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Tudor-Era Books Acquired for the Schulich-Woolf Collection

Posted: March 10th, 2016

The first acquisitions have been made for the Schulich-Woolf Collection, thanks to funds generously provided by Mr. Seymour Schulich.  They become part of a signature collection of books on history, exploration and culture from the 16th to the 19th centuries, donated by Mr. Schulich and by Queen’s Principal Daniel Woolf. The Schulich Woolf Collection is housed in the W.D. Jordan Special Collections and Music Library.

The newly acquired books are important examples of the Tudor interest in history and governance, and as artifacts, they carry with them indications of personal ownership and use, and other traces of the time in which they were produced. Six titles, dating from 1557 to 1596, have been received.

The Boke Named the Governor, by Sir Thomas Elyot, 1557      Schulich-Woolf Dated 1557.E49

The Chronicle of Fabian, by Robert Fabyan, 1559                       Schulich-Woolf Dated 1559.F33 folio

Certain Discourses, by Sir John Smythe, 1590                             Schulich-Woolf Dated 1590.S69

Elyot’s Boke Named the Governor is a treatise on the learning and education required to govern well.  It is considered one of the earliest examples of the confident use of the English vernacular for serious purposes.  The Chronicle of English history written by Robert Fabyan (d. 1512) was first published posthumously, in 1516, and enlarged by others in editions of 1533 and 1542.  The 1559 edition brings forward the history from the time of Henry VII to the end of Queen Mary’s reign.  An example of fine “black letter” printing, our copy is in particularly good condition, in a noteworthy mid-19th-century binding by the firm of Clarke & Bedford.  Smythe’s Certain Discourses present the argument that archers and the English longbow should be maintained in battle rather than relying upon new-fangled armaments such as “mosquets”.  It’s not so much the argument that makes this book important, however, but the fact that it was suppressed by Lord Burghley because of impolitic personal statements made in the text.  As a “banned book”, this volume will have a place in our Freedom to Read displays and events.

Three works have come bound together in one volume                    Schulich-Woolf Dated 1596.C66

The Historie of Philip de Commines, 1596

The Florentine Historie, by Niccolò Machiavelli, 1595

The Historie of France, by Lancelot-Voisin La Popelinière, 1596.

These three historical works are still in what appears to be their original folio binding, which can be dated to May 1597.  Two strips of manuscript waste are used to secure the fly-leaves; these are written in an English “secretary” hand.  Numerous early signatures, notes and underlinings tell us about who owned the volume and something about what readers found interesting in the contents.  The histories of France by de Commines and La Popelinière both have the same elaborate woodcut frame on their title-pages, associated with William Ponsonby, the printer of Edmund Spenser and Sir Philip Sidney.  The prefaces and dedications to the works explain the reasons for making translations to inform, educate and entertain the reading public in the age of Shakespeare.

Exhibit: Prison Sentences: Penitentiary Literature in Kingston

Posted: March 10th, 2016

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Prison Sentences: Penitentiary Literature in Kingston is an exhibit that focuses on prison newsletters, or ‘joint magazines’ from Kingston area prisons. The exhibit provides an in-depth look at writings by prisoners. It examines the content and historical significance of these works, and draws attention to the quality of these publications, especially in the 1950’s and 60’s. It attempts to establish the context and tension in which these newsletters were produced.

March 2 – April 15, 2016

Curated by Kim Bell, W.D. Jordan Special Collections and Music Library

International Women’s Day Pop-Up exhibit

Posted: March 7th, 2016

International Women's Day poster

Freedom to Read Week

Posted: February 19th, 2016

freedomtoreadbanner

Every year in Canada books are challenged, censored or banned. Some challenges have been upheld while others have been rejected. Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about censorship and intellectual freedom.

You may be surprised to learn that these books have been challenged in Canada. How many have you read?

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Find out more about Freedom to Read Week.  Visit displays in Bracken, Education, Engineering Science, Jordan or Stauffer libraries. Drop by a pop-up event in Stauffer Library on Monday, February 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or on Wednesday, February 24th from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Attend a Harry Potter Reading event on Friday, February 26th from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the 1923 Reading Room otherwise known as the “Harry Potter Room” located on the top floor of Douglas Library.

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Your organizing committee enjoyed selecting the various banned or challenged books in the displays across the library. Here are some of their further reflections on the questions: As you were researching Freedom to Read Week, were you surprised by any of the banned or challenged books? Do you have a favourite banned or challenged book?

Kim Bell, W.D. Jordan Special Collections I was extremely surprised to find that Braille books had been banned. Although Braille is a typeface and not a particular title, I was astonished to learn that c.1838, the director of the Institution for Blind Children, P. Armand Dufau, didn’t agree with Braille and burned some 73 books that had been embossed. To ensure that the students stopped using Braille, he also confiscated the slates, styli, and other Braille-writing equipment. The students rebelled, however, and secretly used knitting needles, nails and other implements. The older students taught the system to the younger students and, eventually, the ban was lifted. I am not a big fan of comic sans, but could never imagine burning books that contained it!

