From an alum’s historic dive to a former faculty member’s early exploration of the Grand Canyon, historian Tom Emery explores this month in Illinois State University history.
This month in Illinois State University history: August
Unit: Milner Library
New resources supporting inclusion, diversity, equity, and access now available to all Illinois residents
These databases authenticate via geolocation, which means everyone who walks through Milner Library’s doors or accesses these resources from anywhere in the state will have access—no login needed!
Sunset Hill architectural records added to Ewing Family Collection
The Milner Library Digitization Center adds to a growing corpora of documents and photographs created or collected by the Ewing family, starting with records dating to the construction of their iconic Bloomington home, Sunset Hill.
Results of the Milner Library satisfaction survey now available online
The survey was distributed in October 2023, and asked about general satisfaction, user confidence completing library-related tasks, amenities, services, library instruction, and collections. Milner Library’s Data Services team developed the survey and received 1,001 full and partial responses.
Women of World War I: Julia Scott Vrooman
Women in 1917-1919 were heavily involved in the war effort. They served on the homefront sewing clothes, gathering supplies, and even went overseas to help in Europe. Julia Scott Vrooman was one of several women affiliated with Illinois State Normal University featured in ISNU’s World War I service records collection who experienced the horrors of war as she traveled from camp to camp with her jazz band.
Applications open for the Kinzinger Scholarship for Milner Library Interns
Students who are accepted for an internship or are current interns at Milner Library are eligible to apply for the Kinzinger Scholarship for Milner Library Interns. Interested students should submit their application by July 15.
Women of World War I: Ellen Babbitt
Women in 1917-1919 were heavily involved in the war effort. They served on the homefront sewing clothes, gathering supplies, and more, and some went overseas to help in Europe. Ellen Babbitt was one of several ISNU women featured in the ISNU WWI Service Records collection who experienced the horrors of war while helping mothers and orphaned children.
A Normalite Abroad: John Walker Duff and the 802nd Pioneer Infantry
John Walker Duff (1888-1974) was the second of seven children born to Peter C. and Fannie E. (Walker) Duff in Normal, Illinois. A track and football star while a student at Normal High School, Duff was drafted into World War I at the tail end of the conflict.
The Pioneer Infantry in the Great War
The World War I Illinois State Normal University Service Records collection is filled with stories of heroism from ISNU students and staff, collected by our first librarian, Ange Milner. Milner also collected files from Black students who participated in the war effort in America and in Europe, and who faced the terrors of war while not be treated as equals from their superior officers and other white soldiers.
New resources for teaching and learning now available via Milner Library
Milner Library has entered into an agreement with the publishers Elsevier and Wiley to provide access to large collections of eBooks
