Official Archives of George Mason University. Sharing manuscripts, rare books, digital records, and s
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In our latest Corner on the blog, SCRC student assistant Jack tests out a "Baked Pears" recipe from 1981 ππ§βπ³ check it out!
This blog post was written by Jack Moore, SCRC Research Services Student Assistant. Jack has a double major in Political Science and Philosophy from Christopher Newport University. He is currently β¦
Welcome back to π! Today we are highlighting this program from a 2007 production of ππ©π¦ ππͺπ΅π€π©π¦π΄ π°π§ ππ’π΄π΅πΈπͺπ€π¬ at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia. Signature Theatre is a fixture of the DMV theatre scene, with a reputation for putting on amazing performances in an intimate space. Founded in 1989, Signature Theatre also has a special relationship with the work of Stephen Sondheim.
ππ©π¦ ππͺπ΅π€π©π¦π΄ π°π§ ππ’π΄π΅πΈπͺπ€π¬, a musical based on the book and film of the same name, originally premiered in London in 2000. This 2007 production at Signature was the musical's American premiere.
From the Martin Cohen theater collection, C0335
On this day (almost) in 1973, a Broadside photographer captured members of George Mason University's Mason Student Government for the 1973-1974 academic year on October 23, 1973. The SG office was located in the Ordinary, a student lounge and dining hall located on the lower level of today's Krug Hall. From Broadside photos, . Mason Libraries George Mason University Alumni Association
Each fall, the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), the University Libraries, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) collaborate on a panel discussion about a specific topic that is tied to SCRC collections.
On November 8 we will continue that tradition with a group of panelists discussing their experiences on the (AT). This discussion, and a short presentation, will be led by GMU professor Dr. Mills Kelly.
There will also be a display in the SCRC Seminar Room of documents, photographs, and other materials from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy records following the main part of the program. Refreshments provided.
More details can be found on our blog,
Each fall, the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), the University Libraries, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute collaborate on a panel discussion about a specific topic that is tied β¦
Time for another πβDo you know any of these Patriots from the past?
As we digitize the George Mason University photograph collection (R0120), we need your help identifying these former students of !
Please comment or DM us if you have any clues! ππ
George Mason University George Mason University Alumni Association
Because people can't get enough Gunston, we are featuring his yearbook photo and message from the 2007 GM View yearbook. Gunston was George Mason Athletics mascot from 1996 to 2008. He currently lives quietly in SCRC and has shunned any and all public appearances, but who knows... From GM View 2007, George Mason University Yearbook collection, . George Mason University George Mason University Alumni Association Mason Libraries George Mason Men's Basketball George Mason Women's Basketball
Time for another πβDo you know any of these Patriots from the past?
As we digitize the George Mason University photograph collection (R0120), we need your help identifying these former students of George Mason University!
Please comment or DM us if you have any clues! ππ
George Mason University Alumni Association
Join Mason Libraries to celebrate the trifecta of , , and with π―ππππππππππ, a brown bag crafting session where you will learn how to makes zines and celebrate the best holiday of the year.
In conjunction with this yearβs Virginia theme - "Community Made: Zines and Self-Published Material," π―ππππππππππ is your opportunity to learn and get crafty making your own zine, contribute to a Group Zine - which will be archived in our very own Special Collections Research Center - or just learn and have fun!
When & Where:
October 31, 2023 (aka Halloween!), 12 -3 PM
Fenwick Library, Room 2001
Welcome back to π! Todayβs highlight comes from one our largest collections, the Arena Stage records, C0017. Since its opening on August 16, 1950, the Arena Stage has dedicated itself to being a space of imagination and innovation, a tool of "civilization," and Washington, D.C.'s preeminent regional theatre. The Arena Stage records consist of material that spans the theatreβs history from its beginnings to the present, including production notebooks, photographs, audiotapes, videotapes, playbills, scrapbooks, scripts, handwritten correspondence, and other production materials, as well as administrative records. This photographic slide, featuring members of the 1968-1969 company, is one of several Arena Stage slides featured in SCRCβs newest exhibition: βSlideshow: An Image, A Light, A Lens, and An Audienceβ. Please visit this link to learn more about the exhibit: https://vault217.gmu.edu/?p=10686
Exhibit opening reception is today, Thursday, Oct. 12, from 3:30-5:00 in Fenwick 2400. All are welcome!