My favorite banned book is the Diviners. I had to read it in high school, and there was much discussion around it being banned in the 1970’s. There is nothing like telling a class of teen-agers that the supporters of the ban felt that the book “reeked of sordidness” in order to get them to read! I feel bad that it became a personal attack on Laurence—that never should have been allowed to happen.

Anne Newman, Adaptive Technology Centre, Stauffer Library I was surprised to learn that Laura Ingalls Wilders’ On the Banks of Plum Creek was challenged in 1997 by parents in the Fort Garry Division, Winnipeg concerned  the content of the book used offensive references to Aboriginal and First Nation individuals.  The School Superintendent responded that “stories like this are an important part of our history on this continent.  Simply eradicating them from shelves does not seem to be the answer”.

We have read the series of novels as a family.  I understand the concern regarding inappropriate references, and I understand the statement of the Superintendent.  They are valuable recollections from the past, the context of which should be respected by the reader.

Amy Rutherford, Education Library When looking for the children’s books that have been banned or challenged I was surprised to see Dr. Seuss’ Hop on Pop.  Apparently it was challenged by a patron of the Toronto Public Library who thought it promoted violence because it “encourages children to use violence against their fathers.”  You never know what will offend people.

The Lives of Girls and Women by Alice Munroe is a book that I have read at least twice in different English Classes.  It was not necessarily my favourite book, but one that has always stayed with me because it is so honestly written and provoking.  It was challenged because of its “explicit language and descriptions of sex scenes”.   I think it probably scared teachers at that time because she wrote a female heroine who was not “stereotypically feminine”.

Jillian Sparks, W.D. Jordan Special Collections I was surprised to find that Francois Rabelais’ Gargantua and Pantagruel was banned in the United States until 1930—four centuries after the first part was printed! It caught me off guard to find that classic and many other canonical works have been banned or challenged. My favourite challenged work is Captain Underpants (1997) by Dav Pilkey, a silly little novel that was the number one challenged book in 2012 and 2013. Apparently, some people just can’t appreciate a good fart joke.

Peter Waldron, Bracken Library It never surprise me that objections, complaints, and negative views seem to carry more weight and are of greater value than positive views.  This trend of a “culture of complaining” is both perplexing and tiresome.  My favorite challenged book is The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) by Margret Attwood.  Got to love a good dystopia fiction.  If we are not careful such “Dystopian fiction” could become “Dystopian fact”.

Special Collections New Acquisitions

Posted: February 1st, 2016

Special Collections recently acquired five 17th and 18th-century plays which were purchased from the Helen K. Garrett Memorial Fund, presented by Dr. T.J. Garrett in memory of Helen K. Garrett. These books are not only beautiful, but also wonderful examples of English drama, culture, and printing. Only one play remains in its original binding, The Beggar’s Opera. The other four have been rebound–The Conscious Lovers has been rebound in marbled paper and the remaining three were rebound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. One of most important bookbinding companies of the early 20th century, Sangorski & Sutcliffe are renowned for their sumptuous and decorative leather bindings. Our plays have red and green full leather bindings with exquisite marbled end papers. Stop by for a closer look!

Marriage A-la-Mode by John Dryden, 1673    PR3415 .M3 1673

The Man of Mode by George Etherege, 1676   PR3432 .A67 1676

The Beaux Stratagem by George Farquarh, 1707    PR3437 .B4 1707

The Conscious Lovers by Sir Richard Steele, 1723    PR3704 .C6 1723

The Beggar’s Opera by Mr. Gay, 1729    PR3473 .B7 1729

Robert Burns Day Pop-Up Exhibit on January 25th

Posted: January 20th, 2016

Celebrate Robert Burns Day with Special Collections next Monday, January 25th, from 11:00am to 2:00pm. We will have several editions of Burns’ poems on display and free buttons to give away in Stauffer Library! But don’t forget to stop by our Reading Room in Douglas Library for a closer look at Burns’ very own chair and more books! All are welcome!

RobertBurnsDayposter_2

Philanthropist, principal establish rare book collection

Posted: December 18th, 2015
New rare book collection

New rare book collection

Read more about this generous gift here

Visitors at Fleming Exhibit

Posted: September 1st, 2015

Deirdre Bryden , Queen’s University Archives and Alvan Bregman, Curator of Queen’s University Library Special Collections recently presented the Fleming Exhibit to Principal Woolf and the President of Sir Sandford Fleming College, Tony Tilly.

Read more of the gazette story here.

Fleming Exhibit at Special Collections

Sir Sandford Fleming Exhibit: W.D. Jordan Library

Posted: July 9th, 2015

Sir Sanford Fleming

This exhibit examines the life of Sir Sandford Fleming: engineer, innovator and Queen’s Chancellor for 35 years. Curated by Pam Manders and Dr. Alvan Bregman, W.D. Jordan Special Collections and Music Library, and Deirdre Bryden, Queen’s University Archives.

The Swan Song of my Undergrad

Posted: June 8th, 2015

Tiffany Chan had a student assistantship in the W.D. Jordan Special Collections and Music Library in 2014-2015. Read her Love Letter to Digital Humanities Research, where she talks about her experience.

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