The semester is in full swing and the weather can’t decide what season it wants to be, so it looks like your SCRC processing team is once again overdue for an update, but don’t worry, because we have some fantastic new and updated finding aids to share! As usual, all of the following collections are available for use in the Special Collections Research Center and the finding aids are available on our website (or use the links included below).
Performing arts promotional ephemera and photographs, C0442
Collection processed by Meghan Glasbrenner
Promotional ephemera and photographs for opera, ballet, and musical performances. Photographs are primarily promotional images for PBS broadcasts of “Live from Lincoln Center” and “A Lincoln Center Special” performances, “A Celebration for Handel and Bach” PBS/Philadelphia Singers, productions at the Seattle Opera and the Greater Miami Opera, and general promotional headshots. Ephemera primarily includes promotional materials, such as flyers and press releases, for opera and concert performances including PBS broadcasts of “Live from Lincoln Center” and performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall. Additional materials include general periodical clippings and promotional materials for individual artists and companies.
Front cover of Ellyn Lo Fong’s cooking pamphlet, C0441
Ellyn Lo Fong “these are my favorite recipes…” pamphlet, C0441
Collection processed by Meghan Glasbrenner
Recipe pamphlet created by Ellyn Lo Fong titled “these are my favorite recipes…” containing a total of twelve recipes. Ellyn was born on December 21, 1911 on the Hawaiian island of Oahu and in 1938 married Hiram Leong Fong (1906-2004), a native of Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1959, when Hawaii became the 50th state, Hiram was elected to the U.S. Senate as both the first senator from Hawaii and first U.S. Senator of Asian ancestry. Hiram and Ellyn, along with their four children, moved to Washington, D.C. where Ellyn became well-known for her hospitality and skill as a hostess for fellow senators and dignitaries. Hiram served as a senator for 18 years, from 1959-1977. Ellyn also gained attention for her work as a Red Cross Volunteer and in 1999 received the Distinguished Service Award from the Organization of Chinese American Women. Ellyn passed away on March 26, 2006 at the age of 94.
The pamphlet features a photograph of Ellyn on the front along with the title and an introduction written by Ellyn on the inside flap where she describes the recipes as examples of the “multi-racial, multicultural cuisine” of Hawaii. The recipes include a mix of savory and sweet dishes, including Peking Duck and Banana Fritters.
Collection processed by Meghan Glasbrenner
Dr. Fred Millar earned his Ph.D. in Sociology of Urban Education at Case Western Reserve University and taught in the George Mason University (GMU) Sociology Department from 1972-1978. By 1976, he began attracting negative attention from members of his department due to his non-traditional teaching methods and projects. In February 1976, tenured faculty members of the department recommended the termination of Millar’s contract and in February 1977 amended their recommendation slightly by granting him a one-year terminal contract which would end his employment on June 30, 1978. In February 1978 Millar was granted a public appeal hearing with the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure. On March 8, 1978 the committee voted unanimously to uphold the original decision.
This collection contains materials related to Dr. Fred Millar’s work and dismissal as a Professor of Sociology at GMU during the 1970s. General GMU items include course materials, correspondence and drafts of research reports and proposals, and a copy of the “Student Survival Handbook.” Items related to Millar’s dismissal include letters of support sent on his behalf, copies of formal and informal appeals to the CAS Academic Freedom Committee decision, a copy of the 1978 Department of Sociology Hearing transcript, newspaper clippings, and flyers and other materials generated by the campus community.
Official portrait of Margaret Kolze, taken from her Army Dietitian scrapbook, C0525
Margaret Kolze Army Dietitian scrapbook, C0525
Collection processed by Meghan Glasbrenner
Margaret Kolze graduated from Iowa State College in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition. Following a one-year internship with the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, she began working as an Army Dietitian and was stationed at the 382nd General Hospital in Osaka, Japan from 1951-1952. At the start of the Korean War in 1950 there were approximately 22,000 women in the military, with approximately 7,000 of them serving as medical professionals. During World War II Army trained dietitians served in every theatre throughout the war, but it wasn’t until June 1944 with the passage of Public Law 78-530 that Army dietitians were granted commissioned status, allowing them the same allowances, rights, benefits, and privileges, and it wasn’t until 1947 that permanent military status was granted with the establishment of the Women’s Medical Specialist Corps.
This scrapbook was created by Margaret Kolze documenting her time serving as an Army Dietitian at the 382nd General Hospital in Japan in the 1950s. The exterior front and back cover of the scrapbook are bound in a textured fabric and the front cover includes a Japanese illustration and characters. The front inside cover included a pile of loose photographs, programs, and other ephemera that were removed and placed in a single folder. Most of these items belong to Margaret and her siblings Mary Judith (also known as Judy), George, and Roderick pertaining to high school events and milestones, such as proms and graduations, and family weddings. The pages of the scrapbook contain approximately 174 uncaptioned personal photographs that depict Japanese street life and scenery, hospital buildings, group photos of the hospital’s staff, daily hospital life and patients, and leisure activities featuring Kolze and others.
Uday Shankar performance programs and ephemera, C0444
Collection processed by Meghan Glasbrenner
A collection of performance programs, photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera created and collected by Indian dancer and choreographer Uday Shankar, most related to performances by “Uday Shankar and His Hindu Ballet.” Shankar, born Uday Shankar Chowdhury in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India on December 8, 1900, is best known for his global popularization of classical Indian dance through his fusion of the elements with European dance and theatrical styles. His career as a dancer and choreographer began in London in 1923 as the partner of Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. After touring throughout Europe, Shankar returned to India in 1929 where he formed his own dance company known as “Uday Shankar and his Hindu Ballet” and in January 1933 played his first performance in the United States in New York City. Shankar and his troupe of dancers and musicians toured globally, including regular performances in cities throughout the United States, for the next 30 years. He passed away on September 26, 1977 at the age of 76.
Detail of the Cook family homemade manuscript, which is bound in newsprint, C0443
Cook family homemade music manuscript, C0443
Collection processed by Meghan Glasbrenner
Homemade music manuscript created by the Cook family, who possibly lived in Greenfield, Virginia in the early 1800s. The handwritten manuscript pages are wrapped in folded pages of newsprint and bound with string along the left edge. The newspaper pages are dated 1813 and “Washington, February 20, 1810” is written on page 16 of the manuscript. The first 5 pages contain text explaining various music terms and 7 leaves of the manuscript are blank. The remaining pages consist of handwritten musical scores, verse, and lyrics, as well as the names of various family members.
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