Archives & Special Collections student assistants work with some of the most rare and unique materials on LMU’s campus. From Their Perspective: Student Assistant Discoveries in A&SC, a 2013 exhibit curated by the students themselves, featured some of these objects and why the students found them interesting, compelling or, simply, fun. This post is the first of four installments highlighting what the students uncovered. Below are some exhibit selections:
Michael Morgenstern, a History Major, made a thought-provoking observation concerning postcards found in A&SC’s Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection:
“These are two postcards from Germany. The first one, postmarked August 15, 1933, has a stamp of President von Hindenburg and the second postcard, postmarked June 10, 1942, has a stamp of Adolf
Hitler. The stamps are significant to Germany history. Hitler came to power in 1933. Hindenberg characterized an older generation of Germany, and was unpopular with the youth who worried about Germany’s future. This was one thing Hitler was able to use to his advantage in appealing to them. Maybe this is unintentional, but it is interesting that Hindenberg is facing backwards, towards the past, and Hitler is facing forward, towards a new Germany.”
English Major Rachel Deras was drawn to the Which Way, L.A.? Collection. In her
reflection, Rachel explains her experience of working on the collection as well
as the delight of working with Clay Stalls, A&SC’s Manuscripts Curator:
“Which Way, L.A.? has been a large part of my Spring 2013 semester. Working closely with Manuscripts Curator Clay Stalls, I was able to help create its online finding aid. A finding aid serves as a guide to a collection. It typically provides an overview of the 
collection’s history and provenance as well as a detailed description of its contents.
Which Way, L.A.?, hosted by Warren Olney, advertises itself as discussing “Issues Southern Californians Care About.” While working through this collection, I realized that I, a native of Los Angeles, had never heard of the show. For a few months now I have been listening to both old and new episodes and I have really enjoyed tuning in to Warren Olney discussing the topics that impact the citizens of Los Angeles.”
I cherish my time spent working with Clay Stalls on this collection and learning about something new that I can really appreciate. I suggest that if you have the time, stop by and listen to some of the audio cassettes or read the transcripts. As a student, faculty, or staff
member of LMU the topics discussed on this radio program are bound to relate to your life in one way or another.
Art History Major Bri Wong went the literary route with her selection of Arabian Nights, or, A Thousand and One Nights:
“Arabian Nights consists of 1,001 stories that take place in what is now considered the Middle East. The
work is a frame narrative in which a new bride named Scheherazade tells her husband, King Shahryar, 1,001 tales as a way to postpone her execution. LMU’s 1838 edition contains the complete 1,001 stories, while the 1898 edition is written for children and contains only a few of the more popular stories such as ‘The Seven Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor.’ It is my personal goal to read all 1,001 tales.”