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Where on the Web? University History All in One Place

Β颹ӰԺ’s long and extensive history has been continuously documented and studied. Those looking for the highlights of the university’s past can find it all in one place: the University Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives: Digital Collections on the kent.edu website. This next installment of "Where on the Web?" highlights pages across the ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State website of special interest and use to the ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State community. 

The Digital Collections web page provides access to  Special Collections and Archives digitized materials, ranging from general ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State history to specific events like the May 4, 1970, ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State shootings. Other main collections are the Oral Histories of the ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State shootings and the Borowitz True Crime collection. These archives and collections, as well as assistance from the team behind the collections, are available to all ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State faculty, staff and students. 

Cara Gilgenbach, head of Special Collections and Archives, interim university archivist and associate professor, works closely with the in-person and online inner workings of the collections and archives. 

β€œOur overall mission as a department is to support research, teaching and even just lifelong learning,” Gilgenbach said. β€œIt doesn’t have to be that you’re doing a class project, you could just want to look at this stuff because you’re interested in it.” 

The website showcases varieties of multimedia collections to best document the history of each collection. The collections can have items such as photos, audio and video recordings, artworks, maps and more. 

Another feature the website offers is the digital Daily ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ Stater archive and Chestnut Burr digital archive. This allows users to see digitized copies of all printed issues of the ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ Stater dating from February 1926 to August 2020 and the student-produced yearbook published from 1914 through 1985.

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Photo of ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State from the Special Collections and Archives: Digital Collections

β€œThe main goal with digital programs is access,” Gilgenbach said. β€œBefore archives were able to put content online, you could really only use these materials if you could visit in person.” 

Even though the website is continuously being updated with new content, there is even more to see in-person that may not be featured online. The Special Collections and Archives section of the library receive many instructional requests both for class and individual purposes. Due to the pandemic, they are only accepting visits by appointment. Any ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State faculty, staff, student or member of the general public can make an appointment to visit the in-person archives. 

Haley Antell, digital initiatives outreach librarian and assistant professor, expressed the importance of visiting the archives in person and reaching out for any additional assistance. 

β€œWe are also happy to provide follow-up help,” Antell said. β€œIf someone comes across something and they need more context or have other questions, we put these up to help people access them, and we’re happy to provide further access to people.” 

Learn more about the University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Digital Collections at .

Read the last installment of Where on the Web? at www.kent.edu/today/news/where-web-13000-web-courses-just-click-away-linkedin-learning.

POSTED: Friday, April 15, 2022 01:21 PM
UPDATED: Friday, December 09, 2022 05:25 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Chloe Zofchak