Wessels Library Newsletter

An interview with Dr. David Rachels on Newberry College's "Writing Intensive" program.

Wessels' Podcast Link

Volume 2, Issue 1 Fall Semester 2023

By Brooke Berry

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Frederick Wessels is an important figure in Newberry College’s history. In addition to his work in the Lutheran Church and the community of Savannah, he is a big reason for Wessels Library. The library is the campus hub for studying, printing, and the latest reading material.

Frederick Wessels hailed from nearby Savannah, Georgia. He was born in the city in 1877. During his lifetime, he made a huge impact on his hometown. He was revered for “outstanding service” to the city in many areas. One of these areas was business. Wessels was at the helm of the nationally known insurance company Atlantic Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He was also involved in other business ventures, such the Southern Savings and Loan Company. Wessels was also known for having strong faith in God. He credited his faith as driving his success, summing it up by saying “five thousand dollars, faith in the Lord, prayer, and hard work.” He exercised his faith as a layman in the Lutheran church and served locally and nationally in the church. The community also benefited from his work with the Housing Authority of Savannah, The Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and as city marshal of Savannah, among others. He is also remembered for his enthusiasm for learning and reading, so it is fitting that our library is named for him. He was a trustee for numerous institutions, including Newberry College. Newberry College went on to award an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws to him. He passed away suddenly in 1950, aged 73, with his wife by his side. In addition to being a prominent figure in the community of Savannah, he was also a beloved father and grandfather. He is remembered fondly, with a friend describing him as a person of “farsighted vision and deep humility.”

The contribution from the Wessels family resulted in an amazing source for students that was “most impressively dedicated” on February 7, 1954. An address was given by the renowned Dr. Gould Wickey, the Executive Secretary of the Board of Education of the United Lutheran Church in America, which was themed “The World at Newberry College.” Along with members of the Board of Trustees and the faculty of the college, representatives from other colleges also attended. The event featured a performance by the Newberry College Singers. In the foyer of the library, plaques were displayed on the wall, one honoring the contributions of the Florida, Georgia-Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina synods, the other honoring the contribution of Frederick Wessels. At the time, Wessels was “one of the most modern libraries in the south.” Its building materials of brick and concrete made it safe, and it featured many great resources, such as a “reading room” and rooms for music and microfilm use.

Wessels Library is a wonderful resource for students, faculty, and staff. Whether looking for the latest academic research or the latest recreational reading, there is something for everyone. Thanks to the contributions of Wessels and his family, the college community has a place to learn, collaborate, and read for years to come.

Sources:

***A special thanks to Dr. Tracy Power for these incredible resources.*** Dedication of Wessels Library, NEWBERRY OBSERVER, 2.2.1954 - Photo.pdf Kenneth E. Palmer, CIVIC BEAT (1963) (1).pdf NC ALUMNI BULLETIN 1952-1954, Wessels Library.pdf

The Applied Science & Technology Database includes rigorous curation and indexing of open access (OA) journals, which has resulted in a growing collection of 1,327 active global OA journals. Once validated and certified for inclusion, these OA journals are treated with high-quality subject indexing and sophisticated, precise/accurate full-text linking. This database offers a diverse array of full-text and indexed content covering the full spectrum of the applied sciences and computing disciplines - from acoustics to aeronautics, neural networks to nuclear engineering.

By Brooke Berry

In 1894, Newberry College welcomed Keller Hall. The building was named in honor of J. Aiken Keller, who passed away at 17 while attending Newberry College due to sickness. In proceedings from conventions of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of South Carolina, the building was described as “an absolute necessity” and was predicted to be “a beauty and [a] glory.’” There were detailed plans given for the building, with the first floor housing the college’s chapel, laboratory, and chemistry classroom. The second floor would contain the library and the museum. When the cornerstone for the building was laid, Keller and his mother Frances were honored. Mrs. Keller contributed $1,000 to the cause of the building. The minister giving the address asserted that the name “Keller” would “be associated with the name and history of Newberry College.” Students also pitched in to help with construction costs. The cornerstone piece contained a list of donors, catalogs from 1893-1894, The Collegian files, several newspapers, a Common Service copy, a three-cent piece, and general coins. Upon its opening, it was called the Keller Memorial Building and indeed housed the laboratory and a library that contained 6,350 volumes for use. The building was also an asset to the college in general. With the $6,000 costs associated with it, Newberry College now costs $35,000. The building was named part of the college’s Historic District in 1976.

In 2017, renovations on the second oldest building on campus were completed, a project that had begun in 2004 when the building was not in use. Many upgrades were made, such as to the electrical system, roofs, floors, mantels, doors, and windows. The masonry façade was repointed. The renovations also made it possible for classrooms and offices for Religion and Philosophy to be housed in Keller.

