News from Byron R. Lewis Historical Library

Lewis Library Home Page Access Instructions

1. Go to the VU home page at http://www.vinu.edu
2. Click on Academic Resources
3. Click on VU Libraries
4. Access Lewis Historical Library

Vincennes History Games and Activities

An educational resource focusing on Vincennes history has been created by Shake Reference Assistant Diane Stepro. The resource, which was completed as part of her graduate work toward the Masters of Library Science degree at Indiana University and IUPUI, makes use of some of the historical electronic texts made available by Lewis Library staff during Spring Semester 2007.

Vincennes History Games and Activities includes Quiz Games, Word Searches, Puzzles, Essay Questions, links to local historic sites, and a Field Trip Planner for people interested in visiting Vincennes. The materials on the site are suitable for history students, whether in 4th grade Indiana history classes or at the college level. Letters have been sent to area 4th grade teachers informing them of the usefulness of the game.

To visit the resource, access it from the Lewis Library home page or at the following link:
http://www.vinu.edu/cms/opencms/academic_resources/library/lewis/lewis_game/entry.html

VU Art Inventory Underway

Librarian Jill Larson has been involved in a recent, ongoing inventory of Lewis Historical Library paintings and other artifacts own by Vincennes University.

Though Lewis Library’s primary mission is focused on printed materials, manuscripts and photographs of a historical, genealogical and archival nature, Lewis Library also is responsible for maintaining the VU art and artifact collection. University employees are encouraged to check out paintings from the Lewis Art Collection, and keeping track of these paintings, statues, furniture and other items can be a challenging task, at times.

Employees are asked to contact Lewis Library staff if paintings are to be moved to a different location, or if they would like to return an art work to the library for storage. Jill has been sending out campus-wide emails as part of the inventory process, and she reports good response from VU employees in helping her record locations of some artifacts.

If you know of any artwork, statuary, artifacts or other items that have been stored away in closets or attics, or have any questions about them, please contact Jill at jlarson@vinu.edu (or call 888-4330) to help her with the inventory.

Selected Reference Questions Recently Researched at Lewis Library

Obtained copy of play from Yale University written by Sinclair Lewis and performed in Vincennes circa 1937 in Pantheon Theatre.

Provided to an Indiana scholar a list of newspapers published in Vincennes.

Provided to scholar from France a copy of an article from the George Klein Collection (online index).

Researched early Quaker letters in Lewis Library for researchers in Ohio.

Helped research property in Vincennes that people want to tear down.

Scanned photos of Judge Shake for pending book project; burnt to CD and mailed it to author.

Assisted with new Mardi Gras Vincennes plans, providing maps and images of early Vincennes history.

Provided Vanderbilt University graduate student with information about James E. Manchester, former VU president, for a thesis.

Provided genealogy researcher with info about Lemen family.

Researched scholars who have written about William Henry Harrison.

Found information about Bosworth Lumber Co. in Vincennes for person who purchased flooring made by this company in the 19th Century.

Found Valley Advance articles written about a man for his granddaughter.

Provided info. About Judge Shake to Daviess County Historical Museum.

Provided genealogy info. From Helen Sole Genealogy Collection to a genealogist.

Tried to research history of large old trees on campus for VU student. Failed to find much info.

Helped a graduate student located online etexts of Gen. Hallimand papers.

Assisted an Evansville freelance writer with information to help him write articles about the Vincennes “Fresh Air Hotel” built but never finished completed during the Great Depression.

Searched for Miller Buggy Co. photos/article in Valley Advance, Lewis photo collections. No results.

Supplied photos of Byron R. Lewis to Illinois college fraternity he founded so they could have a portrait made of him.

Helped researcher look for early militia records, without success.

Helped researcher locate information about Ft. Allison and pertaining to persons killed there.

Helped man find information from the Lewis Library Regional History Collection about St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

Supplied information about late VU journalism professor Fred Walker Jr. for his induction into Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.

Photos made (by campus photographer Dave Fisher) of old building in Vincennes from Lewis Library negatives; for local person.