Research Trip

Outside of US Army Heritage Collection

Last week was a whirlwind.  I arrived in Baltimore, got the rental car and drove to Carlisle, PA to my first destination. The US Army Heritage Collection.  Once I signed the proper documents in order to look at manuscript in the collection, I was able to begin looking at letters and diaries of spouses from a the Civil War to WWII.  It was sometimes tedious but most of the time very interesting.  The Civil War letters I read were the most interesting.  While the letters contained comments on daily life, it was exciting to read about the different well known figures of that time period in a more personal context instead of in history books.  They also talked about how the place where they lived was patriotic without party lines and the murder of Lincoln.

On a side note, it was beautiful in that part of the world.  I even got to go to a farmers market that had a huge variety of apples fresh off the trees, fresh baked goods, vegetables, dairy items and meats.  The fall colors were in full force and the architecture of the town was terrific.  So much history.  I think I could live there for a while but, alas, I don't think that will happen.

After two days of research there, I drove down to DC to go to the Library of Congress.  Again I had a great experience.  There I handled and read manuscripts from the Revolutionary War to the Frontier time.  I also took the time to go over the Jefferson Building and see the magnificent architecture of that building.  I had never been there while living in the area.  (I apologize to all of my DC friends.  I know I should have called and gotten together with you but I really was so tired and couldn't see straight after the end of each day I just wanted to crawl into bed)

In the end it was a good trip and I have my historical perspective for the book.  My conclusion is that those women had the same concerns that we are modern day spouses have.  While I have most of the responses in InDesign, it's time to get serious about the design of the book.

  

A manuscript

Library of Congress

Manuscript Reading Room

All Set

I met with Dr. Luzius, the director of the Air Univeristy Library, and the Murphy's today.  Dr. Luzius is was very open to the idea of my gallery show being there.  The gallery space is in the lobby of the library.  While it's more of a display case, it will work.  I will just modify a few things from the show in Tuscaloosa.  We decided that May would be a good time to have the show.  They are doing some renovations to the facility and by May things may be more contained.  Right now there is office furniture in the lobby that is being moved to another building.  So it's all set. Exciting!

Another opportunity

Yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from a lady I had met the week previously.  I told her and the other ladies at the table about my thesis, including that I also must have a gallery show about my thesis.  She and I had a private conversation after and I gave her my business card.  She thought that it might be something they might be interested in at the Air University Library on Maxwell AFB.  When I answered the phone and she reintroduced herself, it took me a moment for it to all click.  The library is VERY interested in having the exhibit there after I have the show up at school!  So we are setting up a meeting for this week to talk details.  She also said that the base paper would do an article.  Talk about excited!  It's really got me thinking that maybe other military or just libraries might be interested in the same.

Making decisions and men

I have been thinking about the cover of the book for a while. Originally, I was going to make the cover part book cloth and part handmade paper.  Now I've decided that instead of just part of the cover being handmade paper, I wanted the whole thing to be made of handmade paper.  So it's back to the paper mill for more paper making.  I also decided that I want the cover to be purple.  Anybody see where this is going?  I am also going to make the end sheets a lighter purple.  I think it's going to look great.  Still making decisions on the imagery.  I do know I want it to be a silhouette of something.

This week was exciting in regard to responses.  I have my first two men responding as spouses and a third for sure!  I've also been posting on various FB military spouse groups to gather more responses and gotten some that way.   Only need about 7 more.  :)