Keller Hall has attracted fanfare for being haunted. While there have been no sightings of the ghost of Madeline for quite some time, her story is still quite familiar to the campus community. She was first written about in a 1959 edition of the student newsletter. Madeline was a young woman who was dating a student named John. The pair were considering marriage, but Madeline was supposedly cheating. On the evening of November 17th, she came to Keller to set things right with John. By the time she had arrived, his body lay on the ground, as he had leaped from the top of the building. On this date each year, Madeline is said to return to search for him by the light of her lantern. In the past, students have gotten their own lanterns and helped her search. Another version of the story is that Madeline leaped to her death after John, a Union soldier, was killed in battle.

Read for Speed. The Fastest Way to a Good Book is To Discover Free Online eBooks!

Interested in reading more but have limited time? Want to discuss some classic horror fiction titles to get you in the mood for Fall? Check out this Fall’s book club, held in mid-October! Please fill out this form to the best of your ability and we look forward to having you participate, be it virtually, in person, or even asynchronously, via podcast to discuss Frankenstein and/or The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. For more information, contact Steffi Hiltgen or consider coming to the 30-minute informational meeting next week.

We have chosen these titles as they can be found and ready free online as they are part of the public domain. Whether you are able to join us or not, there are also a lot of great websites and apps that can lead you to some fantastic classics and new cutting-edge stories for free online. Here are just a few examples:

Just to name a few such access avenues, take a look at these:

23 Books That Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives

The Gutenberg Project

Europeana

Digital Public Library of America

Internet Archive

Open Library

FeedBooks

ManyBooks

Library of Congress

Loyal Books

Library Genesis

Librivox (Public Domain Audio Books)

As an additional way to participate for the fall, we are also offering your own option; you can create a book podcast about the fall book you've recently read. To create your free podcast, simply create an account with Spotify for Podcasters, which was originally known as Anchor. Try to record a two-to-five-minute talk about the book and add some neat music for the background.

Spotify for Podcasters

We look forward to hearing from you!

Steffi Hiltgen, Public Services Librarian & Russ Conrath, Outreach Librarian

In Newberry, 'neath the Southern sun's embrace,

A college stands with beauty and with grace,

Amidst the vibrant hues of autumn's call,

Newberry College, in the fall, stands tall.

The campus trees, their leaves of crimson, gold,

In the fall's gentle breeze, their tales unfold,

A tapestry of colors, warm and bright,

Illuminates the campus in pure delight.

Amidst the quad, where students gather 'round,

The whispered secrets of the leaves resound,

With books in hand and dreams within their hearts,

They seek knowledge, where wisdom imparts.

The bell tower chimes with a melodic sound,

As students in this college town are bound,

To learn, to grow, to find their destined way,

In Newberry's warmth, they find their place to stay.

The football field awakens, a roaring crowd,

As scarlet and gray, their voices proud,

Support their team with cheers and joyous song,

In the fall at Newberry, where they belong.

With pumpkins, hayrides, and harvest's embrace,

This college town in fall, a special place,

Newberry College, in this season's prime,

A tapestry of memories, a cherished time.

---Generated by ChatGPT

Scoop.it Suggests From Wessels: Useful Tools, Information, & Resources

Dr. Conrath's Scoop.it List: Check It out!

This "Scoop" shares a list of trending library-related topics and information.

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Top Scoops of Interest for today's on the go professor:

25 Free Online Tools Every College Student Needs to Use

Introduction - Top (Free!) Tools For College Students - LibGuides at COM Library

Higher Ed News, Opinion & Advice

Twenty-first-Century Skills: Teaching Empathy to Health Professions Students

Total Physical Items 39,641

Total Physical books 35,693:

DVD 319

Music Scores 852

eBooks available 273, 740

Wessels Library employs 16 student workers.

Plagiarism is using someone's words, thoughts, or ideas without giving credit to the author. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense, and it can easily be avoided. Here are some helpful resources to help you better understand plagiarism. When in doubt about how to cite a source, ask for help.

• A Student's Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism

  This short video will help you get a better understanding of plagiarism and citations.

• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)

  Purdue's Online Writing Lab is an excellent resource for writing papers, using sources, and citing sources.

• Easybib.com: EasyBib is an intuitive information literacy platform that provides citation, note-taking, and research tools that are easy to use; it's accurate, fast, and comprehensive,

In addition, Wessels has citation books on reserve at the circulation desk and through our circulation manager, Carl Lominick.

WESSELS LIBRARY STAFF

Wessels Library Staff:

• Mr. Reid Austin, Library Director
• Mrs. Steffi Hiltgen, Public Services Librarian
• Dr. Russ Conrath, Outreach Librarian
• Mr. Carl Lominick, Circulation Manager
• Mrs. Janice Hudson, Technical Services Specialist
• Ms. Brooke Berry, Library Intern

Email: Russ.Conrath@newberry.edu
Website: https://newberry.libguides.com/wesselslibrary
Location: 2100 College Street, Newberry, SC, USA
Phone: 803-321-5229