wonderful resource page that highlights additional collections, images, reports, and tribal issues, Click here

May 22, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on Throwback Thursday!

Throwback Thursday!

Where is this place, and what is it today?

The images dates from 1935, and its in Flagstaff.

Answer: This is the Dean Eldridge Taxidermist and Museum. Today this is the famous Route 66 icon, the Museum Club located at 3404 E. Route 66 in Flagstaff. The image is from the Warren Family Collection and is photo number: NAU.PH.412.5.9

May 21, 2014
by special collections & archives
Comments Off on Cline Library, SCA and Historypin.com

Cline Library, SCA and Historypin.com

As a result of a presentation at an archival meeting back in January, we’ve been deeply pondering and exploring ways to use social media to drive some Internet-based traffic back to our SCA site and the 100,000 (or so) pieces of digital content we provide access to there. Historypin.com seems like a natural. It is a British site that promotes imagery that reflects local history. It is map-based, and so users can browse around the world for image and document data, or they can search by place name. In joining Historypin, we are in the company of quite a few libraries, museums and archives loading quality material to the Historypin map. Our initial offering to Historypin revolves around two collections on our “channel” [http://www.historypin.com/channels/view/53522/#!photos/list/]. The first is an artificial collection called “Route 66 in the Southwest” that features images from a variety of photographic collections (including: A. H. Clark, Libby Coyner, R. Sean Evans, David F. Finney, Fronske Studios, Gary Gustafson, Joseph Muench, Kathleen Schmand, John Running and Tyler Wade), and covers the Kansas to California geography of the road, circa 1930s-present. Our second collection is comprised of river-running images on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon drawn from the Margaret Eiseman Collection covering Navajo Bridge to Lake Mead, circa 1953-1974. The Eiseman material is compelling as it includes imagery of Georgie Clark, Mexican Hat Expeditions and the Eiseman’s own dory-based 42 day marathon runs. It covers a significant period in river running history starting with the pontoon boats of Clark, the cataract boats of Gay Staveley and Mexican Hat, and the very growth of river running as an industry that pitted private parties like the Eisemans and their dories against the commercial operators for space on the river and the beaches throughout the canyon. For now, we have loaded a representative sample for the collections from our digital archives, linked appropriate related oral histories to a few images and we are now going to sit back to see what happens over the next 6 months or so. We’re in our sixth week on Historypin, and have almost 600 hits on our 150 images- or about 14 hits per day. We’ll keep you posted on our social media adventures.