At the Circus: Sawdust, Strength, and Suffrage

Women circus performers were great examples of what equality could look like. They were strong, independent, and made as much money—or more—as their male counterparts. This empowerment was showcased daily during their performances and eventually became part of the narrative of women’s suffrage. They served as an inspiration to women across the nation. This topic examines the history of women’s suffrage and the empowerment of women through their work in the circus and as suffrage organizers. Looking at this important piece of history is especially timely given the upcoming centennial of women’s suffrage. Educators will have an opportunity to learn about using relevant primary source materials from ISU Special Collections and related resources

Beyond the Bandwagon: Curating Cultural Memory at Milner Library

Archival and manuscript materials record human experience; they document how people have lived, worked, interacted, and thought about the world. These unique or rare materials make visible the experience and impact of individuals and organizations within their respective cultural, geographical, historical, local, and educational milieu. By exploring such documents and objects, patrons can see and investigate these relationships firsthand. Primary sources form the bedrock of humanistic research, personal inquiry, and engaged teaching. With this volume, we invite you to explore the unique and rare materials housed in Milner Library’s Special Collections and Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield University Archives as well as the services that bring them to life for readers worldwide. Contributed essays from scholars and collection stewards highlight how a small sample of these rich collections facilitate teaching and learning within the Illinois State University community and beyond.https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/mlp/1032/thumbnail.jp

A Night At The Circus

This special event hosted by the SLA Student Chapter featured a presentation by Christina Taylor Gibson on Merle Evans and Circus Music from the Special Collections in Performing Arts at the University of Maryland, a presentation by Maureen Brunsdale on the Circus & Allied Arts Collection at Illinois State University, a presentation by Courtney Jet Jacobs on the digital collections of UCLA, and an aerial silks performance by SLA Student Chapter member Allison Chase Williams.https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slasc/1033/thumbnail.jp