Getting to Know Second-Year Laurel Gildersleeve

Hi!

1.) South Carolina. Winnsboro has the oldest working clock tower in the nation and is home to the South Carolina Railroad Museum.

2.) I did not think much about what I wanted to be. Tests and friends always told me I would be a teacher or a librarian.

3.) I started in art history, then moved to cinema studies. I have always been interested in art, particularly film, as a tool for literacy.

4.) I would be comte. Nutty and textured, yet elegant.

5.) I dislike the music of both Michael Jackson and Prince (and no-I will not apologize.)

6.) No pets, but I miss my kitten Cuddles whom I adopted at age 9, and my horse Billy. Both died this year. RIP Cuddles & Billy.

7.) I would be friends with Man Ray. He had a flexible, creative, and curious mind. Also we like the same people.

8.) I am nervous about managing my time because there is so much cool stuff I want to do at SLIS!

9.) I am looking forward to going back to Circus World. Spending time with Archivist Pete Shrake and inspecting circus films is a great way to spend an afternoon.

10.) I love the possibilities the archives provide to open up new worlds and new ways of thinking. I also love my fellow archivists! <3

Getting to Know First-Year SLIS Student Emily Swenson

1) Where are you from? Any interesting facts about your hometown?I grew up in Stoughton, WI and am currently living there now (about 25 minutes outside of Madison) Stoughton, known for her Norwegian heritage, boasts the second largest Norwegian Independence Day celebration (Syttende Mai) outside of Oslo, Norway. Syttende Mai means "17th of May" and more importantly, the best fried cheese curds and cream puffs you have ever encountered. 
2) When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?When I was a kid, I really wanted to be a pioneer. I sewed my own calico bonnet and requested sans electricity vacations, it was weird. 

3) What did you study as an undergraduate? Why?The pioneer thing didn't pan out like I thought it would, so I "settled" for majoring in history. I minored in public history, got to help create a museum from the ground up (www.chudnowmuseum.org, shameless plug), and decided I wanted to work with history forever! 

4) If you were a cheese, what would you be? Why?At first I was 100% sure I would want to be fresh mozzarella, because I could reside in Italy and spend most of my time hanging out with fresh basil... but then I remembered that fried cheese curds exist. 
5) Michael Jackson or Prince? Why?Michael Jackson circa ABC because it reminds me of my Motown loving family and too much dancing at holiday functions. 

6) Do you have any pets? Show us a picture!When my parents became empty-nesters, they decided to get a puppy (demon?). He is a black standard poodle named Ziggy. In the past couple of weeks he has eaten: my boyfriend's wallet, my wallet, three hardcover books, and FOUR pairs of shoes. Just this morning he ate a loaf of bread and bag of tortilla chips off of the counter. He is cute 20% of the time (when he is sleeping).
7) What historical figure do you think you would be friends with? Why?Is Hermione Granger a historical figure? No? Well, this is purely from fashion envy, but I'm going to say Zelda Fitzgerald. She might not be a reliable friend but it would be like being invited to all of the best 20's themed parties. Except they are real and you're hanging out with F. Scott and wearing fabulous clothing. 

8) What are you most nervous about this semester? Why? 
Grading! I have convinced myself that I will do the assignment to the best of my ability but that there is some secret grad school grading scale that will shoot me down.

9) What are you most looking forward to this semester? Why? 
I can't wait to continue learning more about the various career paths archivists take. I have already come into (brief) contact with some pretty cool careers, and it makes me so excited for the next two years!
10) What do you love about archives?!The fact that my future career could be one in which I get to touch and read and smell historical documents/artifacts just blows my mind. I have always been one of those people who enters and old house and find myself thinking "I wonder who lived here? I wonder what this room was? Who was the first person to own this book that I am reading, did they like it?", and I love that archives can provide a direct window into the past.

Getting to Know Second-Year SLIS Student Jordan Radke

1) Where are you from? Any interesting facts about your hometown?

I am from Eden Prairie, MN, which is about 20 minutes south of the Twin Cities.  One interesting fact about Eden Prairie to note is that the movie Mallrats was filmed at the old Eden Prairie Mall!  Thankfully now that dump of a mall has been remodeled and expanded into a lovely place.

2) When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a child I think I dreamed of getting all the typical jobs, but I played enough soccer to really hope of becoming a professional soccer player.

3) What did you study as an undergraduate? Why?

Well it took me a while to finally land on a major because I went to architecture school for a year, then moved on to business school before finishing my undergrad in history.  I actually ended up with a certificate in European Studies as well, because you know I use that everyday...