A few 35 mm slides of 's George W. Johnson Learning Center, or JC, which were used by the Mason Libraries dean in 1995 in her talks to other universities about the brand-new building. The libraries operated a media library in the JC for over 20 years. The first image is a full image of the slide showing an architect's rendering of the JC in about 1992 or 1993, while the rest are simply the scanned images from the slides of the side elevation, an actual photo from 1995, and a rendering of the interior from before it was constructed. Libraries presentation slides, #2024.027-R. Please visit this link to learn more about our new exhbition: "Slideshow: An Image, A Light, A Lens, and An Audience"
https://vault217.gmu.edu/?p=10686
George Mason University Alumni Association George Mason University School of Art
SCRC's newest exhibition explores the history of slideshows from lantern slides to PowerPoint. The exhibit covers the magic lantern, 35mm slide carousel, overhead projector, and LCD projector. Also featured are lantern slides, overhead tranparencies, and 35mm slides from our collections. Reception is Thursday, Oct. 12, 3:30-5:00, Fenwick 2400. ALL ARE WELCOME! George Mason University
Mason Libraries George Mason University Alumni Association
George Mason University School of Art George Mason University College of Humanities and Social Sciences
George Mason University Libraries was among 30 regional institutions represented at the annual Shenandoah Valley Archives Fair at the Handley Regional Library System in Wi******er. Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA Director, Lynn Eaton mans the George Mason University table ready to speak to visitors about local history collections in our holdings.
Welcome back to π! Arthur Millerβs The Crucible is a popular title in several of our collections, but this specific highlight, a playbill from the original Broadway run, comes from the Arnold Sundgaard papers (C0226).
The Crucible premiered on on January 22, 1953 at the Martin Beck Theatre (now known as the Al Hirschfeld Theatre). Millerβs depiction of the Salem witch trials of the 1690s functioned as both historical drama and contemporary allegory for the paranoia of McCarthyism in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The play centers on the accusations made by a group of young girls, led by Abigail Williams, against a growing number of Salemβs citizens, including farmer John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth. The original production ran for 197 performances and won four Tony Awards, including Best Play.
Interestingly, as listed in Image 6, the original production includes a scene in which Abigail and John Proctor meet in the woods, here listed as Act II, scene 1, which was dropped from most productions and printed versions of the play after the 1958 revival. However, in recent years this scene has regained popularity and is often included, such as in the most recent Broadway revival at the Walter Kerr Theatre in 2016 in which director Ivo van Hove places the scene front and center at the very start of the production.
International Week is a tradition George Mason University that dates back to the 1970s. This photo of an I-Week event was taken by a Broadside student newspaper photographer in 1994. The alumna in the center of the photo, Neha Agnihotri Pania (BA International Studies and Communication, 1994), visited Horizon Hall this past September. While touring the exhibit on the lower level saw herself in this image, which was part of the exhibit. Thanks, Creative Services, Office of University Branding for alerting us! From the Broadside photograph collection, . Second photo is courtesy of George Mason University Creative Services. George Mason University Alumni Association George Mason University Life George Mason University Libraries
Curious about 18th century consignment shipping drama or the history of promotional recipe booklets? Our latest blog post previews some of the new and updated findings aids now available for use in the Special Collections Research Center that may help answer these questions and more! Follow the link in our bio or use: https://vault217.gmu.edu/?p=10583
Welcome back to π! Today weβre highlighting a photograph of Martha Graham in "Mirror Before Me" by Arnold Eagle, C0486.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1894, Martha Graham is considered a leading figure of American , founding her own New York City dance company in 1926 and pioneering a unique style of dance. Known as the Graham technique, this new style was built around the opposition of contraction and release, leading to more emotional expression and movements that were sharp and angular. Graham continued to dance well into her seventies and choreographed into her nineties. She passed away in 1991 at the age of 96, but The Martha Graham Dance Company still performs today.
This photograph captures Graham mid-dance performing her work βMirror Before Meβ (also known as βHerodiadeβ) and was taken by Hungarian-American photographer Arnold Eagle in 1945. Born in Hungary in 1909, Eagle immigrated with his parents to Brooklyn, New York in 1929. A successful dance and arts photographer, Eagle was best known for documenting dance companies, particularly the Royal Danish Ballet. He was also a prolific social photographer, particularly his photography of New York Cityβs impoverished Lower East Side Jewish community. Eagle passed away in 1992.
Two visitors to George Mason University study the campus map on the sign in front of the Student Union Building (now known as SUB I) in Fall 1979. Its name did not have a "I" after it then because Student Union Building II (now known as The Hub) was not built at that time. It opened in 1982. Judging from the helmets they are both carrying, they must have taken a motorcycle or motorcycles to Mason that day.
