Women of World War I: Ada Adcock

Ada Adcock wearing her Army Nurse Corps uniform during WWI

Women in 1912-19 were heavily involved in the war effort. They served on the homefront sewing clothes, gathering supplies, etc., and some went overseas to help in Europe. Ada Adcock was one of several Illinois State Normal University women featured in ISNU’s World War I service records collection who experienced the horrors of war from the front lines.

Newly digitized collection sheds light on Illinois State in the War to End All Wars

William Tice lays on a blanket in front of a pup tent writing a letter.

Explore the World War I experiences of Illinois State Normal University (ISNU) students, faculty, staff, and alumni through letters, photographs, questionnaires, news clippings, postcards, and other primary sources preserved by Milner Library’s namesake, Angeline “Ange” Vernon Milner (1856-1928) in the World War I Illinois State Normal University Service Records.

Milner Library celebrates Minnie Vautrin Day

A black and white photo of students at Ginling College for Women in Nanking holding a banner that reads "Ginling"

The Illinois State Historical Society named April 12 Minnie Vautrin Day to commemorate the ISNU alum for her actions in protecting ten thousand Chinese women and children during the Imperial Japanese occupation of Nanking during the Sino-Japanese War in the late 1930s.

Milner Library celebrates the first two librarians of ISNU

A black and white vintage photo of students in a library.

In the third installment of Milner Library recognizing the women of Illinois State Normal University and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program, this article focuses on librarians in honor of National Library Week.

Help Milner transcribe historical documents

A black and white vintage photo of a woman sitting in a chair surrounded by books.

Milner Library has partnered with From the Page, a crowdsourced transcription service, to transcribe hundreds of handwritten historical documents, such as diary entries, postcards, letters, and photo captions.

Milner Library seeks participants for oral history project

exterior of Milner Library as sun sets

Milner Library Digitization Center, in conjunction with the Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives and ISU ReD, seeks Illinois State alumni and current or former faculty and staff persons from minoritized backgrounds interested in being interviewed for Milner Library’s ongoing oral history project.

Civil Service May Spotlight: Karmine Beecroft

person looking at a computer screen

The Civil Service Council will feature a civil service employee at Illinois State University each month to highlight an exceptional colleague and the outstanding work being done on campus! This month get a chance to learn about and applaud Karmine Beecroft, digitization coordinator for Milner Library.

Women’s History Month online

A black and white vintage photo of a woman sitting in a chair surrounded by books.

As Women’s History Month winds down, we would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the many resources documenting the critical role women have played in history, society, and the creation of scholarly and creative works.

Q&A with Angela Yon: Digital exhibit spotlights humanity of circus performers

A poster excerpt showing circus performers presented onstage as part of The Barnum & Bailey Show, circa 1899. (Image/Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

In this Redbird Scholar Q-and-A, Angela Yon, assistant professor and cataloging and metadata librarian at Milner Library, discusses the interactive digital exhibit, Agency Through Otherness: Portraits of Performers in Circus Route Books, 1875–1925, which is based on the library’s circus route books digital collection.