University of St. Francis Library Archives

Barbara Cooke is an alumna of USF whose career in musical theater has spanned 30+ years. She spent time on stage in both Chicago and New York City, all the while collecting sheet music, books and other items related to musical theater. In order to assure that her life's work will be taken care of into the future, Barbara contacted the Music Department here at USF, looking for a good home for her collection. The faculty in the Music Department contacted the library and we quickly realized the enormous asset that this collection would be to our school and students. The collection officially opened with the Grand Opening Reception held on March 27, 2009. Guests were treated to wine, fruit, cheese and crackers, and tid-bits of musical theater information from Barbara Cooke herself. Use of the materials in the Barbara A. Cooke Musical Theatre Collection is restricted to the Barbara Cooke room. For any questions or requests please see the Archives Librarian in the USF Library Archi...

Many of the names of buildings on our campus have significance to our school and the Moser Performing Arts Center (MPAC) is no exception. Harold and Margaret Moser were long time benefactors of the University of St. Francis when the new performing arts center was named for them. Margaret Moser was an alum of the school and together with her husband provided much needed support throughout the years to many projects and programs. Harold and Margaret Moser pictured here with President John C. Orr.

April is National Poetry Month , a chance to "celebrate poetry and its vital place in our culture". Check out these great websites to learn more about poetry, poets and poem lovers. Academy of American Poets National Poetry Month - Academy of American Poets Infoplease Abraham Lincoln and Poetry (Library of Congress Web Guide) Library of Congress Poetry Resources Illinois Poet Laureate - Kevin Stein US Poet Laureate - Kay Ryan The USF Library Archives has many poetry books in both the John L. Raymond Special Collection and the Rare Book Collection . Visit the Reading Room to peruse books by: T. S. Eliot Emily Dickinson James R. Lowell William Cullen Bryant E. E. Cummings Robert Frost Randall Jarrell Joyce Kilmer Wallace Stevens Marianne Moore John Dryden John Masefield and many more!

National Library Week is April 12-18. Sponsored by the American Library Association , libraries around the country are promoting and celebrating their staff, services and patrons. At the USF Library we have a number of ways that you can participate in our celebrations: 1) Free Cookies ! 2) Best Books Wall - add your favorite book to the white board and take a look at the display of last years "Best Books". 3) Scavenger Hunt - learn more about the library with a chance to win a USF t-shirt. Look for the clues here or on the cookie table. 4) Free Cookies! 5) Puzzle - take a break from studying and help assemble the puzzle. So come on in and help us celebrate! (Did I mention Free Cookies?) ** Congratulations to Rene Barrios, winner of the National Library Week Scavenger Hunt **

The USF Library Archives is pleased to announce the completion of the newest online collection. The Encounter Student Newspaper Collection contains digital images of The Encounter from 1976 through 2008. From the collection home page: "Until May of 1969 the school newspaper at the University of St. Francis was The Interlude. That year the University of St. Francis, then the College of St. Francis, began its merger and cooperation with Lewis University, then Lewis College, in Romeoville, IL. The student newspapers of the two schools merged as well. With the subsequent de-merger of Lewis-St. Francis of Illinois back into two separate schools the University of St. Francis school newspaper was restructured and re-emerged as The Encounter. The first issue was published on October 7, 1976." Visit the collection here: http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm4/index_usf_encntr.php?CISOROOT=/usf_encntr

John Lloyd Raymond became a benefactor of the University of St. Francis library in 1950 when he presented a large part of his personal library to the school. His only condition on the gift was that the collection be kept intact and that the books be used. Mr. Raymond continued donating books until his death in 1974. He was an ardent book collector who showed remarkable ability in his choice of titles. Many of the books he donated were first editions, limited editions, early printings, autographed copies and books with fine bindings. One such remarkable book is the copy of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with illustrations by Robert Ball. This edition of Austen's most memorable work was printed in 1945 by Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc. in Garden City, NY. It is a limited edition with a decorative jacket and slipcover. The slipcover notes that it is a part of the "Doubleday Doran Limited Editions Illustrated by Famous American Artists", and an early page rea...

Many of the books in the Rare Book Collection of the USF Library Archives were gifts to the library and the school. One such book is the General Kurpfalz Evangelical Lutheran Song Book, issued on the recommendation of Kurpfalz Consistory by Ludwig B. F. Gegels. This book is in german and was printed in Frankenau, Germany in 1793. In World War II this copy of the song book was found in Germany in the cornerstone of a building that had been bombed. The soldier who found the book brought it back to the U.S. and gave it to his relative Sister Celeste. Sister Celeste was with the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate here in Joliet, IL. She gave the book to the library to add to their growing Rare Book Collection , where it now resides in a display case in the Archives Reading Room. To learn the history of other books in the Rare Book Collection , please feel free to visit the USF Library Archives on the 2nd floor of the USF Library.