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Art, Abortion, Activism

Date: Thursday, May 5, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Rare Book Room
Contact Information: Kelly Wooten, 919-660-5967 or kelly.wooten(at)duke.edu

New York Feminist Art Institute poster, ca. 1980s
New York Feminist Art Institute poster, ca. 1980s. From the Irene Peslikis Papers.

Tomorrow, please join the staff of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture for “Art, Abortion, Activism: Facets of Feminist History,” a Scholars’ Tea with Mary Lily Research Grant Recipients Jennifer Nelson and Michelle Moravec.

Jennifer Nelson, Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Redlands, will be speaking on her research for her book, Abortion Referral and Feminist Health in the 1970s. Her research at the Bingham Center focuses on the Feminist Women’s Health Center Records.

Michelle Moravec, Assistant Professor of History and Women’s Studies at Rosemont College, is researching an article entitled “While Historians Debated, Artists Created: Culture, History and the Women’s Movement.” Her research will explore the papers of feminist artists Kate Millett and Irene Peslikis, among others.

Light refreshments will be served. The tea is co-sponsored by the Program in Women’s Studies.

Post contributed by Kelly Wooten, Research Services and Collection Development Librarian for the Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture.

Do Your Research, From Our Collections, Instruction, Rare Books

Spying on Galileo

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Professor Begali's class in the Rare Book RoomOn Friday, April 8th, Professor Matteo Gilebbi’s Italian 22 course, offered by the Romance Studies Department, held a special lesson at the RBMSCL. The class was led by guest speaker Professor Mattia Begali. While Professor Begali’s expertise centers on the Baroque period, Professor Gilebbi’s research focuses on the use of new technologies in the fields of literature and pedagogy. This unique collaboration sought to facilitate student learning processes through the merger of old and new media.

This particular lesson aimed to utilize the RBMSCL as a pedagogic and engaging space for students interested in Italian culture and language. The class focused on the intellectual network of scholars who were active in Rome during Galileo’s affair. By using both ancient editions available in the RBSMCL’s collections and online sources, students were able to explore the visual rhetoric presented in works of authors such as Roberto Bellarmino and Tommaso Campanella, while endeavoring to understand their role and position in Galileo’s entourage.

From Our Collections, Just for Fun, University Archives

Dressing Doris: Day Dresses

Doris Duke on honeymoonRain, rain, go away, more great fashions are here today!

Before we present part two of our runway challenge, here are the results from last week’s evening dress challenge. And the winner is . . . Sophisticated Lady with 32.73% of the votes, slightly edging out Who Me? by one vote.  And maybe gentlemen don’t prefer blondes (good news for us brunettes), as it only got one vote. Thank you to all who voted (and the poll is still open if you haven’t yet!).

Today’s runway show is day dresses. Click below to score the designs and vote for your favorite look. You get to decide which is in and which is out!

Continue reading Dressing Doris: Day Dresses →

Digital Collections, From Our Collections, Just for Fun, University Archives

ONE

It’s here at last! Have fun celebrating LDOC today (and be safe), because tomorrow….

Studying Student, 1970s

Good luck on exams from everyone at the RBMSCL!

(We’ve been counting down to LDOC with Duke University Archives photos of Duke students having a good time! Click the photo to see it on our Flickr photostream, Duke Yearlook. Thanks to University Archives student assistant Crystal Reinhardt for helping with photo selection.)

Countdown to LDOC:

Digital Collections, From Our Collections, Just for Fun, University Archives

TWO

Dancing Record Players, 1955

It’s been a long and fun year. We’re counting down to LDOC with Duke University Archives photos of Duke students having a good time! (Click the photo to see it on our Flickr photostream, Duke Yearlook.)

Dressed in these fetching hats, these students danced the night away as the Shoe ‘n’ Slipper Club hosted Count Basie and his orchestra in 1955.

Countdown to LDOC:

(Thanks to University Archives student assistant Crystal Reinhardt for helping with photo selection.)

Digital Collections, From Our Collections, Just for Fun, University Archives

THREE

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Cheerleaders, 1983

It’s been a long and fun year. We’re counting down to LDOC with Duke University Archives photos of Duke students having a good time! (Click the photo to see it on our Flickr photostream, Duke Yearlook.)

And we wouldn’t be able to have fun without the Blue Devil or basketball, would we? This photo comes to us from the 1983 ACC tournament. Oh, and the referee doesn’t count!

Countdown to LDOC:

(Thanks to University Archives student assistant Crystal Reinhardt for helping with photo selection.)

Digital Collections, From Our Collections, Just for Fun, University Archives

FOUR

Playing Croquet, 1974

It’s been a long and fun year. We’re counting down to LDOC with Duke University Archives photos of Duke students having a good time! (Click the photo to see it on our Flickr photostream, Duke Yearlook.)

As much as we love this photo, we know very little about it (other than that it’s from page 141 of the 1974 Chanticleer). If you know the story behind this photo, share it in a comment below or contact us!

Countdown to LDOC:

(Thanks to University Archives student assistant Crystal Reinhardt for helping with photo selection.)

Digital Collections, From Our Collections, Just for Fun, University Archives

FIVE

Duke Ambassadors, 1959

It’s been a long and fun year. We’re counting down to LDOC with Duke University Archives photos of Duke students having a good time! (Click the photo to see it on our Flickr photostream, Duke Yearlook.)

So, ladies and gentlemen, now it’s time to get all dolled up in your best duds for a performance by the Duke Ambassadors!

Countdown to LDOC:

(Thanks to University Archives student assistant Crystal Reinhardt for helping with photo selection!)

From Our Collections, Just for Fun, University Archives

Dressing Doris: Evening Dresses

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Doris Duke in evening gownSpring is in the air! It’s time to shake the remnants of winter off the ol’ Uggs and turn your thoughts towards the latest trends in fashion . . . or at least the latest trends in fashion from the 1930s-1940s. We recently found 40 hand-drawn, hand-colored dress designs by Maison Paquin, a Paris fashion house known for its evening dresses and tailored day dresses, in the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Historical Archives (featured in our recent exhibit).

Jeanne Paquin (1869-1936), a French fashion designer, was known for deep, rich colors, luxurious fabrics, and modern and innovative designs. She tended to use materials that hugged the body on top and flowed on the bottom.

We don’t know if Paquin designed these dresses specifically for Doris Duke, but, considering there is a patron number and specific fabrics attached to the designs, it is highly likely that these were designs only available to serious couture customers. A further clue into Doris Duke’s patronage is a receipt from 1938 in which she purchased 26 items from Paquin for 81.650 francs.

Looking through (and ooh-ing and aah-ing over) all these amazing designs made us wonder how they would have stacked up in a show like Project Runway. We have narrowed down the 40 Paquin designs to 10, and will be showcasing them here on The Devil’s Tale in two runway challenges. Today’s runway show is evening wear. Click below to see the designs and vote for your favorite look. You get to decide which is in and which is out!

Continue reading Dressing Doris: Evening Dresses →

Digital Collections, From Our Collections, Just for Fun, University Archives

SIX

International students playing badminton

It’s been a long and fun year. We’re counting down to LDOC with Duke University Archives photos of Duke students having a good time! (Click the photo to see it on our Flickr photostream, Duke Yearlook.)

Who wants to study when you can play badminton? Here, international students unwind with their new American friends as part of the Institute for International Education’s summer orientation program. Duke University served as a host institution for this U.S. State Department initiative from 1950 to 1957.

Countdown to LDOC:

(Thanks to University Archives student assistant Crystal Reinhardt for helping with photo selection!)

Dispatches from the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Duke University