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On Campus - Stories
June 16,
2000 Vol. 53, No. 3
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Cowles Library showcases Darling
Collection
Christopher "Kip" Koss, grandson of Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Jay
Norwood "Ding" Darling, has produced and donated to Cowles Library a searchable CD
that contains approximately 6,800 Darling cartoons.
Koss, president of the J.N. "Ding" Darling Foundation, will discuss his grandfather's
work and demonstrate the searchable CD at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 25, in the first-floor
reading room of Cowles Library. A reception will follow. Both events are free and
open to the public.
While in Des Moines, Koss also will conduct the annual meeting of the J.N. "Ding"
Darling Foundation, a non-profit group comprised entirely of volunteers and specializing
in conservation education.
Noted for his passion for conservation and politics, Darling chronicled such momentous
events as two world wars, the Great Depression and Prohibition as a cartoonist for
The Des Moines Register from 1906 to 1949. His cartoons were syndicated in 130 daily
newspapers across the country. He was awarded Pulitzer Prizes in 1923 and 1942.
After Darling's death in 1962, Cowles Library received a collection of 6,800 printer's
proofs of the Darling cartoons from John Henry, an editor at The Des Moines Register.
The proofs, which are prints made from Darling's original drawings from 1915 to 1949,
fill 12 file cabinet drawers in the library.
"They are truly a historical treasure, but they have been nearly unusable," Koss
said. "Searching for a particular subject, person or event among 6,800 cartoons is
a daunting task."
The new CD enables researchers to search the collection in general subject areas
ranging from baseball to marriage to war. The CD also can be searched by keying in
the names of specific people, places and events. One copy of the CD remains on reserve
at the library while another copy can be checked out.
Koss, a retired airline pilot who lives in Key Biscayne, Fla., is creating a CD for
the original Darling cartoons held in Special Collections at the University of Iowa
Libraries.
Ph.D. pitcher
having a ball at the I-Cubs game

President David Maxwell throws out the first pitch at
Friday night's Iowa Cubs game against the Omaha Golden Spikes.
Cowles
Library receives 'Kids Count!' Award
Lt.
Gov. Sally Pederson recently presented Cowles Library with the "Kids Count!" Award
for Excellence in Service to Youth Researchers.
Rod Henshaw, dean of Cowles Library, accepted the award May 16 at Iowa's annual History
Day program sponsored by the State Historical Society.
Cowles Library was among more than 25 libraries and museums nominated for the award,
which recognizes institutions "that go above and beyond in making young people feel
welcome as researchers."
The winning institution was selected by students and teachers. Runners-up for this
year's award were the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, the main library at
the University of Iowa and the Davenport Public Library.
Cowles Library has been providing free tours, orientation sessions and research assistance
to high school classes for more than 20 years, according to Liga Briedis, head of
the reference department and assistant professor of librarianship. Most of the classes
come from the Des Moines area, but Cowles
Library has hosted classes from as far away as Leon, Iowa, just north of the Missouri
border.
"We're giving lots of these kids their first exposure to the world of books and learning
on a big-time scale," Henshaw said. "Who knows how many of the kids may wind up here
as Drake students one day."
Chemistry
prof awarded grant
Mark Vitha, assistant professor of chemistry at Drake, has received a two-year grant
from Research Corp. for $26,700 to be used to support three undergraduate research
students and to purchase an autosampler for the departmental gas chromatograph.
The grant proposal was titled "The Measurement and Analysis of Chemically Distinct
Solute Parameters for Use in Linear Solvation Energy Relationships." Vitha said the
research is aimed at characterizing and measuring the different ways that molecules
interact with one another. This information is important because it can lead to improved
understanding of transport of chemicals through the environment and in waterways,
and can also be used to investigate and predict the toxicity of chemicals.
Kali Mulville, a sophomore from Young America, Minn., and Josh Sandquist, a junior
from Woodbine, Iowa, are helping with the research this summer. A third student will
work on the project next year.
Plan to
attend Summer Picnic
All Drake faculty and staff are invited to the University Summer Picnic on Thursday,
June 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plans call for the picnic to be held on the lawn
between Medbury Hall and Jewett Residence Hall. In case of rain or very hot weather,
the picnic will take place in the north foyer of Meredith Hall.
Enjoy Picnic
on the Porch every Wednesday
At the Spring Faculty/Staff Recognition, Interim Provost Stephen Hoag announced that
the following faculty members have been named Ellis and Nelle Levitt distinguished
professors:
- Richard Abel, professor
of English and director of the Center for the Humanities;
- Klaus Bartschat, professor
of physics;
- Robert Hariman, professor
of rhetoric and communication studies and endowment professor of the humanities;
and
- Bruce Martin, professor
of English and endowment professor of the humanities.
Faculty,
staff honored for decades of service to Drake
The following faculty and staff members recently were honored at the Spring Faculty/Staff
Recognition for 30 years of service to Drake:
Liga L. Briedis, assistant
professor of librarianship and head of reference, Cowles Library.
Richard H. Hicks, associate professor of librarianship and head of technical
services, Cowles Library.
A. Douglas Hillman, professor of accounting.
Tsung-Kuang Lin, professor of history.
John M. Manders, professor of business law.
John W. Rodda, HVAC foreman, Operations and Maintenance.
Joseph W. Schneider, professor of sociology.
Jon N. Torgerson, professor of philosophy.
W. Scott Wood, professor of psychology.
Thomas F. Worthen, associate professor of art.
The following faculty and staff
members were recognized for 35 years of service:
Larry D. Dunlap, manager/plant
engineer, Operations and Maintenance.
C. David Harris, professor of music history and harpsichord.
Guy S. Wuellner, associate professor of piano.
One faculty member was honored
for 45 years of service:
Rodney A. Rogers, professor
of biology.
Retiring faculty and staff members
honored at the Spring Faculty/Staff Recognition were:
Reid Allen, business manager,
Athletics.
Joann Anderson, dining services supervisor I, Hubbell Dining Hall.
Patricia A. Ebert, assistant to the dean, College of Arts and Sciences.
Bob Ehrhart, director of the Drake Relays, Intercollegiate Athletics
Jon Ericson, professor of rhetoric and communication studies.
Barry Foskit, professor of journalism and mass communication.
Richard H. Hicks, associate professor of librarianship and head of technical
service, Cowles Library.
Barbara Hodgdon, professor of English.
Paul Johnson, assistant vice president, Physical Plant/Auxiliary Services.
The late Jules Kirschenbaum, professor of art.
George Lair, professor of education.
Wayne Newkirk, professor of economics.
Milan Randic, professor of mathematics and computer science.
Avis Shuck, assistant professor of pharmacy.
Hugh Winebrenner, the Thomas F. Sheehan distinguished professor of public
administration.
Harry Wolk, professor of accounting.
Guy S. Wuellner, associate professor of piano.
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