University of Rochester Ephemera
GREETING CARDS University of Rochester Holiday cards (circa 2001-2008) The most common image for University holiday cards—issued by the offices of the President, Library Deans, Advancement, and others—is Rush Rhees Library, especially the exterior. Less common are these interior images highlighting the stained-glass window in the Welles-Brown Room, the library's front doors, and the historic printers' marks featured on the Grand Staircase.
ALMANACS Frosh Bible (1939/40), UR Here (2001/02) These annual publications were created to inform freshman of major events in the school year, traditions, history, and academic regulations. The calendars note the kinds of events (parties, annual lectures) for which there is often little other evidence in the Archives.
“POLITICAL” EPHEMERA This oversized pinback was created by the Advancement Office to promote special levels of annual giving. The Presidents' Society (begun in 1969) was named to honor our first four presidents—Rush Rhees, Martin Brewer Anderson, David Jayne Hill, and Alan Valentine. .
THEATRE PROGRAMS "The Skin of Our Teeth" (May 2-3, 1952); "Harem Scarem" (April 19-21, 1951) For over 150 years, students at the University have been performing in theatrical productions as extra-curricular activities and, since 1990, as part of the academic program. "Harem Scarem" was one of many original musical productions created by students in the "Quilting Club" (the name of the theatre troupe of the College for Men). Learn more about the history of theatre at the University.
MENUS Annual College Banquet (October 21, 1919); Christmas Banquet (December 15, 1938) The best-known annual feast at the University is the Boar's Head Dinner, and the menu has not changed much over more than 80 years. These two menus, one each for gatherings at the College for Men and the College for Women, give us a seat at the table to learn where and why they gathered, who was there, and most especially, what they ate!
TRADE CARDS "League of Librarians" cards for Susan Cardinal (Chemistry) and Kathy Wu (Government Documents) The University was included in several trade card series featuring colleges and universities produced between 1900 and 1920 by cigarette companies. The "League of Librarians" cards may be the only trade card series created by the River Campus Libraries and is intended to connect students with the library specialist for their research.
BOOK PLATES These are just a small representation of the many bookplates which identify gifts to the library's collections. The image of a sailing ship may signify the places that books may take us, at least in our imaginations. For his bookplate, James M. Spinning (Class of 1913) added the University's original seal as well as the crest of his fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi. Spinning served in the Naval Reserve during World War I.
SONGSTER Some Songs We Sing at Rochester (1904) Today we regularly sing just one of the over 70 songs included in this songster: "The Genesee" by Thomas T. Swinburne, class of 1892. But when the booklet was issued in 1904, students would regularly gather to sing as a way of building school and community spirit.
MATCHBOOKS Matchbooks for Todd Union, the Women's Faculty Club, Strong Memorial Hospital, and the Memorial Art Gallery, and [University of Rochester] President's House Matchbooks provide a means of advertising and also a miniature canvas for design, as evidenced especially by the use of the MAG logo. The Women's Faculty Club example pre-dates 1955, when the Colleges for Men and Women, and their faculties, merged on the River Campus. The University instituted a "Tobacco-Free Campuses" policy in 2017, and earlier "No smoking" policies included one in 1976 at the Medical Center and 1987 on all campuses in compliance with Monroe County legislation. .