George Mason University Alumni Association Mason Student Centers
Welcome back to π! Todayβs highlights may come from two very different collections, but they are both examples of designs. As these two images illustrate, capturing the vision of a set designer in concrete form can be highly detailed or completely utilitarian:
πΈ David de Boschi set design for an unidentified ballet, C0452. David de Boschi was a 19th century Florence-based Italian set designer for operas and ballets. The set depicted in this full color illustration is likely for a ballet choreographed by Antonio Cortesi (1796-1879), an Italian ballet dancer and choreographer of the Romantic era who worked across Europe, choreographing over 60 ballets.
πΈ Dorothea Thomas Lynch papers, C0242. Dorothea Lynch was the State Director of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP) in Florida. Before joining the FTP she worked for eight years as the Head of the Rollins College dramatic department. This simple pencil sketch, found on the cover page of a heavily annotated directorβs copy of the script, uses only geometric shapes and written labels to visualize the set design for a FTP production of Plautusβ Roman comedy Miles Gloriosus.
Last week we featured an image of George Mason University's former mascot, Gunston. He received a ton of interest, so we asked him if it would be ok to post another one. He nodded his head and told us to "post away", so here is this week's Gunston feature. It comes from the 2005 George Mason Yearbook, GMView. He appears to be hanging out somewhere in the Johnson Center. He did not remember it much when we asked him about it but, judging from the smile on his fuzzy green face, he must have been having a good time. From the George Mason University Yearbook collection, , 2005.
George Mason University Alumni Association George Mason Athletics
Cookbook Corner - Brook Trout
This blog post was written by Jack Moore, SCRC Research Services Student Assistant. Jack has a double major in Political Science and Philosophy from Christopher Newport University. He is currently β¦
Do you know these Patriots? π΅οΈ
As we digitize the George Mason University photograph collection (R0120), we need your help identifying these former students of George Mason University ! We will be posting these photos every week as πβ
Please comment or DM us if you have any clues! ππ
George Mason University Alumni Association
Hereβs a blast from the past. Most George Mason University students know The Patriot as Masonβs sports mascot, but from 1996 until 2009 we were represented by a 7-foot-tall fuzzy green creature named Gunston. Here he is in the fall of 1996 getting students in the Quad hyped for the upcoming Menβs and Womenβs Basketball seasons. Gunston, now retired, is living in SCRC where he is an honorary staff member. From the George Mason University Photograph collection, .
George Mason Women's Basketball George Mason Men's Basketball George Mason University Alumni Association
In our latest blog post we highlight some of the exciting, and potentially unexpected, materials found in the newly processed Lavinia Scott papers (C0506) that expand the collectionβs scope and contents beyond the boundaries of Lavinia Scottβs personal biography.
Image description: Lavinia Scott posing outside of Inanda Seminary's "Dr. Lavinia Scott Chapel"
This post is one in a series about the Lavinia Scott papers processing completed by Processing Manager Meghan Glasbrenner. Archival collections, broadly speaking, usually fall into one of two categβ¦
Happy Fall Semester from SCRC's Director
This blog post was written by Lynn Eaton, Director of the Special Collections Research Center. Another school year begins, and the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) team of archivists and β¦
Performing arts, particularly dance, goes way back at George Mason University. Here we have a tap lesson being taught in October of 1976 and four students working on a routine in 1978. Both of these photos were shot at Mason's former North Campus on Rt. 50. Both images from George Mason University photograph collection, .
gmu_schoolofdance George Mason University Alumni Association
SCRC celebrates the beginning of Fall 2023 Intercollegiate Athletics and ! In this photo George Mason University βs Womenβs Volleyball team takes on Western Carolina on September 1, 2000. This match was played in Masonβs P.E. Building, which was renovated in 2009 and renamed the Recreation and Athletics Complex (RAC). Image is from the Broadside photograph collection , Box 28. George Mason Women's Volleyball George Mason University Alumni Association
George Mason University Registration, August 30, 1974. The semester began on September 3 back in 1974, so last minute schedule changes were still in progress. Here a running count of availble seats in all courses was kept by manual marking of an overhead transparency. Students would check the overheads for available courses, mark them on a card and then take them to the proper line to register. Much easier using Patrioweb, these days. From Broadside photos , Box 9. George Mason University Alumni Association
#1974
Boy, does this photo scream "1974". Let's see: card catalog - check, TAB cola can - check, IBM Selectric typewriters - check, coffee mug with the Washington football team's former mascot - check, a poster of Bette Midler's second comedy album cover - check, and hard-working future alumni in support roles. Everything is in place in this September 21, 1974 shot of the Technical Services Office in George Mason University's Fenwick Library! From George Mason University photos, Box 5, Folder 42.
