University of Dallas Cowan-Blakley Memorial Library

The University of Dallas honors Day of the Dead or Dia de Los Mu***os with an ofrenda table in the Cowan-Blakley Memorial Library. This ofrenda, adorned with vibrant marigolds, candles, and sugar skulls, is a heartfelt tribute to those who are no longer with us.🕯️ 🌼

As always, if you have any questions, ask our help desk or email us at [email protected]!

Read like a medieval scholar! Join us this Friday, September 29th from 7:30pm - 9:00pm at the University Archives in reading rare books by the candlelight! Our librarians will help you explore what it was like to read medieval manuscripts and early printed books at the time they were created. 🕯️

(No food or drink. Handwashing will be required.)

Location: University Archives (northwest side of Blakley, opposite the Fish Bowl)

The University of Dallas Library celebrates Ruby Ridges' Birthday! ✨ Ruby Nell Bridges Hall, born September 8, 1954, turns 69 years old this year. She is a pioneer of educational desegregation, as she was the first African American child to attend the all-white William Frantz Elementary School. She was escorted by four federal marshals at the elementary school every day for an entire year. She bravely walked past vicious crowds. The print shown here is by American artist Norman Rockwell; he perfectly captures Ruby's trailblazer spirit and her bravery.

Want to learn more? Email the library at [email protected] for help!

Painting: Norman Rockwell, The Problem We All Live With, 1963, oil on canvas, 36 x 58 inches.
(Join us in thanking our student worker, Martha, for creating this post!)

Today, the library celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, the first saint of the New World.

In 1580, he was appointed as the Archbishop of Lima, Peru, and set out for South America to take up his post. During his time in Peru, Saint Turibius worked tirelessly to improve the conditions of the indigenous population, often clashing with colonial authorities who exploited the native people.

He founded many schools and seminaries to train new priests and missionaries, and worked to promote the rights and dignity of the indigenous people. He also traveled extensively throughout Peru, preaching and administering the sacraments to people in remote and inaccessible areas.

Saint Turibius was known for his humility, austerity, and his deep concern for the welfare of others. He is remembered as a model of missionary zeal and pastoral care. He still inspires many today.

Want to learn more about Catholic Saints? Check out the Lower Level at the library or email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help!

Join the Cowan-Blakley Memorial Library and the community at 7:30 on Thursday 9 March in the Catholic Foundation Board Room of Cardinal Farrell Hall for a presentation by Dr. Shannen Dee Williams (University of Dayton). The talk will be "America's Real Sister Act: The Hidden History of Black Catholic Nuns in the United States," based on her recent book, Subversive Habits: Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle." You won't want to miss it!

What does a celebration of Black History Month mean to you? Create and share a poem or piece of visual art to be displayed in the Cowan-Blakley Memorial Library! All participants will receive a copy of Dr. Shannen Williams's "Subversive Habits: Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle."

We can't wait to see what you come up with!

MLK Day Celebration 2023 Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Dr., Shannen Williams: America's Real SIster Act: THe Hidden History of Black Catholic Nuns in the United States

On September 25th, World Day of Migrants and Refugees recognizes the trials and tribulations that many individuals undergo as well as the contributions made by millions of migrants and refugees across the globe. 🌍

Read the stories of how resilient men and women seek opportunity, safety, and freedom.

Need help finding one of these books or any other book? Email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help!

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 54% of U.S. adults 16-74 lack proficiency in literacy. These low levels of literacy could be costing the U.S. as much $2.2 trillion a year!

Today, International Literacy Day, let's think about how literacy statistics such as this have a huge impact on our overall society. It's always important to reach out and help change our communities for the better! 💕

To celebrate National , stop by the library and check out a book (or two) today! Reading books can change our world, one page at the time. 📚

Need help finding a specific book? Email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help!

Today, the library celebrates the birthday of John Locke! This English philosopher was born on August 29, 1632 in the small town of Wrington, United Kingdom. One of his most memorable writings was his theory of natural rights. He expresses that all individuals are born with certain "inalienable rights." Locke says that these God-given rights are "life, liberty, and property." 📖

Today, our Declaration of Independence echoes his writings. (And of course, the Core Curriculum carries his most impactful texts.)

Want to learn more about Locke by checking out a book such as "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding?" Email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help!

Today is Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta's Birthday! Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu was born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, North Macedonia. Inspired by her Roman Catholic faith, she founded the Missionaries of Charity which ultimately impacted the lives of thousands. In 1979, she was the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace. Today, her story inspires many to serve! 💕

Learn more about Saint Teresa's powerful legacy by checking out her biography; there are several at BX 4406.5 on the lower level of the library!

Any other saints you would like us to feature? Comment below.

Donate your old course books to the Groundhog Library! Join us in the Haggar foyer during inclement weather.

