luPont-Rall Lib
STETSON
[IT N J V E R S IT Y
NEWSLETTER Fall 2005
Message from the Library Director
There has been a lot written lately regarding the
University of Texas decision to "close" their
undergraduate library and use the building as a
coffee shop and information commons filled with
computers and lounge areas. Despite the gloom
and doom reports of "a library with no books,"
the 90,000 books were moved to other libraries
on campus. Undergraduates are now urged to
use the main research library - really an
expansion of what is available for
undergraduates, just in a different building.
When you see how our Stetson students "mix
and match" print and electronic resources
interchangeably, it is clear that this "millennial
generation" is interested in the result, not the
medium. They are completely comfortable in
this new world and cannot imagine what it was
like to research a topic through print indexes one
year at a time and being dependent on print
copies of journals in their own libraries.
Thanks to our Library Associates who again
made it possible for us to enhance our services.
Funds from Associates were used to purchase a
new and faster hub stack router for the Library's
Internet connections, as well as some needed
resources, both print and electronic.
University Archives
We have received a number of fine additions for
the University Archives, and many are now
shown in photos on our alumni web pages:
http://www.stetson.edu/library/alumni.php.
In October, Nanette and Tom Lane gave us the
class ring of their son, T.C., who was tragically
killed during the 2003 Christmas holidays by a
driver who had been drinking. T.C. would have
graduated in May 2004. In addition to photos of
the ring, we have links to more information on
T.C. and what he meant to those who knew him.
Harold Boire '40, donated his 1939 watch fob
from Stetson's Phi Delta Alpha legal fraternity
and his Sigma Nu fraternity pin. Harold also
gave the Library a fine collection of books on
Russian art, especially the work of Faberge.
There are many other items of interest, including
some fascinating photos. A new document on
the web site is a bibliography of Stetson Alumni
Authors. Watch this site, as it is constantly
being updated with new photos and information.
The Stetson Family Connection
Gail Sherman, great granddaughter of John B.
Stetson, gave the Library a cobalt blue and gilt
bowl which had been
presented to Mr.
Stetson in 1905 and an
engraved sterling silver
loving cup given to
John B. Stetson, Jr.
The cup is engraved
from his staff at the
Second Aviation Instruction Center in France in
1918.
Lewis Stetson Allen, great-grandson of John
and Elizabeth Stetson, was instrumental in
converting a trust established for the Library in
1908 by his great grandmother, Mrs. John B.
Stetson (later Countess of Santa Eulalia) into
the S. Elizabeth Stetson Endowed Library Fund,
as a means of increasing earnings. Funds
allocated from the endowment will be used to
purchase books on the subjects of most interest
to Mrs. Stetson, including French language and
culture, American history and music.