4) If you were a cheese, what would you be? Why?

Hmm that's a tough question because I like all kinds of cheese but I think I would be some kind of sharp cheddar with peppers in it.  Why?  Because you are what you eat.

5) Michael Jackson or Prince? Why?

I have to pick MJ despite the fact that Prince lives/lived in the city next to me (Chanhassen).

6) Do you have any pets? Show us a picture!

Unfortunately I never lived in a pet heavy household knowing that the only pet I've ever had were hermit crabs.  Turns out they don't like to be petted or can play fetch.

7) What historical figure do you think you would be friends with? Why?

Not so sure I would be friends with him but my favorite historical figure is Napoleon Bonaparte.  I just find him very ambitious (maybe too much) and courageous.

8) What are you most nervous about this semester? Why?

Zombie Apocalypse. 

9) What are you most looking forward to this semester? Why?

Zombie Apocalypse.

10) What do you love about archives?!

I love all the historical items that have been preserved throughout history.  To look and touch something that helped shape our world is one of the most fascinating things to me.

The pictures I included are of me in Denver camping this past summer and me with a stingray from my high school senior cruise.

Getting to Know Second-Year SLIS Student Gwen Sieja

1) Where are you from? Any interesting facts about your hometown?

Toledo, Ohio. Toledo is home to two minor league sports teams with a couple of the least threatening mascots ever: the Mudhens (baseball) and the Walleye (hockey).

 2) When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Either a paleontologist or an astronaut. But preferably both.

3) What did you study as an undergraduate? Why?

Political Science and International Studies. To this day, I am not really sure why. That being said, I did get to take a lot of interesting classes and ended up with a well-rounded liberal arts education.

4) If you were a cheese, what would you be? Why?

Goat. I have a distinctive goat-y flavor that people either love or hate, plus I taste good on salads.

5) Michael Jackson or Prince? Why?

MJ 'nuff said.

6) Do you have any pets? Show us a picture!

Do the spiders in my apartment count?

7) What historical figure do you think you would be friends with? Why?

Benjamin Franklin (create link to http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/to-the-royal-academy-of-farting/). Because I am twelve and find this hilarious.

8) What are you most nervous about this semester? Why?

Suppressing my urge to procrastinate enough to avoid falling behind in my first online class.

9) What are you most looking forward to this semester? Why?

All of the awesome new skills I'm going to learn both in and out of class.

10) What do you love about archives?!

I was initially drawn to the idea of being able to bring history to the public using modern technology. But holding Civil War letters in my hands and thinking of all of the history behind them is really cool, too.

Photo from the archive: Me, age 2-ish, gasping at something scandalous. Or possibly stuffing my face with food.

Getting to Know Second-Year SLIS Student Jill Fuller

1) Where are you from? Any interesting facts about your hometown?
Marengo, Illinois, a small town east of Rockford. My hometown isn't interesting, per se, but one fact that I'm proud of (in a super history nerdy way) is that my family has lived there since the 1850s. I'm literally surrounded by family history wherever I go!

 2) When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A zoologist until I realized that required me to be good in science. I thought I would just get to play with monkeys all day. It was a crushing blow.

3) What did you study as an undergraduate? Why?

I was a history major! I am fascinated by a lot of historical topics, but especially Irish history, early women writers, and random trivia, which is why I read Bill Bryson.

4) If you were a cheese, what would you be? Why?

I want to say something profoundly witty here, but I would be trying too hard. Hmmmm....I eat feta cheese a lot. So I guess I'm really salty and crumbly? What does that mean?

5) Michael Jackson or Prince? Why?

Apparently, I am not one of the cool kids because I couldn't even name a Prince song if I tried. (I even lived in Minnesota once! What is wrong with me?!) So I guess MJ wins by default.

 6) Do you have any pets? Show us a picture!

I do! His name is Hobbes (and yes, we have contemplated getting another named Calvin) and he is the greatest thing in the world. He licks my face to wake me up in the morning. I think he just won the Best Cat of the Year award.

7) What historical figure do you think you would be friends with? Why?

Louisa May Alcott! I actually am not a super huge fan of her works (except LW, of course) but I have read her collections of letters and journals, and I have grown to really love her. She was witty, caustic, intelligent, and way ahead of her time. Fun fact of the day: did you know she wrote thrillers under the pseudonym A.M. Barnard and that they involved, among other things: violence, suicide, mental disorders, and drug use? Chew on that next time you pick up Little Women!

