Fore-edge painting discovery!

Librarian John Curtis recently discovered a book in the Mayer Rare Book room containing fore-edge painting.  The book, Truths Illustrated by Great Authors, was published in London in 1852.  The fore-edge painting is a scene of Brighton Pavilion (England). 

Discovery in the Mayer Rare Book Room

     Special Collections Librarian, John T. Curtis, recently discovered a hand-made Christmas card inside of a book in the Mayer Rare Book Room at Ritter Library.  The card was created by Philura Gould Baldwin (1865-1892), the granddaughter of John Baldwin (1799-1884).  The card features water color art by Philura and two stanzas of  the poem To a Waterfowl (1818) by William Cullen Bryant.  The card was attached inside of a book by Neltje Blanchan called Birds that hunt and are hunted.  The book was published by Doubleday & McClure in New York in 1898, so the card was attached inside the book after Philura was deceased (d.1892).  A letter in the book, written by professor T.C. Surrarrer, indicates that the book was donated to Ritter Library on May 13, 1973 by Lyle G. Chambers and Genevieve Chambers.

     John Baldwin was the founder of Baldwin Institute (1846), which became Baldwin University (1855), and later merged with German-Wallace College to become Baldwin-Wallace College (1913). Philura graduated from Baldwin University in 1886.  She started the school's first library by collecting and cataloging books. Philura is also known for having chosen the school’s colors of brown and gold. She died from consumption at age 26. The Baldwin family donated funds for a library which was dedicated in her memory on June 1894. The Philura Gould Baldwin Library was made part of the Malicky Center in 2001.

     Here is the text of the poem in the card:

There is a Power, whose care

Teaches thy way along that pathless coast,—
The desert and illimitable air
Lone wandering, but not lost.

He, who, from zone to zone,
Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight,
In the long way that I must trace alone
Will lead my steps aright.

New Website and Library Update

Welcome to 2016!

New Library Website

We are thrilled to deploy our new website. The address stays the same but you'll notice that the page has been updated and optimized for your use.  The site is fully mobile ready so you can use our site easily from any device.  If you have any questions, suggestions, or issues regarding the new website, please email wwwlib@bw.edu

IT Student Support Services @ Ritter Library

The IT Student Support Services (HelpDesk) http://help.bw.edu/ has relocated to Ritter Library room 106, main floor right behind the Reference Desk!  Same phone number (x7000), same website http://help.bw.edu/, same helpful folks… just in a new location.  If you need tech support, look for their extended hours this fall at Ritter!

Library Hours

Check out our Library hours available at this page:  http://libguides.bw.edu/content.php?pid=86103&sid=640462
Reserve a Study Room here:  http://bw.libcal.com/booking/studyrooms

Schedule a reference appointment with your personal librarian here:  http://bw.libcal.com/booking/research