Rebecca Zeiss Receives Award

[editor's note: In the State of Michigan, the bicentennial of the War of 1812 is being marked with numerous events across the state. The Michigan War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission has provided the Michigan Historical Review and the Clarke Historical Library with a digital flier that we are making available as an appendix to our previous posting about the War of 1812 special issue of the Michigan Historical Review. In today's posting, we are highlighting the recognition of the work of a Clarke Historical Library collaborator - Rebecca Zeiss.] 

by Janet Danek

For several years CMU has enjoyed the artistic expression of Rebecca Zeiss through the beautiful exhibits she has created for the Clarke Historical Library galleries. This past week she was recognized with the top honor as she was awarded the Grand Prize in the 51st Annual Greater Michigan Art Exhibition which currently on display at the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art in Midland, Michigan. Her award-winning piece titled: Inculcated Domesticity is a collection of 5 photography-pigment ink prints. The collection is stunning and is enhanced by its overall scale of a nearly 20-foot width.

Rebecca is a CMU alumna, having earned her Master of Fine Arts in Photography.

This is one of the few statewide visual arts competitions in Michigan. At the exhibit opening, Bruce Winslow, director of the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art said he felt this collection is one of the best in the show’s history. Ten cash awards went to a diverse group of artists employing a variety media including wood, metal, and fiber. The juror for this exhibition was Robert Schefman, a master painter and instructor of art at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

The exhibit will be on display through August 18 at the Midland Center for the Arts.

Michigan Historical Review: War of 1812 Issue

by Bryan Whitledge and Mary Graham

Monday, June 18 of this year marked the 200th anniversary of the declaration of war by the nascent United States against the British Empire - the beginning of the War of 1812. In recognition of this milestone in United States, Canadian, British, and American Indian history, the Spring 2012 issue of Michigan Historical Review (Vol. 38, no.1) is a special issue devoted to the War of 1812. The issue focuses on the western front of the War, specifically on events in and around Michigan Territory. Particular articles relate to the Black Hawk War, the War on both sides of the Detroit River, and in Michilimackinac and Prairie du Chien (click on the image of the table of contents to enlarge it).

The Michigan Historical Review is also highlighting another of their efforts - the 2012 Graduate Student Essay Prize. The deadline for this contest, which features a $1,000 cash prize and publication in the Michigan Historical Review, is July 2, 2012. For further information, please click on this link.

For more information about the Special War of 1812 issue or any other issue of the Michigan Historical Review, including ordering copies, please feel free to visit the MHR website via this link or call 989-774-6567.

Finally, please look at Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alan Taylor's The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels, & Indian Allies for further information about the War of 1812.

[UPDATE: Please click on the images below to see the list of events being sponsored by the Michigan War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission]

Clarke Events in the Little Traverse Bay Area This Summer

The Clarke Historical Library’s just-closed exhibit, A Delightful Destination: Little Traverse Bay at the Turn of the Century, is currently on tour this summer. The exhibit will be shown at the Harbor Springs History Museum from June 14th through the beginning of 2013. There will be an opening reception from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 14th at the Harbor Springs History Museum.

A second event in the Little Traverse Bay area is the premiere of a WCMU produced documentary entitled Into the North, which tells the story of the tourist culture that blossomed at the turn of the 20th Century. This half-hour film will be shown on Wednesday, June 20th at 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm at the Crooked Tree Art Center in Petoskey.

Finally, the Little Traverse History Museum will have a special viewing on Tuesday, July 17th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm of a traveling Clarke Historical Library exhibit, Hemingway’s Michigan Story. This exhibit will be shown from mid-June throughout the entire summer.

Join the Clarke Historical Library and our partners in the Little Traverse Bay area this summer to explore the history of this delightful destination.

Senator William Alden Smith and the Sinking of the Titanic

by Bryan Whitledge

In a previous posting, we highlighted how the local media in Mid-Michigan reported the sinking of the RMS Titanic to reflect on the 100th anniversary of the ill-fated voyage. Six weeks after the sinking, on May 28, 1912, U.S. Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan spoke in front of Senate regarding his subcommittee’s findings regarding the Titanic disaster. In his speech, Senator Smith, pulling from testimony that was given before his subcommittee, recounted the events as they unfolded from the time passengers boarded the ship to the rescue by the Carpathia. The focus of his speech was the lessons to be learned from the tragedy. At the Clarke Historical Library, we maintain a presentation copy of this speech printed by Government Printing Office.

We also hold other materials related to Senator Smith, including the guest book from his time as a U. S. Senator. Signatories in his guest book include constituents, friends and associates from Grand Rapids, and notable individuals in higher education, politics, and business. Some famous names in Senator Smith’s guest book are Woodbridge N. Ferris, founder of Ferris State University and 28th Governor of Michigan; J. L. Snyder, President of Michigan Agricultural College; Frank B. Kellogg, Minnesota Senator and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; Arthur Vandenberg, a Grand Rapids newspaperman who would later be elected to the U. S. Senate; Thomas R. Mitchell, Vice President of the United States; Senator Warren G. Harding, who would later be the 29th President of the United States; and Henry Ford (pictured above - click to enlarge).

These documents are just two of the items dealing with American politics held in the Clarke Historical Library, which include a large U. S. presidential campaign biography collection, the multi-volume Messages of the governors of Michigan, and the papers of Senator Robert P. Griffin. The role played by Michigan politicians in the events that have shaped the world can be found at the Clarke Historical Library.

Paper Doll Collection at the Clarke

by Tanya Fox

Paper dolls are inexpensive toys that have been around for quite some time. The Clarke Historical Library has a variety of paper doll books as part of our children’s collection. Our paper doll books include fashion dolls, storybook and character dolls, dolls from around the world, and animal dolls, as well as a variety of other cut-out toys. Do you remember Trixie Belden, Dolly Dingle, Curious George, and Peter Rabbit? Would you like to see Japanese kimonos or fashion by the designer Erté? The Clarke has paper doll books for your viewing pleasure.

Paper dolls can be windows into the culture of a people, nostalgic trips down memory lane, or glimpses into a certain historical period. Some paper dolls can simply be whimsical moments of fun and play. There are over one hundred paper doll books to be found at the Clarke. Whether you are interested in old advertising via paper dolls or just want to have fun, come see our paper doll book collection. If you are interested in reading more about the history of paper dolls, you may find the following website of interest: http://www.opdag.com/history.html