 8) What are you most nervous about this semester? Why?

 I'm nervous about not reaching my potential and not learning enough. There is always so much to know!

 9) What are you most looking forward to this semester? Why?

I'm looking forward to some more great archives classes!

10) What do you love about archives?!

The stories that are just waiting to be preserved and told. I love archives because they represent what is best and unique about the human race, which is our desire to remember our past and learn from it.


Jill in Colorado.

Picture from my archives: Me, at age 1 1/2. I assume it was Halloween, since I'm dressed as a lion.

Getting to Know First-Year SLIS Student Mary Kate Kwasnik

1) Where are you from? Any interesting facts about your hometown?

I grew up in Westborough, Massachusetts.  This is the hundredth town in Massachusetts, and home to Eli Whitney, the man who invented the cotton gin and interchangeable rifle parts!

2) When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a child, I wanted to be a sports reporter.  However, I didn't like sports and was way to shy to imagine talking to strangers.  I'm not sure why I wanted to do this.

3) What did you study as an undergraduate? Why?

I studied Art History, and I really just fell into it.  I was a Media Studies major and took art history to fulfill a requirement and fell in love.

4) If you were a cheese, what would you be? Why?

I think I would be havarti with dill.  It just has a really special flavor, and I find myself identifying with it a lot.

5) Michael Jackson or Prince? Why?

Maybe Prince because he's a little sassier.

6) Do you have any pets? Show us a picture!

I have a one eyed jack russel terrier named Abigail.  This is her:

7) What historical figure do you think you would be friends with? Why?

I would like to be friends with Billie Holiday because she was amazing and must have had crazy (and sad) stories.

8) What are you most nervous about this semester? Why?

This Bancroft assignment!  800 documents?!  

9) What are you most looking forward to this semester? Why?

I'm looking forward to getting settled and feeling confident in my librarianship/archivistship.  

10) What do you love about archives?!

I love touching something that's ridiculously old and thinking about who else has touched it.  I also love the fact that whoever made the original document probably had no idea a nervous grad student would be gaping at it a hundred years later.

This is me:

And this is a photo from my archives:

"Woman and Excited Young Daughter on a Canoe Trip" Around 1990.  Kwasnik Family Archives.

Getting to Know Second-Year SLIS Student Michelle Dubert-Bellrichard

1) Where are you from? Any interesting facts about your hometown?

I'm from Cuba City, Wisconsin. http://www.cubacity.org/index.php A town of 2000 located in the Southwest corner of the state. The most interesting fact about my hometown currently is that the city council has it out for my family's mulberry tree and is petitioning to cut it down. Basically, Cuba City hates trees, I guess.

2) When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was little, I wanted to be a waitress. They just seemed to have so much spunk.

3) What did you study as an undergraduate? Why?

Nerd alert! I was a history major with a minor in international studies. BUT, I almost minored in sociology and gender studies. I was a well-rounded social sciences major with no real life skills. Hello, library school!

4) If you were a cheese, what would you be? Why?

I would most definitely be a Havarti with dill, because I have a semi-soft body and a tangy personality. Was that a creepy answer? I also just really like Havarti with dill.

5) Michael Jackson or Prince? Why?

You have no idea how hard this question was for me. I love both MJ and Prince in so many ways, but if I had to choose one...Prince. Prince is such a magnificent weirdo, and I could watch Purple Rain every day until I die. I cannot say the same thing for Captain EO. I also like to spend my free time seeking out Prince impersonators, not MJ ones. Oh god, I have revealed too much.

6) Do you have any pets? Show us a picture!

YES! I have a three-year-old kitty with a weight problem. His name is Harvey.

7) What historical figure do you think you would be friends with? Why?

Ed Gein. He has inspired a lot of horror movies I like, and I think it would be wise to thank him. He also has a great sense of fashion. 

8) What are you most nervous about this semester? Why?

Finding time to re-watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That show needs to be re-watched every few months.

9) What are you most looking forward to this semester? Why?

Finishing watching the show Angel, so I can go back to watching Buffy! Why? Because Buffy is way better than Angel. There, I said it.

10) What do you love about archives?!

  

I love that archives are our memory keepers. They strive to collect, share, preserve, and make accessible the stories of our past. It's such noble work. 

Pictured above is an eleven-year-old me at the height of my awkward stage with former senator Ted Kennedy.  This was taken at one of Al Gore's Presidential campaign rallies in 2000.  This was also the day I vowed to never let my mother cut my hair again.  Quite a historic day!