Author Archives: mdilwort

Author Archives: mdilwort

Staying Sharp

Staying Sharp

, , Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
With the close of another semester, you’ll have a well-deserved break to spend time with family, catch up on pursuits you put off during the semester, and generally enjoy yourself. But the things you’ve learned – particularly critical thinking and how to research – can accentuate your everyday pleasures, too. For example, lots of us like to unwind after a long day with some time watching television. Plenty of TV shows and movies create immersive worlds for us to enjoy, but oftentimes the particulars have been changed to suit the dramatic narrative, and can give a skewed impression about what’s real and what isn’t. Maybe you watch history-inspired fiction on the History Channel, like Vikings, Knightfall, or The Curse of … Continued
News from the Archives – Semester Roundup

News from the Archives – Semester Roundup

, , , , Library Resources, Student Workers
This past semester, the archives has been very busy. We have a few ongoing projects, some new collections in the works, and a few updates. First, some ongoing projects… Bicentennial Oral History Project The Bicentennial Oral History Project is still happening! Oral History Assistant Ashley Clayton started with us this past August, contacting alumni and conducting interviews. This semester, Ashley interviewed 14 alumni, staff, and even a few faculty members, such as retired nursing professor Jane Vincent and current Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs T.J. Rivard. We also have online student Jennifer Haught, who started in October as our second Oral History Assistant, and she has been helping us with transcribing our interviews. So far, Jennifer has transcribed 13 … Continued
A few of my favorite things

A few of my favorite things

, Research
Raindrops on roses, warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages… these are somebody’s favorite things for sure. But for me, one thing’s for certain: there’s nothing I like more than learning as much as I can about my own favorite things. With the resources here on campus, I have plenty of opportunity to learn as much as I can. Favorite things: Cats! Who doesn’t love our feline overlords? According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are roughly 71 million pet cats in the United States alone – the most preferred (pre-furred?) pet in the country. For all their fuzzy charm, however, these popular, beloved, adorable animals are still something of an enigma to most people. For centuries, cats have been … Continued
A trip to China

A trip to China

, , Library Resources
Recently, the IU East Campus Library gained access to a marvelous set of historical databases covering cultures from all over the world. The Adam Mathew databases, powered by university collections and state institutions such as the British Library, cover historical documents from Central and South America, Asia and Africa. From missionary bulletins printed in Hong Kong to detailed reports from the East India Company, lots of surprises dwell within these amazing resources. Today, we’ll focus on China. The China: Trade Politics and Culture database spans 1793-1980 and covers everything from biographies and sales records to Chinese Christmas cards. The church bulletins are fascinating mostly for their diary-like entries on life in China in the 19th century and book reviews about … Continued
Around the World

Around the World

, , Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
The world is becoming a smaller place, and many students are incorporating travel to other countries into their college years. Studying abroad can be a boon to numerous degree fields – and not just the obvious ones, like a foreign language, international studies, literature, or humanities degree. Perhaps you want to get a job teaching English as a second language in another country. Perhaps you want to be involved in an international business. Or maybe you want to provide health care and training for humanitarian organizations. For all, you can benefit from the culture you experience and the contacts you’ll develop in an international program. IU East has many international programs and trips to choose from. Perhaps you’re thinking about … Continued