#western libraries

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Western Washington College of Education (WWU) students and faculty on a hike near Mt. Baker in the Fall of 1954.

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Western Washington University (then Washington State Normal School at Bellingham) campus looking south down 21st Street. This was know as Waldo Field. Just a reminder that winter isn’t over until it’s over!

Communication and Marketing photograph from the WWU Archives accession 85-21_007_002_002

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Upper photograph: Taylor Street Dock, circa 1888. Now a favorite location for a stroll, a jog or a spot to watch the sunset. Howard E. Buswell papers and photographs collection #536.

Lower photograph: Former town of Sehome, Washington (now Bellingham). Photograph taken from approximately the end of Eldridge Avenue looking east, circa 1888. The church structure near the center of the photo at the hill’s edge still stands today at the corner of Maple and High Streets. Howard E. Buswell photo #544.

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New Acquisitions

In the late nineteenth century, Westerners developed a fascination with Japanese art, literature, history, and culture. Cultural exchange ran both ways, however, and in Japan, Western art exerted a strong influence on age-old traditions, resulting in a hybrid style that has a special appeal of its own.

Special Collections recently acquired three books that speak to the cultural mingling of that time period. They are part of the Japanese Fairy Tale Series issued by Tokyo publisher Hasegawa Takejirō, who began publishing books on Japanese subjects for Western audiences in 1885. Translated by foreign residents in Japan into all the major European languages, the series was still in print in the 1930s. Travelers would have purchased the stories as souvenirs or shipped them overseas as gifts; once their popularity had caught on, they were also exported for sale in the West.

Much of the books’ charm comes from their brightly colored woodblock illustrations, done in a traditional ukiyo-e style by Japanese artists. Their most striking feature, however, is the crepe paper—known as chirimen in Japanese—on which they are printed. This novel technique was used at least as early as 1800 and revived by Hasegawa. After the books’ pages were printed, a special press was used to give them a crinkled appearance. The paper was not only visually interesting and fun to touch, but also durable, making it appropriate for children’s books.  

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Photograph from Communications and Marketing records at the Western Washington University Archives. Accession #85-21 box 007 1945 004. Handwritten text appears on reverse of photograph (#85-21 box 007 1945 005).

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School days! 

Miss Plympton’s Color and Design Class in 1943 held in room 304 in the Main Building (now Old Main). 

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Class project! 

In 1927 the eighth grade Industrial Arts class taught by Herbert C. Ruckmick was assigned to build a playhouse. The eighth graders first created models and the second graders then picked their favorite, and it was built. Photos show the eighth graders sharing their designs, second photo shows it under construction in the background, and the third photo shows the completed building in 1934. 

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Winter Wonderland! 

Celebrating the first full day of winter with snowy scenes from winters past!