George Mason University Alumni Association
Check out our latest blog post!
This post was written by SCRC Student Assistant Vilma Chicas Garcia. This past Society of American Archivists (SAA) conference was my first ever. I wasnβt sure what I was expecting going in. β¦
#1983
40 years ago, this was George Mason University's Mason Square Campus at 3351 Fairfax Dr. in Arlington. This building, once known as Arlington Original, initially housed the Kann's department store from 1951 to 1975. It was demolished in 2021 to make way for Mason's newest building project, FUSE at Mason Square. From the George Mason University photograph collection, , Box 33, Folder 37. George Mason University Alumni Association
The Bookstore George Mason University is going to be a very busy place in the coming weeks. Here are some photos of the George Mason Bookstore during its early years in the JC (from 1996 and 1998 respectively). Hope everyone finds all their books! From the Broadside photograph collection, .
Hey Facebook! The George Mason University Special Collections Research Center has a fancy new handle - we are now officially ! But don't worry, despite the new name you'll still get the same great content as always π
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy records held here at SCRC were used to research the information in this recent Washington Post article! Check it out!
As America has transformed, so too has its famous footpath. Less than half the A.T. remains where it was originally laid.
This George Mason College postcard (ca 1968-1970) shows students on the original Quad between the four original buildings. North (Finley) is shown on the right, and West is on the left. On the reverse, a hand-drawn map shows Mason's location just off the Capital Beltway. The photo for this card was taken by long-time local photgrapher Charles Baptie (C0032) https://tinyurl.com/29rxzj5d
George Mason University George Mason University Alumni Association
We are not sure which is more remarkable in this Broadside photograph from August 1998, the amount of people waiting in line at the SUB I Information Desk or the cost of an annual parking permit back then. Today, parking George Mason University is $540.00/year. From Broadside photograph collection, , Box 25, Page 166. George Mason University Alumni Association
Found yesterday by a colleague, this is the 1981 George Mason University Friends of the Library (FoL) brochure. It features a photo of students in the former Periodicals Reading Room in Fenwick A Wing, a (possibly misplaced) image of the former Robinson Hall, a researcher using the massive Card Catalog, and an overhead shot of library users in A Wing, one working on an early '80s computer. The insert had a membership form for FoL.
George Mason University Alumni Association
#1977
This very simple hand-drawn map that appeared in the Broadside student newspaper informs students of road and parking developments during Fall 1977 on George Mason University's Fairfax Campus. For those of us interested in history, it neatly explains the early development of campus roads. In 1976 campus roads were all named for rivers and creeks in the commonwealth, and Patriot Circle only went halfway around campus. There was no south entrance at Braddock Road or west entrance at Va. 123 the time of this graphic. Getting to campus probably was not a picnic.
From the Broadside newspaper collection, R0128, Box 12, 9/1/1977.
George Mason University Alumni Association
Bench Painting George Mason University is a tradition that goes back to the early 1990s. Each spring several student groups each paint one of the 38 benches on the quad between Fenwick, SUB I, Krug, and Horizon. This photo by University Creative Services taken in November 2014 features the GMU Pride Alliance bench, among others. From George Mason University Creative Services, #141106018. GMU Pride Alliance George Mason University Alumni Association
A drag performer participates in the annual Drag Show at George Mason University on 4/23/1998 in the Bistro on the lower level of the Johnson Center. Historically at Mason runs from the end of April until the beginning of May during the Spring Semester. The Drag Show has been the most popular event of Pride Week since the mid 1990s. From the Broadside photograph collection, . George Mason University Alumni Association Mason's LGBTQ Resources Center GMU
While June is Pride Month, George Mason University's Office of University Life celebrates Pride Week during the end of March and into April. It is a week of speakers, performances, panel discussions, dances, poetry reading and open mic events, culminating with the annual Drag Show in the JC. Featured here is a poster from the 2018 Drag Show. From LGBTQ+ Resource Center records, 2022.074-R.
Mason's LGBTQ Resources Center GMU Pride Alliance
Fenwick Library MS 2FL, George Mason University
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Itβs October, which means weβre FALLing into Archives Month! #ArchivesMonth is a time to celebrate #archives, share what #archivists do, & their importance. Keep an eye out for more posts during the 20th anniversary of #VirginiaArchivesMonth!
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