Department Blog

Special Collections

Exhibit for April: Diamond Jubilee of the Shields Library Building: 1940-2015

March 28th, 2016 by Sara Gunasekara

The year 2015 marked 75 years since the building, now known as the Peter J. Shields Library, opened.

Now through April 2016, Special Collections presents an expanded version of our previous exhibit, Diamond Jubilee of the Shields Library Building: 1940-2015. The exhibit, located in the cases in front of Special Collections, features highlights of the main library building drawing on materials from several University Archives collections including the University Archives Photographs.

Do you know which Sacramento buildings were designed by the same architects as the north wing of the Library? What happened to the Library during World War II? How long was the construction of the west wing? Stop by the exhibit to find out the answers to these questions and more!

North wing of the Library, circa 1940

North wing of the Library, circa 1940

 

On This Day: Planting the Centennial Tree on March 28, 1968

March 28th, 2016 by Sara Gunasekara

Today’s On This Day post take us to March 28, 1968 and the dedication of the centennial tree. In the image below from the University Archives Photographs, Chancellor Emil Mrak and Vera Mrak planted a magnolia tree at Howard Way and Russell Boulevard to commemorate the centennial of the founding of the University of California and the 63rd anniversary of the act of the Legislature establishing the University Farm.

Planting the centennial tree, March 28, 1968

Planting the centennial tree, March 28, 1968

 

 

 

Apples for Johnny Appleseed Day

March 11th, 2016 by Sara Gunasekara

In celebration of Johnny Appleseed Day today, here is an image from the Ellen Schutt Pomological Watercolors. Ellen Isham Schutt (1873-1955) was an illustrator with the United States Department of Agriculture who was active from 1904-1914. This collection contains 286 original watercolors of fruits, mostly apples, rendered by Schutt for the University of California. The watercolors illustrate examples of a variety of conditions including cold storage, core rot, injury damage, and moth damage, among others. The apples are usually shown in two views: a full view and a half section. The watercolors are available online here.

Ben Davis, Mendocino Co., California, 1915 July.

Ben Davis, Mendocino Co., California, 1915 July.

 

 

New online exhibit: Celebrating A Century of the Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department

March 10th, 2016 by Sara Gunasekara

The Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department celebrated its centennial with a gala dinner held at Shields Library on October 3, 2015. As part of the celebration, Special Collections created an exhibit with highlights from the department’s first century. That exhibit is now presented online.

Agricultural Engineering class in Irrigation Machinery lab, undated.

Agricultural Engineering class in Irrigation Machinery lab, undated.

 

National Pancake Day

March 8th, 2016 by Sara Gunasekara

In celebration of National Pancake Day today, here is a photograph from the Milton Halberstadt Papers.

Seven pancakes in a round cast iron pan, undated.

Seven pancakes in a round cast iron pan, undated.

 

On This Day: From the March 8, 1916 Weekly Agricola

March 8th, 2016 by Sara Gunasekara

Today’s On This Day post features an article from the March 8, 1916 Weekly Agricola newspaper which announced the formation of a Fire Department for the University Farm.

You can find more information about the history of the UC Davis Fire Department on their website.

 

March 8, 1916 Weekly Agricola

March 8, 1916 Weekly Agricola
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