EIU Booth Library

Exhibits 2007

• Living the Dream: Decades of Achievement by African Americans

  This exhibit is in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and his birthday celebration, and will be on display throughout January. Created by curator Johnson Kofi Kuma and graphic artists Bev Cruse and Jonathan Crask.

• African American Literature Exhibit

  Reference Hall. On display throughout January. This exhibit consists of a selection of works by African American authors.

• Gerald Ford and His 1974 Visit to Eastern

  President Ford gave a speech in Lantz Gym in front of a large crowd, and it was apparently one of the highlights of Eastern's Diamond Jubilee Celebration. This exhibit, featured on the Channel 3 News, will be on display throughout January. Curator: Robert Hillman, university archivist.

• Library Luncheon Exhibit

  This exhibit brings together commemorative plates and other table service items honoring selected university and public libraries in Illinois. These items are from the Special Collections of Booth Library.

• Farm Life Exhibit Coming to Booth

  In the Spring semester, Booth Library will host a national traveling exhibition entitled Farm Life: A Century of Change for Farm Families and Their Neighbors. The month long exhibition will open the week of February 5, 2007 and close the week of March 5. It has been made possible through NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mid-America Arts Alliance, and the Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

• Library Exhibit: The Africans

  "The Africans: Focus on Ghana -- the Land of Gold, Cocoa and Kente," an exhibit recently added to commemorate EIU's African-American Heritage Month celebration, will be on display in the South Lobby throughout the month of February. The curator is Johnson Kofi Kuma and graphic artists are Bev Cruse and Jonathan Crask.

• Farm Life: A Century of Change for Farm Families & Their Neighbors

  Booth Library will host a national traveling exhibition entitled Farm Life: A Century of Change for Farm Families and Their Neighbors. The month long exhibition will open the week of February 5, 2007 and close the week of March 5. It has been made possible through NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mid-America Arts Alliance, and the Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

• Immigrant Women Exhibit in North Lobby

  "Immigrant Women" is an exhibit of items contributed by women in the Charleston/EIU community to draw attention to the cultural diversity of East Central Illinois. The exhibit is part of Women's Studies' Women's History and Awareness Month celebration, which this year has a special focus on the experiences of immigrant women, past and present. The goal is to highlight the particular issues immigrant women face in contemporary American society as well as to celebrate the cultural and social contributions made by women from other parts of the world. This exhibit was organized by Sace Elder, History, and Kiran Padmaraju, Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Education. Special thanks to Stacey Knight-Davis and Bev Cruse.

• Immigrant Women Writers Exhibit

  Immigrant Women Writers is also part of Women's Studies' Women's History and Awareness Month celebration of immigrant women. The exhibit highlights the writings of women from diverse backgrounds in a variety of genres and disciplines. This exhibit is organized by Robin Murray, English, and Sace Elder, History, with special thanks to Bev Cruse and Stacey Knight-Davis.

• "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes"

  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Service (SACIS), located in Lawson Hall, would like for you to take a moment and view the display in the South Lobby of Booth Library. The display contains shoes, poetry and startling facts in reference to Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse. The shoes in this exhibit were created by, and represent, the thoughts and feelings of victims of sexual assault/abuse and their significant others (parents, spouses, friends, etc.). Many of the shoes represent the pain and anguish experienced following the abuse, while others represent a state of empowerment as survivors attempt to "take back their lives". For more information, please contact the SACIS office at 348-5033.

• Grapes of Wrath Exhibit

  This new exhibit, located in the Marvin Foyer, is part of the campus-wide One Book, One University program. The exhibit highlights the novel and biographical information on John Steinbeck, and will be on display through the month of May. Organized by Janice Derr.

• President Hencken Exhibit

  President Hencken is being honored with an exhibit depicting events in his career at Eastern, from his student days in the 1960s, through his days as Housing Director, Vice President for Student Affairs, and President. Consisting of images, yearbooks, other university publications, newspaper articles and interesting memorabilia, the exhibit is on display in the Marvin Foyer, now through June 30.

• Banned Books Week Display

  Books They Don't Want You To Read is a new exhibit in the Booth Library Marvin Foyer in observance of Banned Books Week, September 29-October 6, 2007. The books on display are a sampling of titles that have been challenged on banned. The exhibit, curated by Jocelyn Tipton, will be or display until early October.

• How well do you know the Constitution?

  How well do you know what this important document says about our rights? In observance of Constitution Day, a new exhibit, in the south lobby of Booth Library, highlights key points and interesting trivia about the United States Constitution. If you want to learn more, the exhibit also provides a sampling of the resources available in the library and encourages you to expand your knowledge and become a constitution expert. The exhibit will remain on display until the end of September.

