News & Blog

\`är-kīv\

noun: a place in which public records or historical documents are preserved; also : the material preserved – often use in plural

verb: to collect and store materials (such as recordings, documents, or computer files) so that they can be found and used when they are needed

October is American Archives Month. Designed to raise awareness about the importance of archives, archivists around the country use Archives Month to highlight collections in their care. This year, staff of the UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives has curated an exhibit looking at the types of materials we collect, how we preserve and make those materials available, and some of the challenges facing archivists today. Included in the exhibit is memorabilia found in University Archives; examples of analog and digital materials and the challenges facing preserving and making these materials available for research; and various types of ephemeral material found within the department. Cases in the exhibit also highlight conservation work done by departmental staff and various tasks archivists undertake when processing archival collections. The exhibit will be on display October 24, 2016 to January 31, 2017, in the John C. Hitt Library 5th floor exhibit area adjacent to Special Collections and University Archives.

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This exhibit of materials from UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives features items from the NASA Photograph Collection, NASA Ephemera Collection, Wagar Space Collection, Scott H. Simpkinson Papers, and University Archives. The exhibit emphasizes the importance of learning from the past and documents the local history of the space agency, Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and its missions from the 1950s to present day. The exhibit will be on display June 13 to September 2, 2016, in the John C. Hitt Library 5th floor exhibit area adjacent to Special Collections and University Archives. (more…)

Florida artist Joy Postle Blackstone pioneered the art of depicting Florida wildlife like no other. She was deeply inspired by the sights, sounds, and scents of nature from an early age and this greatly influenced her as both an artist and as a writer. She developed her talent for capturing the world around her through mediums such as oil paints, watercolors, pencil sketches, pen and ink, as well as the written word though her writings and poetry. Joy’s dedication to her art propelled her through the hardships of the Great Depression, and she persevered. Her passion and devotion to her work has earned Joy a special place in the history of Central Florida. (more…)

During the month of February, Alzo J. Reddick, educator and politician, is honored with a display in the John C. Hitt Library, mounted by UCF’s Africana Studies Department. You may recognize Alzo Reddick’s name as the creator of UCF’s Soldiers to Scholars program. But take a look at the exhibit: you’ll see the important roles Alzo Reddick has played in Florida throughout his career.

The UCF Libraries Special Collections & University Archives is pleased to announce the UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit. Each year since 2005, Special Collections & University Archives invites UCF students to submit one of a kind books called artist’s books. Unlike traditional books, artist’s books are handmade to reflect personal artistic visions of their creators ranging from narrative storytelling through but not limited to drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and/or personal text. The UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit is a showcase of all entries created during the 2015 academic calendar year including past winners.

We are pleased to announce our winner is Nikki Navaille for her artist’s book “Stitched”. The winner was selected with the highest scores from our two judges – Brooklyn-based multimedia book artist Miriam Schaer, and UCF Head of Special Collections & University Archives David Benjamin, based on creativity, craftsmanship, content, and design. “Stitched” elegantly narrates the artist’s struggle of sewing clothing and costumes. Using multiple pattern pieces and fabric scraps from major sewing projects in her life as pages in her book, Navaille skillfully crafted these personal materials together while incorporating detailed text sewn with a sewing machine. Nikki Navaille won a purchase award for her artist’s book to be part of the permanent Book Arts & Typography Collection at Special Collections & University Archives. To celebrate the innovative work of all the participants, the UCF Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit will be on display during the month of February 2016 in the exhibition area on the 5th Floor of the John C. Hitt Library.