Category: Research Assistance

Research Assistance

Research Assistance for Library Research Scholars

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Aerial View of the Orange Bowl, 1964, The UM Historical Photograph Collection
Aerial View of the Orange Bowl, 1964, The UM Historical Photograph Collection

Richter Library started a new innovative program “Library Research Scholars” this academic year, which offers UM’s undergraduate students a unique, librarian faculty-mentored learning experience involving a deep and active engagement with the University of Miami Libraries’ research collections and service programs.

Library Research Scholars Program
2015-16 Library Research Scholars

Although none of the seven scholars picked university history as their research subject, we have been able to assist four of them with our collections and expertise. For the two research scholars who researched on the Orange Bowl, the best resource is available at the Special Collections. However, the Office of the President Records can provide unique materials about early history and UM’s involvement in the legendary bowl game. We do not have computer skills to help the scholar who has been developing a campus walking tour app, but she also needed historical content, such as UM buildings and landmarks as well as images for the program. The fourth scholar did not need UM’s historical resources, but I was asked to assist him with my knowledge of Japanese history and art as well as Richter’s collection on Japanese subjects. We are also offering exhibition assistance for the the scholars who will curate exhibitions later this summer.

Through this engaging program, we hope more faculty and students of the University will discover that historical resources of the University of Miami can be excellent research and teaching material on subjects, such as local history, architecture, diversity, social movements, Cuban exiles and their experience in the U.S., and origin of cultural institutions in Miami.

Water Skiers on Lake Osceola, 1930, UM Historical Photograph Collection
Water Skiers on Lake Osceola, 1930, UM Historical Photograph Collection
Events, In the News, Research Assistance

UM Historical Materials Showcased at Inauguration 2016

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Written by Koichi Tasa and Sarah Block

Staff and student assistants at the University Archives recently caught a glimpse of the enormous effort in producing large-scale events when they assisted in planning the celebration of President Frenk’s inauguration, which took place during the last week of January 2016.

The University Archives, which houses a vast expanse of records documenting the history of the University of Miami, provided research and exhibition assistance for the “Firsts at UM” event on January 27 in the Newman Alumni Center as well as the inaugural ceremony, which was held on January 29 at the Bank United Center.

Koichi Tasa says December to January was the busiest time in the decade he has served as University Archivist. “In these months, we gained valuable experience through collaboration with colleagues outside of the UM Libraries,” Tasa said. “We were proud to help bring UM history to life through the materials we preserve.”

President Frenk holding the Second Ceremonial Mace of the UM.
President Frenk holding the Second Ceremonial Mace of the UM. Photo Courtesy of University Communications.

Working with the Office of the President, University Communications, and other University departments, Tasa and his staff culled information as well as artifacts, including more than 300 high-resolution images for a video that aired at the event and past inaugural addresses and programs from three previous inauguration ceremonies.

The department’s materials were also featured in an exhibit at “Firsts at UM,” in which President Frenk and UM historian and author Arva Moore Parks discussed key moments throughout the 90-year history of the U. Guests, including several pioneers and trailblazers, viewed and engaged with prized memorabilia such as the second commencement mace of the University and the commencement cap and gown worn by the first University president Ashe. Official portraits of the former five UM presidents, also housed by the Archives, were on display.

“Inauguration 2016 was an opportunity, in addition to showcasing our collections and services, to take an active part in the history as it’s being made,” Tasa says. “An unexpected benefit from this experience was that we got to learn more about our wonderful colleagues, who are already proposing ideas for the U’s centennial celebration in 2026.”

In order to assist in facilitating these ideas, Tasa says the University Archives plans to reach out to more schools, departments, and student groups to archive their organizational history. “We believe that such efforts would be a tremendous help for the next historian to write a new book about the University of Miami at the centennial anniversary.”

Research Assistance

Research assistance for Distraction Magazine

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Distraction, February 2016 article on UM history
Distraction February 2016 article on UM History

We were happy to discover the two articles “Retro Miami: The History of UM” and “Bridging The Gap: Colored Students Were Not Allowed at the University of Miami Until 1961” in the February 2016 issue of Distraction Magazine, as we provided research assistance for their student journalists who wrote the stories.

The University Archives have been working closely with student journalists of The Miami Hurricane and IBIS by providing research assistance on UM history, archiving their publications from the first issue in 1927 to present, and making them accessible online for the UM community to research news and events as well as understand students and campus life from the past.

Please go to the link below for our digital collection of UM’s historical resources. Please do not hesitate to contact us for research and archival assistance for your organizational records and publications.

University of Miami Archives Digital Collections

Distraction February 2016 article on diversity at the U
Distraction February 2016 article on diversity at the U