• Lowney Handy and the Handy Writer's Colony

  In conjunction with the Embarrass Valley Film Festival, this exhibit features a collection of James Jones letters and autographed books, photographs, newspaper clippings, movie advertisements, magazine articles and other memorabilia relating to James Jones and the Handy family. Materials on loan from the collection of Patty Shonk. Jeanne Goble, Curator.

• Collection of World War II Memorabilia

  In conjunction with the Embarras Valley Film Festival's James Jones events in the month of September, Booth Library is pleased to host a collection of uniforms,helmets, and other items carried by American, British and German soldiers in the European and Pacific theaters of WWII. The items are on loan from Dan Crews, WWII collector and publicity / promotion specialist for the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. This display is located in the large exhibit case on the east side of Booth Library's north lobby.

• World War II and its Aftermath at Eastern

  Exhibits depicting life at Eastern before and after World War II and profiles of students and faculty who contributed to the national effort in that war are on display in the north lobby and Marvin Foyer of Booth Library. Highlights of the exhibit include war heroes Charles B. Hall (the first black fighter pilot to down a Nazi aircraft) and Carlos Ogden, who earned a Congressional Medal of Honor for attacking a German gun emplacement. Dozens of archival photos and other materials depict the lives and accomplishments of Eastern students and faculty during the war. This exhibit is presented in conjunction with the Embarras Valley Film Festival, celebrating the life and works of author James Jones.

• Film Versions of The Scarlet Letter

  This exhibit highlights five film adaptations of Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter. Located in the Marvin Foyer through November. Curators: Janice Derr and Karen Whisler.

• Eastern's Presidents and Their Inaugurations

  In conjunction with the inauguration of President William Perry, Booth Library has prepared an exhibit featuring pictures of past presidents of Eastern, including documents and artifacts related to their inaugurations. This exhibit is located in the north lobby. Bob Hillman, curator.

• Nontraditional Student Week Display

  The School of Continuing Education has installed an exhibit to highlight Nontraditional Student Week, which will be celebrated Nov. 12-16 at EIU. Highlighted in the display are selected photographs of some of Eastern's nontraditional students. The exhibit is located in the Marvin Foyer.

• Native American Heritage Month

  Selected books on Native American language, literature, religion, history, and art from Booth Library's collection are in display in the South Lobby throughout November.

• Holiday Exhibits

  Booth Library celebrates the holiday season with five displays: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Eid-ul-Adha and Winter Solstice Celebrations.

  Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights, is an annual exhibit displayed in Booth Library during this season. Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday, beginning on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which this year begins at sundown on Dec. 4. With blessings, games and festive foods, Hanukkah celebrates the triumphs -- both religious and military -- of ancient Jewish heroes. On display in the Reference Hall East until January 2008.

  Symbols of Christmas is an annual exhibit on display in Booth Library during this season by curator Allen Lanham. In America, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Dec. 25. Decorations commonly found in Christian homes include the Nativity scene and Christmas ornaments. This exhibit will be on display in the Reference Hall East until January 2008.

  Kwanzaa: Celebrating the first fruits of the harvest, is an annual exhibit on display in Booth Library during this season by curator Johnson Kofi Kuma and graphic artists Bev Cruse and Jonathan Crask. Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration by African-Americans in commemoration of their experiences in America. The celebration lasts seven days (from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1). Each day is marked by the lighting of one of the seven candles, followed by prayers, food, music and dancing, reading and telling of stories, and other activities. On display in the Reference Hall West until January 2008.

  Eid-ul-Adha -- History and Origin. Eid-ul-Adha marks the end of Hajj, the sacred pilgrimage to the holy city Mecca. Also popularly known as the Festival of Sacrifice, this Muslim holiday commemorates Prophet Abraham's unselfish act of sacrificing his own son Ishmael to the One God, Allah. An exhibit on Eid-ul-Adah, with photos of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca and pictures of Muslims from the local area, will be on display in the Marvin Foyer until January 2008. Special thanks to Murad Sardar for bringing the exhibit together.

  Winter Solstice Celebrations. A bulletin board in the Marvin Foyer displays information on winter solstice celebrations. It includes Yule, celebrated by Wiccans and followers of other traditional and nature-based religions; Dong Zhi, celebrated in China; and the more recent practice of atheist and humanist organizations of holding parties on the solstice. This exhibit will be on display until January 2008.