While most students visit The University of Memphis' NedMcWherter Library only for a term paper -- or not at all during thesummer -- several new displays may be worth a visit.
Through August, a Special Collections display on the fourthfloor will feature photographs and original documents about theCivil War.
The display and a Sept. 1 lecture on the material will drawtogether the Civil War holdings of The U of M, said Edwin Frank,curator of the Special Collections Department/Mississippi ValleyCollection.
"We have a very rich collection here, with 60 separatecollections, including journals of soldiers on both sides andjournals of civilians," Frank said.
The lecture, entitled "The 'Little Bugs' Speak: Voices from theCivil War," will use these journals to present 1860-1865 from a"worm's eye," or common man's, view of universal themes likeloyalty, identity, occupation, hardship, death and loss, Franksaid.
"It is interesting to see how people reacted as it washappening, especially since we are in a war now," Frank said.
The program will be held from noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept.1, in Room 226 of the McWherter Library.
Also on display in the library are recently-dedicated books fromthe 5,000-volume Wynn Collection, acquired during Lawrence Wynn'stenure at The U of M.
Wynn, who died in 1995, was a U of M faculty member from 1950 to1981 and received The University's Distinguished Teaching Award in1981.
Tom Medina, organizer of the display, said the collectioncontains some rare and semi-rare material.
"It promises to be a complete supplement to libraries in thearea of Victorian literature," Medina said.
Of the 5,000 volumes, 2,500 are of Victorian emphasis, Medinasaid.
"There are several valuable books and old second editions, someof which are deteriorating physically," Medina said.
Books that are in a physical condition requiring protectivehandling will be shelved securely in the Special Collectionsdepartment, and the others will be shelved in the general stacksfor student use.
A small sample of the collection is on display now in a case onthe second floor.
The books will be on display through August.
