New Digital Collection: Medieval Manuscript Leaves and Fragments

The Medieval Manuscript Leaves and Fragments collection contains individual leaves and partial fragments from handwritten books which date from the 13th to the 16th centuries. The original books were all created in Western Europe. They were intended for religious study or liturgical use, and all but one were written during the Middle Ages. Although the original books are no longer complete, these leaves and fragments still convey the rich history and artistry of the Middle Ages.

The collection includes four leaves from 13th century Bibles, one from Cambridge and three most likely from Paris. The most ornate leaf in the digital collection is a hymnal page from a 14th century book (probably a psalter) which bears historiated initials, one featuring a youth carrying the True Cross and the other featuring John the Baptist with his symbolic lamb. The collection contains several other psalters and breviaries, including a “pseudo-Gregory” incorrectly attributed to Pope Gregory the Great. Written music is represented in this collection by two simple antiphonary leaves, one from the 15th century and one from the 16th century.

The original materials are available in UH Libraries Special Collections in the Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts Collection.

DiverseWorks Archives Arrive at UH Special Collections

DiverseWorks has recently donated a collection of items representing its history to the University of Houston Libraries Special Collections. DiverseWorks commissions, produces, and presents new and daring art in all its forms through innovative collaborations that honor each artist’s vision without constraint.

The DiverseWorks Archives includes materials from projects, exhibitions, and events from 1982 to the present. It is currently being cataloged and is available for research by students, faculty, and the public.

Selections from the first decade of the innovative art space will be on display at the MD Anderson Library from October 3 – 25, curated by DiverseWorks intern Micaela Cadungog.

In celebration of the donation of the DiverseWorks Archives to Special Collections, a reception will be held at the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion in the MD Anderson Library on Wednesday, October 5 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. It is open to the public.

UH Special Collections Acquires OZONE Magazine

University of Houston Libraries Special Collections has acquired the complete run of OZONE Magazine, the leading print publication on Southern hip hop from 2002 to 2010.

Published by photographer Julia Beverly, the magazine profiled Southern rappers such as Lil’ Wayne, T.I., David Banner, and Pitbull. Over the years, OZONE featured several Houston-area artists, including Devin the Dude, UGK, Lil’ Flip, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, and Chamillionaire.

OZONE, Beverly noted, was well positioned to document the rise of Southern hip hop. “It all happened very organically, and that’s why it was so beautiful,” she said. “Every era in music and culture deserves a historian to preserve it for future generations, and I’m glad we could fill that role for Southern hip hop.” The magazine’s contributors became known for being in the right place at the right time, and the magazine’s content, particularly its photo galleries, offered a fresh and timely take on the people and culture of Southern hip hop.

OZONE began as a local publication in Orlando, FL, highlighting the city’s biggest DJs, artists, promoters, and events. Circulation of the underground magazine grew a core readership, fueled by promotional rounds in dozens of cities from Miami to Atlanta to Houston. “A lot of Southern rap fans had been feeling overlooked, so they were really excited to become a part of something to call their own,” Beverly said.

A highlight in the life of the magazine was the 2006 OZONE Awards, a success owing to the publisher’s perseverance in overcoming event-planning obstacles. The sell-out show received incredible support from established talent such as Lil Wayne, who headlined the show, and Ludacris, who arrived with MTV cameras recording footage for his Diary episode. The show also introduced breakthrough acts like T-Pain, Plies, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, and Pitbull very early in their careers.

The collection is available for use by scholars, students, and the general public in the Special Collections reading room. Until it has been cataloged, interested researchers may contact the curator for the Houston Hip Hop collections, Julie Grob.

New Exhibit: Mexican American Studies at UH

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, University of Houston Libraries Special Collections is honored to present the Mexican American Studies at UH exhibit.

On view throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the exhibit highlights the founding of the Center for Mexican American Studies and the contributions of Mexican Americans to campus life throughout the years. Included in the exhibit are photographs, documents, and books spanning over four decades.

Materials will be on view on the 2^nd floor of MD Anderson Library from September 15 – October 15, 2016. For more information, contact Lisa Cruces.

Graduate Student Open House

University of Houston graduate students are invited to the Fall 2016 Graduate Student Open House on September 28 at the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion in the MD Anderson Library. The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon of food, conversation, and activities with your fellow grad students. Learn more about how the UH Libraries’ resources and services can help you.

September 2016 Technology Training

Free workshops in Access 2013, Adobe Acrobat, EndNote, Excel 2013, HTML and CSS, Illustrator CS6, Photoshop CS6, and Word 2013 are being held in September at the University of Houston Libraries.

The Technology Training program at UH Libraries offers technology courses to current UH students, faculty and staff. Classes are held in the Learning Commons Training Labs on the first floor of the MD Anderson Library.

View the full calendar and reserve your seat.

Dean German Elected to GWLA Board

The Greater Western Library Alliance (GWLA) membership recently elected Lisa German, dean of the University of Houston Libraries and Elizabeth D. Rockwell chair, to the Board of Directors. Beginning January 1, 2017, German will serve as a member at large.

GWLA is a consortium of 36 research libraries located in the central and western United States. GWLA is a dynamic, effective, project-oriented consortium, nationally recognized as a leader in the transformation of scholarly communication, and a facilitator in the application of new information technologies.

New Beta-space Open to All UH Students

The University of Houston Music Library has created a new, multipurpose space to serve the unique research and study needs of students in the creative and performing arts.

The Beta-space Study Room, located within the Music Library on the second floor of the Moores School of Music building, is an inviting and functional area featuring multimedia, recording and music software, visual tools, and other resources for creativity and inspiration. Students are encouraged to adapt the flexible learning space to suit their needs and interests.

Created as a “one-stop shop,” the Beta-space Study Room is the ideal environment for group work, reflection, and imagination. Students are often overwhelmed with studies, practice, and performances, all while searching for the resources and space on campus to carry out their work. The Beta-space Study Room addresses this need by housing creative tools and services in one spot, so that students can focus their time and energy on the things they need to accomplish.

All UH students, regardless of major, are invited to use the Beta-space Study Room.

View photos of the Beta-space Study Room.