Page 4 - Windows Newsletter Spring 2016

Message from WINDOWS Library Acquires Manuscript Diary

the Dean Volume 28, No. 2 of Sarah Bowdoin Dearborn

Spring 2016
It is spring time! Let’s hope that these moderate
temperatures continue before the heat tells us that it S pecial Collections has acquired the manuscript diary of Sarah Bowdoin Dearborn which she kept while her husband, Henry
is summer. Our big event this spring, An Evening Dearborn, served as United States minister plenipotentiary to Portugal. The diary covers the period 9 July 1823 to 7 July 1824 in
of Great Conversation, offered a most enjoyable over 400 pages.
night of fine dining and engaging conversations ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
with prominent table hosts. We have had such wonderful compliments that we A previously unknown diary of Henry Dearborn’s wife, kept while he was serving as minister plenipotentiary in Portugal. Dearborn
intend to plan such an event again in the future. Special thanks to Shelda Dean Dr. June Koelker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean (1751-1829) had a distinguished career as an officer in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812. He served as Secretary of
for designing such a memorable event. Tracy Hull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Associate Dean War, collector of the port of Boston, and as a congressman from Massachusetts. In 1822 he was appointed minister to Portugal by
James Lutz . . . . . ..Director of Administrative Services James Monroe, a post he held for two years. He was accompanied in Portugal by his wife, Sarah Bowdoin (widow of James Bowdoin,
Kerry Bouchard . . . . .Director of Automated Systems
We are living the dream in a beautiful TCU library! Students made themselves 1752-1811). During her first year in Lisbon, Sarah Dearborn kept no diary and she explains this fact in the first entry of the present
right at home last semester when the renovated Library opened. It is rewarding diary. Beginning on July 9, 1823 and continuing through the voyage home a year later, she kept the present daily journal.
to see such extensive use of the new facilities. There is more exciting DEPARTMENT HEADS
building news in our immediate future. The interior of the West side of the Cari Alexander . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Head of Music/Media Entries range in length from one or two sentences to two full pages and more. Almost every entry describes in detail the Dearborns’
building will undergo significant improvement this summer. Plans include Dennis Gibbons . . . Head of Collection Development dinner companions, noting the positions of the men and the social attributes of the women. She always notes the arrival and
new furniture, carpeting and painting on two floors near the West entrance Dennis Odom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head of Acquisitions departure of dignitaries. The diarist comments on local customs, houses and the living arrangements of both the foreign officials
(University Drive). We want the interior of the building on the West side to Cheryl Sassman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Head of Circulation and of the locals. She was a close observer of the domestic situations of her companions: their children, personalities, education and
match the beauty of the entrance. Sally Sorensen . . . . .Head of Cataloging & Periodicals general accomplishments.

So what does one do after celebrating such a major milestone? In our case, Shelda Dean .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Editor In all, a journal, offering insight into the public as well as the domestic life of an American diplomat’s family in western Europe in the
we began a review process to replace the library’s computer system. Largely early 19th century. The journal is completely unknown, having descended in the Dearborn family until the present time.
behind the scenes, the library’s computer system tracks thousands of invoices
and circulation transactions each year. Library staff modify those financial CONTRIBUTORS *Record 30039* [Dearborn, Sarah Bowdoin]: [MANUSCRIPT DIARY OF SARAH BOWDOIN DEARBORN, KEPT IN LISBON
records to create bibliographic computer records (analogous to the old 3 x 5 June Koelker WHILE HER HUSBAND, HENRY DEARBORN, WAS SERVING AS U.S. MINISTER TO PORTUGAL]. Lisbon. July 9, 1823 -
inch library cards) for thousands of items each year, and finally, the computer Roger Rainwater July 7, 1824. Over 400 complete pages. Quarto. Original green boards. Spine perished, front board detached, slight wear to extremities. Very good. In a half
system creates word indices so that all of this information is findable and morocco and cloth box.
integrated with existing computer records. We will also put the entire text
database (close to 2 million records) through an “authorities” outsourced
project. Many geographical places change their names over time. Years ago,
as an example, we added Beijing as a word to the computer records that used
Peking for the capital of China. These new names are standardized text that
are added to the database. Today place names such as Yugoslavia, USSR and
Bombay have all changed in recent years. We want students to find library THEATER
material by both the old and new names to improve the usefulness of the
database. OPENS

If you have not visited the Library recently, please do so. It’s always a place to
be! TO THE TCU

Sincerely Stay Connected With Us COMMUNITY

Facebook: facebook.com/tculibrary
Twitter: @tculibrary
June Koelker, Dean YouTube: youtube.com/user/TCULibrary101
Instagram: tculibrary
THE SCREENING ROOM IS NOW OPEN TO THE TCU COMMUNITY! After months of preparation, the Screening
Room is ready for prime time. The Screening Room is a small theater seating space (12 persons) for activities involving the viewing
of media such as movies, presentations or images via Air Media. It is available to current members of the TCU and Brite Divinity
School community on a first come, first served basis with a reserved maximum of four hours. It may be reserved up to three weeks in
advance.
4 TCU Library Spring 2016 13