Celebrate Dia de los Mu***os! In collaboration with the UD Spanish Club, the Library displays an ofrenda on the first floor. We encourage participation—bring your own photos!. An ofrenda is a special altar to remember and honor those who have passed away with the purpose of keeping their memory alive. This practice originates from Mexico and Central America.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]!

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day, explore historical and contemporary Native American voices and perspectives from across Canada and the United States. Our library has a collection which helps UD students understand the meaning of Indigenous People's Day.

Need help finding these or any other resources? Email us at [email protected]!

Dr. Frederick Turner will be giving a public lecture on Lyric Poetry in conjunction with the Cowan Archive's seminar series this Fall. This is a wonderful opportunity to see each other in person and hear "Dallas's unofficial poet laureate" speak about something utterly timeless—poetry!

All are welcome, regardless of seminar participation. Dr. Turner has suggested that participants read "Among School Children" by W. B. Yeats before the lecture, as he will be concentrating on it in his talk.

Dr. Turner is a poet, a cultural critic, a playwright, a philosopher of science, an interdisciplinary scholar, an aesthetician, an essayist, and a translator, as well as the author of twenty-eight books including Genesis: an Epic Poem and Beauty: the Value of Values.

The event will be live-streamed for off-campus guests. To receive the Zoom link the day of the event, register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTMYl9JSxlz2Nbu41q1Go6hsAFu_OClxFJrldd_QB5rsMMCA/viewform

A reception will follow in the Thompson Loggia.

Have you checked out our new check-out display? Featuring “books you [might have] loved growing up,” this display is just waiting for you to pop into the library and grab a new-or-familiar fun read!

Questions? Email us at [email protected] or stop by the library and ask one of our extra-helpful librarians!

Have you found your new study spot for the semester? This one on the ground floor is pretty comfy! We’ll be highlighting a few great spots over the next week or two, so check back to see more suggestions.

Are you going to ’s TGIT tonight? Dante the Groundhog is, and he is dressed to 💗 Texas tonight! Thanks to for showing us that Dante is hardly the first and won’t be the last Italian to love the state where the stars at night are big and bright. 🤠

The first day of classes is very exciting (and VERY busy) for the librarians Cowan-Blakley Memorial Library. All of the students at UD are our raison d'être, just like Dante the Groundhog’s is being the world’s best library mascot. He started 749th grade today; what grade did *you* start? Share that in the comments, along with your favorite food, movie, or song/album.

Happy First Day of School!

Let focus on a little known club in our campus history: The Ski Club! Back in the 1960’s UD had a Ski Club that used to take annual trips to places such as Colorado and New Mexico. This picture is from 1968 in Crested Butte, Colorado.

In 1982 the University’s Cap Bar opened by popular demand. Usually for that late night fix of caffeine during finals week, or just as a cool spot to hang out with friends, the Cap Bar has gone through many changes over the years. This picture from early 1983 shows one of the many versions of the Cap Bar. Even though it is the middle of summer, you still might need that caffeine fix, so head over to the Cap Bar.

Happy ! We hope you’re getting some fun summer reading in—if you need recommendations, email us at [email protected]—and enjoying the occasional . 🤓

[Diego Velázquez, “Head of a Young Man in Profile,” taken from Velázquez in Seville, published 1996]

Happy Juneteenth [Observed]! We’ve highlighted this book, Juneteenth Texas: Essays in African-American Folklore, in previous posts, but this year, we’re featuring a specific chapter. In “Juneteenth: A Red Spot Day on the Texas Calendar,” Dr. William H. Wiggins (PhD, Indiana University) traces the long history of Emancipation celebrations, starting with the 1808 celebration for the legal ending of the foreign slave trade in the US. Dr. Wiggins notes commonalities between various community celebrations, such as the custom of wearing one’s “Sunday Best.” His many interviewees explained the importance of Juneteenth and why it should be made an official holiday beyond Texas. (Texas added Juneteenth to its state holidays in 1979; at the time of publication in 1996, no other states nor the federal government had followed suit.) Despite the uncomfortable history Emancipation celebrations raise, they explain, it’s a fact that we can’t erase, and if Independence Day is a holiday, then Juneteenth should be, too.

Interested in reading the whole essay, or other parts of Juneteenth Texas? Search UD Discovery (from the library’s homepage; link in profile) for “Juneteenth” and this essay and this book should be in the first 10 hits. If you would like help finding this resource or any other resources, email us at [email protected]!

Happy almost Solstice, everyone! The Summer Solstice is quickly approaching (June 20th), and to celebrate the longest day of the year we will take a look back at Dr. Richard Olenick, professor of the Physics Department. He is pictured with the University’s computer driven Cassegrain telescope in 1992.

When a book's face is extra large, it always helps to have nice, bushy beard. Happy ! Want to check out today's , Charlotte C. R. Thomas's The Female Drama: the Philosophical Feminine in the Soul of Plato's Republic? Swing by the library—we are open until 10 tonight, tomorrow (Saturday) from 9 am to 6 pm, and Monday through Thursday from 8 am to midnight.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]!