MS-014: Thomas Cheshire Papers

The Thomas Cheshire Papers mainly consist of his handwritten document describing his capture, prison experience, and escape from Andersonville. The manuscript is supplemented by correspondence written by Cheshire’s family members, army officials, and one letter from Cheshire himself. Also included in the collection is Elizabeth Scott’s (granddaughter of Thomas Cheshire) published historical fiction, More Fox Than Lion, based on Cheshire’s early life and manuscript. Correspondence from the donor of the collection, as well as a newspaper article on Cheshire’s escape found in the Providence Journal, is included. Cheshire’s account illustrates the conditions experienced by prisoners of war, specifically in the Andersonville prison. The collection also highlights dangers faced when attempting escape. Although this manuscript contains useful insight regarding prison life, it also hints at Union sympathies in the South. Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website http://www.gettysburg.edu/special_collections/collections/.https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/findingaidsall/1013/thumbnail.jp

MS-058: Nancy Springer Papers, Class of 1970

This collection consists largely of manuscripts of Nancy Springer\u27s earlier novels, dating from 1977 to 1987. Although the vast majority of the manuscripts are typed with handwritten corrections, the collection does contain the first draft of The Golden Swan written entirely in Nancy Springer’s hand. Also included are printer’s galleys, readers proofs, and three of Springer’s books published in Japanese. Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website http://www.gettysburg.edu/special_collections/collections/.https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/findingaidsall/1053/thumbnail.jp

MS-050: Robert B. Arms Collection

The Robert B. Arms collection consists largely of papers regarding quarterly returns, receipts, and letters from the ordnance office; along with muster rolls, descriptive lists and state of Vermont orders. There is a section on the 16th Regimental Reunions, as well as documents pertaining to Arms’ role as Deputy Collector. There is extensive paperwork regarding George Stannard’s account, including at testimony made by Arms on the matter of Stannard’s bankruptcy. The researcher will find a hefty amount of correspondence between Arms and William A. Scott concerning the sale of property in North Dakota. Although this is a Civil War collection, it is not a rich Civil War resource. There are a few orders to Arms from his commander Colonel Veazey, as well as detailed letter from Arms to his parents describing the raid on headquarters that resulted in the capture of General Stoughton. The most intriguing item is a letter from Arms to his son written in October 1889 describing his trip to Gettysburg, and the possibility of a misunderstanding of what his Company actually did in the battle. The majority of the collection, however, is the basic paperwork of an officer. The post-war documents demonstrate how Arms served his state after the war, specifically his men in aiding with their pension claims. Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website http://www.gettysburg.edu/special_collections/collections/.https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/findingaidsall/1045/thumbnail.jp

MS-053: Charles D. Ryan, 66th Engineers

The collection consists primarily of letters from Charles Ryan to Elizabeth Dooling, his wife-to-be. The letters to Elizabeth begin on March 29, 1918 and the final one in the collection is dated June 3, 1919. The only other items in the collection is an envelope addressed to Elizabeth Dooling from Charles Ryan, a newspaper clipping of Ryan’s marriage to Elizabeth, a blank postcard with two soldiers on the front, and a letter to Ryan from the Treasury Department. Although Ryan briefly mentions significant events, such as Germany being defeated and Italy leaving the Peace Conference, his letters focus largely on the mundane tasks of camp life. He constantly comments on how one never knows what to expect with the army: “here to-day and gone to-morrow,” and continuously asserts, “Sherman was right, ‘War is ----.’” While it may not be extremely helpful to the military historian looking for an individual’s experience in battle, the collection does serve as a window into the soldier’s mind who is bored with the soldier’s life and eager to return home. Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website http://www.gettysburg.edu/special_collections/collections/.https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/findingaidsall/1048/thumbnail.jp

Improving and Assessing Information Literacy Skills through Faculty-Librarian Collaboration

This article addresses ways to assess the effectiveness of integrating information literacy into college courses by taking a close look at a partnership developed between Dr. Amy Dailey and the reference librarians at Gettysburg College

Casting Students in the Leading Role: Peer Learning in Academic Libraries

Peer learning services are an emerging trend in academic libraries of various sizes. These models allow students to engage and support the research needs of other students. These interactions may build off their classroom experiences and library training, while further developing their own research skills. This handout provides the context and questions for the roundtable discussion, “Casting Students in the Leading Role: Peer Learning in Academic Libraries,” at the ACRL 2019 conference. There are also resources for additional reading on the topic

Teaching Students to Fish: Creating a Sustainable Student Peer Research Program

A Peer Research Mentor (PRM) program was developed at Musselman Library, Gettysburg College to augment traditional reference services and expand library outreach. Goals included enhancing these students’ information literacy skills helping them become better researchers, as well as sharing that knowledge with peers. This poster will highlight the initial and on-going training, their involvement at the reference desk, and outreach projects to date

Connecting Over Coffee: Extending Library Services for Students Through New Campus Partnerships

One meeting with potential partners on campus can turn into a new, exciting initiative to reach underrepresented and first-generation college students. Librarians at a small, private liberal arts college will share how they collaborated with the Office of Multicultural Engagement on their campus to provide reference services to students outside of the library. Emphasis was focused on serving first year students from underrepresented groups, however, the service was open to and used by students from a variety of backgrounds and class years. The speakers will share lessons learned, plans for future development, and assessment strategies

Planning & Partnerships: Obtainable Opportunities for Increasing the Intercultural Competencies of All Library Employees

To expand the inclusivity and diversity of the library’s environment, Musselman Library offers a variety of training and educational opportunities for staff and student employees. Using a variety of formats and partnerships with other departments, these efforts have led to intentional changes in library space, services and equipment available, and hiring practices. Practical examples include highlighting events on campus, hosting short film and reading discussions, and utilizing campus speakers

“Lattes with a Librarian”: Collaborating with Campus Partners to Offer Reference Services

Librarians met with colleagues in the Office of Multicultural Engagement (OME) to discuss new opportunities to support student initiatives. Lattes with a Librarian was proposed as a way to provide reference services for students outside of the library. Six dates during the fall semester were selected where a librarian would offer reference services for an hour in the College Union Building