UCSB Special Collections: Collections: News and Events

News and Events

Exhibit poster, 2008

Current Exhibit: Roots of Community
December 1, 2008 - February 11, 2009

This year’s winter exhibit focuses on the African American leaders of Santa Barbara and their legacy of activism for civic improvement, equity, and social justice. Their many decades of selfless dedication contributed to the betterment of Santa Barbara, lifting the quality of life for many of our citizens.

Holiday Hours and Closures
December 14 - January 4

During academic recess, Special Collections will have limited hours. We will be open Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm. We will be closed on Saturdays.

We will also be closed the following days: Wednesday, Dec. 24; Thursday, Dec. 25; Friday, Dec. 26; Wed., December 31; Thursday, Jan. 1, and Friday, Jan. 2.

Darrell Baker and Tina Arth

Darrell Baker and Tina Arth Donation
September 2008

Collector and author Darrel Baker and his wife Tina Arth gave the library a generous donation to acquire new cylinders for the library's Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project. The money will be used to purchase recordings that the library would otherwise not be able to acquire. Mr. Baker has had a long interest in early sound recordings, significantly recordings by Scottish entertainer Harry Lauder. With Larry F. Kiner he is the author of The Sir Harry Lauder discography (Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1990) and the Encyclopedia of Egyptian Pharaohs: predynastic through twentieth dynasty (3200 B.C.-1085 B.C.) (London: Stacey International, 2008).

This is Baker's second major gift to the library. He also donated his collection of Harry Lauder cylinders and discs to the UCSB Libraries in 2006. The Lauder cylinders have since been digitized by the library and can be listened to online at the Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.

Advertisement, featuring Neil O'Brien's Minstrels.

Neil O’Brien Papers
August 2008

This summer, the library was pleased to receive the papers of early 20th century American blackface entertainer Neil O'Brien, leader of "Neil O'Brien's Great American Minstrels," including scripts, music, set designs, photographs, posters, programs, sheet music, and financial documents.

Collection is currently being inventoried and processed.

Siberian Jerboas from Cassell's Popular Natural History v.1(1865). Gift of Sara Miller McCune

July - October Exhibit: Recent Acquisitions

The exhibit in Special Collections displayed highlights from book and manuscript collections acquired during the past year.

Bruce Bastin/Interstate Music Collection

Bruce Bastin with his record collection.

May 2008

This May, UCSB Libraries acquired a portion of folklorist Bruce Bastin's record collection, consisting of 10,000 78rpm ethnic and folk recordings from Latin America and Europe. The collection also includes recordings in popular traditions, such as Argentine tangos. Bruce Bastin started Interstate Music in the 1970s to reissue important folk, jazz, country, blues, and ethnic recordings on LP. Over the years, he issued some 850 compilations on LP and CD, featuring music from The Americas and the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Currently, the recordings are being cataloged.

For older news, please see the News Archive.