UNR Special Collections and University Archives

It’s National Archives Month, and the annual #AskAnArchivist Day is next Thursday, October 16. Got questions about archives and archivists? Just ask! Questions of any level of experience or seriousness are all welcome!

For more information: www2.archivists.org/initiatives/...

The Bruce and Nora James Visiting Scholar Award for the Study of Nevada Politics and Public Service | University Libraries | University of Nevada, Reno Learn more about and apply for the Bruce & Nora James Visiting Scholar Award for the Study of Nevada Politics and Public Service.

Seeking applicants for the 2026 James Award! This annual $5,000 prize supports scholars pursuing research in the political collections held here in Special Collections. Apply today! library.unr.edu/places/knowl... #academicsky #ResearchFunding #ApplicationsOpen

Two panels of open book, attached with translucent ribbons. The lower visible panel has a yellow background and orange maple leaf print, with small black printed letters for the title and publisher. The upper panel shows a lily-like plant with green leaves and red pointed petals and stamens, on an untinted background.

Not much autumn color yet around here, so we’re turning to artist’s books like “An Autumn Garden” by Claire Lawson-Hall and Muriel Mallows (2000). The book has a “Jacob’s Ladder” structure and fits easily in the palm of your hand - an excellent example of good things coming in small packages.

Holy MOLY.

a man in a sweater with the letter a on his chest Alt: Captain Kirk slams his fist on a control panel and yells in frustration.

That feeling when you're writing an exhibit and realize you left the hardest bits for last.

Take note, fellow learning enthusiasts!

for real! they're too big!

Pen sketches of three heads and profiles, with more eye-nose combinations alongside.

Sketch of classical statuary-style nude female bust, looking to the side.

Rough sketch of full-length human form in long garment.

Sketch of a head in partial profile and nude human form from the rear.

We love finding doodles in antique books! This 1868 copy of Horace Greeley’s memoir, “Recollections of a Busy Life,” was at some point owned by someone who enjoyed drawing. Both front and rear endpapers feature sketches! No clues as to whether these were drawn from life, memory, or pure imagination.

Can't say this is entirely a shock :D

In the Sep 4, 1863 Territorial Enterprise, Mark Twain expressed his preference for the name Lake Bigler over Lake Tahoe. t.co/RupjeI0sch
"I hope some bird will catch this Grub the next time he calls Lake Bigler by so disgustingly sick and silly a name as "Lake Tahoe.""

Elspeth Olson, Assistant Professor and Outreach Public Service Archivist at the University of Nevada, Reno, discussed her article "Scaffolded Assignments and Embedded Archivists: A Critical… portal Interview with Elspeth Olson

It was wonderful to speak with Elspeth Olson about her recent portal article, "Scaffolded Assignments and Embedded Archivists: A Critical Assessment of the Themes in Archival Instruction Literature, 2013-2023." Read the full article on our preprint site.
@lunabrd.bsky.social @unr-scua.bsky.social

Nope. Don't like that!

Art professor Eunkang Koh visited us yesterday to take a look and was able to confirm our suspicions that the prints are mostly ukiyo-e or painted, and tentatively date them to the 19th and possibly very early 20th centuries. We so appreciate the assistance and expertise of our faculty members!

Black and white woodblock print showing two gray mice investigating a daikon radish several times their size.

Normally, rodents in the archives are a huge problem - but in this case they’re just super cute! This half-page Japanese print is one of a number of Asian artworks on our uncatalogued backlog shelves - including copies of works by masters of the art form like Hokusai and Harunobu.

Archival appraisal is a craft and it can be taught.

My and @boxreceiver.bsky.social 's chapter on archival appraisal is available as a pre-print here: digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/libr_pubs/77/. It's very, very practical and it centers our values. We would love your feedback!

How Europe's oldest language ended up on US trees The US' Basque immigrants turned to sheepherding in order to survive. Today, their legacy can be found in unique wooden tree carvings they left throughout the American West.

Very excited for our colleagues at the Jon Bilbao Basque Library - featured in a story by the BBC!! www.bbc.com/travel/artic...

Y'ALL. AMAZING.

It's National Photography Day! Have you checked out the digital Special Collections Photograph Collection recently? unr.dgicloud.com/special-coll...

Hmmmm. Having to think about this. Consulting with colleagues!

Stylized photograph of University gates with people in historic clothing. Color tinted in pseudo-watercolor style.

As students begin returning to campus for fall semester, we like to share this image of the University entrance, circa 1910. It’s featured on one of the postcards we hand out at events. If you’re familiar with the gates on south campus, you’ll recognize familiar features. Looks pretty different now!

Plus the appalling handwriting and folks who've insisted on writing in marker on both sides of onionskin paper!

We entirely understand this. Many of us have historical nemesis, frequently because of their impossible handwriting!

Infographic titled Just Published. It features the cover of 𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨: 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩 by John M. Glionna, ISBN 9781647792077, the publication date of August 12, 2025, the University of Nevada Press logo and the website unpress.nevada.edu

We are proud to announce the release of 𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨: 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩 by John M. Glionna.

Click here to learn more, and purchase your own copy today: unpress.nevada.edu/978164779207...

#UniversityOfNevadaPress #Nonfiction #AmericanWest

Dear friends and patrons, please be advised that new students begin arriving on campus on Thursday, August 14. Campus, especially the library, will be very crowded! If you plan to visit us next week, we encourage planning your trip for Monday-Wednesday.

Black hexagonal box with hexagonal book based on “Ever dream of this man” meme.

Hot pink molded snake head opens at the “mouth” to reveal it’s the lid of a box holding a tiny pink and purple book.

Small, narrow book bound in black leather and muted gold silk, with heavy, textured brass metal slipcase.

Book made of “trash” and entitled I AM NOT A WASTE. the spine is made of twigs and advertisements.

Artist’s book mail!! We acquired five pieces by UNR alum Emiland Kray and had a fun time experimenting with their structures and content while unboxing them. The new books are entitled Arrhythmia, Dream Eats Memory, I AM NOT A WASTE, Ever Dream of This Man?, and Book of Shadows. Sample photos below.

Oh hey there, Governor Mr. President!

A most excellent mustache, too.

The story of Reno's Chinatown is the focus of one of the archives lesson plans we offer faculty!

Black and white photo of a snowy clearing in a mountain forest. A dogsled team with a driver in heavy cold weather gear traverse the frame from left to right. The snow appears to be less than a foot deep.

We’re in the dog days of summer, so a cool image of a dog sled team in the Sierra snow is a relief! The dog days mark the hot, lethargic part of the summer when Sirius, the dog star, rises and sets in unison with the sun.
Photo: Dog sled team, possibly driven by JE Church, c1910. UNRS-P0454-2.

We can FEEL this image. *shudder*