JMU Special Collections

Special Collections Library at James Madison University. Rare books, manuscripts, photos, oral histories, maps, & more relating to @JMU & Central Shen. Valley.

[Archival Resources of the Virginias @ARVASarchives]

The Patty Fitzhugh Noblin scrapbook 1928-1930, through @JMUSpeColl documents the student experience of Patty Fitzhugh who attended the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg. Patty kept photos, letters, & various items of ephemera in her "Memory Book."

https://t.co/2gOVeUqZQh

[Zach Hottel @ZachHottel]

39 Archivists turned out for our annual VA Caucus meeting in Lexington VA today

Thanks to everyone who participated, opened their stacks for tours, and who attended!

#marac #virginia #archivist

[Humanities Magazine @humanitiesmag]

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks was born #OTD in 1917. Her poetry fills more than 20 pages in the anthology “African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle & Song.” Read this interview with the editor, Kevin Young (@NMAAHCdirector), for more: https://t.co/cIGtrkQw3z

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

Are we recycling this iconic photograph for this month’s #ArchivesHashtagParty? Yes. Yes, we are.

#ArchivesPets

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

October's #ArchivesHashtagParty theme is all things university and education?!? We got this!

We're starting off #ArchivesU with our favorite picture of any JMU president...Ronald Carrier and Prissy the cat!

#GoDukes

[Archival Resources of the Virginias @ARVASarchives]

Student organizations make campus life fun. Check-out how @upbjmu has been doing that for over 50 years! Their records in @JMUSpeColl contain scrapbooks, posters, & fliers documenting events, concerts, & activities organized by the UPB.
https://t.co/OE6wZ1N2FM

@JMUlibraries

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

Congratulations, Class of 2024!

#GoDukes #JMU24

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

@sabrinaamorenoo Of course!

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

Scenes from September 1996 when heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Fran caused JMU to cancel classes.

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

"Scrapbooks can have acidic and/or brittle papers, failing and/or staining adhesives from glues and tapes, corroded fasteners like staples and paperclips, tears, losses, distorted pages from excessive inclusions..."

Their preservation issues abound but we love them anyway!

[State Archives of NC @NCArchives]

Learn more about the preservation of scrapbooks and archival scrapbooking this Preservation Week! Head over to our blog to learn how you can make informed scrapbook-making decisions, as well as preserve scrapbooks, new and old, in your home!
https://t.co/yygkNTCp9v

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

May 28, 1900: "This morning we had a fine view at the Eclipse of the sun. The line of totality was in line with Norfolk. Here at our place it lasted from 7:40 to 10:10. Somewhat cloudy and not an extra fine view.”
--Ezra Minnick Sr. of Timberville, Virginia

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

In March, we go dancing! Congrats to @JMUMBasketball for winning the Sun Belt Conference Championship, ensuring a spot in the 2024 NCAA tournament!

Check out these shots from the 1982 tourney 🏀 JMU beat OSU in the 1st round but lost in a heartbreaker to UNC (and MJ) in the 2nd.

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

So excited for you, Zach! Go Shenandoah Valley archivists!

[Zach Hottel @ZachHottel]

I am happy to share I was elected MARAC's 2024-2025 Chair-Elect and 2025-2026 Chair

I'm excited for this opportunity to serve MARAC/our members & am overwhelmed that a lone arranger from tiny ShenCo can be the face of such a wonderful organization

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

Weir served in the Army from 1949-1977 and received numerous decorations & commendations over the course of her military career including the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Award. Weir was the first woman to command a brigade-sized male unit.

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

A member of Madison College’s Class of 1949, Frances Weir (1927-2023) enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), the women’s branch of the U.S. Army, soon after graduating with a BS in Business.

#InternationalWomensDay

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

Leap Day is over and March (aka #WomensHistoryMonth) is here so check out these students dissecting frogs.

#ArchivesHashtagParty #ArchivesWomenInSTEM

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

Join alumni members of JMU's Contemporary Gospel Singers for a virtual panel discussion tonight at 7PM!

More info here: https://t.co/bwlDIj7zxF

Co-sponsored by @JMUCMSS and @JMUcampushist

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

RIP Lefty Driesell (1931-2024)

(Seen here with JMU president Ronald Carrier on August 2, 1988.)

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

In May 2022, we acquired materials from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. via generous donation. JMU's chapter of ΔΣΘ was established in December 1971.

These materials (scrapbooks, realia, photos) are in process and will be available for researchers soon!

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

Happy #GalentinesDay to all who celebrate! It's only the best day of the year. 💝

(Members of the Madison College class of 1958 during a hiking excursion atop Massanutten Peak.)

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

You don't want to miss this opportunity to hear from Contemporary Gospel Singers alumni!

More information and registration: https://t.co/bwlDIj7zxF

[JMU Special Collections @JMUSpeColl]

Bernice Jones Smith photograph album - now available for research!

This photo album, compiled by Bernice Jones, documents members of Staunton's African-American community, likely friends and family of Bernice.

https://t.co/5SK5Twbdfn