Karen's Winter Reading Recommendations

Happy Winter Solstice! Since a new season is upon us it's time for another round up of reading recommendations from our Library Assistant, Karen Hunt. Karen has picked out some reads perfect to cozy up with by the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa or tea.

1. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
2. Misty Manor by Linda Rawlins
3. Woman of God by James Patterson
4. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
6. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
7. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
8. The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose
9. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
10. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Stay warm this winter and happy reading!

Karen Hunt is the Library Assistant at the A.R. Wentz Library.

For reference assistant please call 717.338.3014.

Getting into the Christmas Spirit

Library staff members Karen Hunt and Sue Currens are happy to put out our stockings!

 Ever wonder how symbols like the candy cane became associated with Christmas? Stop by the library to learn some fun facts about Christmas Traditions.

Start the countdown! Also feel free to grab a bookmark for yourself, made by Karen.

Happy December! It's officially that time of the year again and the library is now decorated for the holiday season. Library Assistant, Karen Hunt, created a Bible Verse Advent Calendar display and "Christmas Traditions" display featuring some fun facts about Christmas, winter book recommendations, recipes from around the world, and fun indoor and outdoor winter activities to try if you're bored at home. 

And don't forget to enter our 13th annual THINK SNOW contest! Stop by the circulation desk to try and guess the date of our first snow fall...the winner will win a GREAT prize.

What's the Seminary's Connection with Jesus Christ Superstar?

 

Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice’s 1970 rock opera, continues to mesmerize audiences more than forty years later. Usage rights belonging to UK pop impresario Robert Stigwood prohibited any group from staging the opera before its Broadway premiere on October 12, 1971, but controversy on this score created material out of which an interesting book has been written.

Published this month, Jesusmania! The Bootleg Superstar of Gettysburg College chronicles the production and debate attached to the illegal performance of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Gettysburg College chapel on March 25, 1971. Author Devin McKinney highlights the show’s connection with the Gettysburg Seminary, treating Larry Recla, who was an intern for 1970-71 at the College and would graduate from the Seminary the following year, as the star of his book.

Class of 1972. Lawrence Recla (bottom row, three from the right) graduated with a Masters of Divinity.

McKinney's recent research in the Seminary Archives features historical connections between Recla, Professor Eric Gritsch, and the Rev. Dr. Donald R. Heiges, Seminary President from 1962-1976. Images from our photograph collection are also featured, exemplifying the power that archival repositories have in bringing history and stories to life in our community and beyond it. A paperback copy of Jesusmania! may be purchased at the Gettysburg College Bookstore or online here.

McKinney shares his experience research and writing the book in the fall 2016 issue of Friends of Musselman Library newsletter which can be read online here. Also included in this issue is Rev. Recla's experience serving eight months as a chaplain at Ground Zero. In honor of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Recla recently donated his collection of related artifacts and documents to the Musselman Library that are currently on exhibit in "Remembering 9/12: Rescue and Recovery at Ground Zero" which will be on display until December 19th.

Looking for a specific class photo? Want to learn more about Seminary and Gettysburg history? Contact Assistant Archivist Sheila Joy by email at sjoy@ltsg.edu or by phone at 717- 339-1317.

New Acquisition and Archives Exhibit: Lutheran Historical Postcards

Front of postcard depicting Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

The Seminary Archives have recently received a donation of over 700 Lutheran historical postcards! Spanning across the United States and into Canada, the collection contains images of Lutheran camps, colleges universities, schools, hospitals, orphanages, and retirement homes.

Back of postcard, postmarked December 6, 1915.

Some of the postcards contain correspondence, which is a rare find. This one in particular was mailed to Nova Scotia, Canada from Gettysburg on December 6, 1915. The sender, Mrs. Henry Wherley writes to her friend, Mrs. Austin Cleveland, mentioning a recent snowfall, the upcoming Christmas holiday, and that Mrs. Cleveland's mother has fallen ill. Mrs. Wherley asks, "did you even try rubbing dog fat on her legs...?" Quite a strange remedy, which I don't think became too popularized over the century! If you know anything about this so-called "remedy," leave a comment below!

To view more of the historical postcard collection, stop by the Library Lobby where an assortment are on display, or contact  Assistant Archivist, Sheila Joy at sjoy@ltsg.edu or via telephone at 717-339-1317.

Suffering, Death, and Enemies: Rare Books from the A. R. Wentz Library Collection

Thank you to everyone who attended the Suffering, Death, and Enemies: Rare Books from the A. R. Wentz Library Collection and enjoyed our wine and cheese spread. The reception was hosted by our Library Director and Archivist, B. Bohleke and the exhibit was prepared by Karin Bohleke of LTSG and Shippensburg University with assistance from Vince Evener,  LTSG Visiting Instructor in Reformation and Luther Studies. The exhibit featured publications by Martin Luther's contemporaries--both faithful supporters, and "enemies" who wrote against the Reformation. The exhibit will remain up until Friday, October 28th.

Want to learn more about our rare book collection and Seminary Archives holdings? Contact the Assistant Archivist, Sheila Joy by email at sjoy@ltsg.edu or by phone at 717- 339-1317.

Library Book Sale

Mark your calendars! The fall book sale will be happening October 24-29 in the Pioneer Room on the first floor of the library!

Book Sale Schedule

$2.00          Monday, Oct. 24: Students, Faculty, & Staff only (ID will be checked) --

3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

$2.00          Tuesday, Oct. 25: General Public beginning     8:30 a.m.—5:30 p.m.

$2.00          Wednesday Oct. 26:                                              8:30 a.m. -- 5:30 p.m.

$1.00          Thursday, Oct. 27:                                                 8:30 a.m.—5:30 p.m.

$  .25          Friday, Oct. 28:                                                      8:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.

Free            Saturday, Oct. 29:                                                  11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

All proceeds from the book sale are collected specifically to raise money for the purchase of materials and supplies for the A. R. Wentz Library.

Spreading Awareness About Archives

October is American Archives Month! Since 2006, this month is dedicated to promoting the work of archivists, individuals who collect and preserve items of enduring value, and the institutions in which they work. Archivists play a vital role in making these materials accessible to the public. Without archivists and Archives to preserve the unique records of institutions and individuals, the past would be forgotten. The Seminary Archives in the A.R. Wentz Library collects materials of importance relating to the history and day-to-day operations of the Seminary. Many people have heard of Archives, but are not quite sure what they are. Since we are celebrating American Archives this month, there will be a series of blog posts guided toward spreading awareness about the Seminary Archives, what we house, and how can we benefit you as a patron. This first post will be a general introductory post answering basic questions about what an archive is and what archivists do.