Collection shows off campaign memorabilia

"Presidents and Political Campaigns: A Display of Presidential and Campaign Items from the Special Collections," is currently showcased on the first and second floors of Lupton Library.The special collections department at Lupton Library acts as the home and preservation center for a large collection of historical items, manuscripts, artwork, university archives and rare books that relate to the university and the state of Tennessee, Steve Cox, associate professor of special collections and university archivist, said.

Throughout the fall semester political campaign memorabilia ranging from campaign buttons to bumper stickers will be available for guest viewing along with a collection of candid, presidential photographs, Cox said.

According to Cox, the candid shots featuring such presidents as Richard Nixon and Lyndon B. Johnson were taken by UTC alum John Rous while working as a White House assistant with the Associated Press.

Letters from presidents, including Teddy Roosevelt, Rutherford B. Hayes, Lyndon B. Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bill Clinton have also been displayed for the UTC community.

The department of art recently received a collection of Polaroid photographs from American pop artist Andy Warhol. Because of the value of the 150 photographs, they are housed and displayed in a temperature controlled environment, where students may visit the during regular library hours.

The art department is also displaying notable selections from the Andy Warhol collection in Cress Gallery according to Cox.

Dr. Verbie Prevost, Connor Professor and head of the English department, has donated many works from her personal collection including several featuring illustrator Barry Moser, according to Cox.

Moser attended UTC for one year and studied in the art department under Dr. George Cress, Cox said.

According to Cox, the university received a substantial discount on more than 160 individually signed portraits of the Moser's friends, family, other artists', architects, writers and poets.

Cox said to honor the memory of George Cress, who died in early January, 400 copies of The King James Bible bound in velum were printed featuring Moser's original artwork.

According to Cox, Moser has provided illustrations for various publications of timeless classics.

"Dracula," "Frankenstein," "Tom Sawyer" and "Alice In Wonderland" have all been recreated in Moser's personal style, wood etchings. Cox said he has several examples of the prints made from the etchings.

According to the special collections Web site, the original Patten Chapel blueprints from 1915 were found in the drafting storage area of the Adminstrative Services Building late last fall.

Other recent additions to the special collections department include books from members of the Fellowship of Southern Writers and the addition of Emma Bell Miles' journal selections.

Amira Eskander, a Cookeville Tenn. senior said, "I had no idea there was even something called the special collections, that is quite the secret."

The special collections department is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. through 4:30 p.m. Cox said he recommends making an appointment before visitng.The department is located on the second floor of the library.