Into the Newberry

If you love libraries and all things archival, then visiting Newberry Library in downtown Chicago should be at the top of your bucket list.

This semester, a group from Dominican University, including two faculty members and fifteen students ranging from undergraduate to Ph.D., took a field trip to Newberry Library. The outing was hosted by two of Dominican’s student organizations: the Information Science Student Association (ISSA) and Society for Archivist of America Dominican University Chapter (SAADUC).

This intimate sheaf of librarians enjoyed a private viewing of rare books, photographs, and postcards held at Newberry. Dominican alum Anula Lopez, the Ayer Librarian and Assistant Curator of American Indian and Indigenous Studies, provided access and information for these special collection items. 

Into the Vault

In one of the Newberry's reading rooms, carefully selected items were set on tables for perusing. The selected old books were displayed lovingly on soft blue book supports, with gently weighted “book snakes” holding them open. Gloves were provided for students wanting to leaf through the ancient tomes, some of which dated back to the 17th century.

Not surprisingly, some of the items had fascinating tales to tell. One such item was Mi Ultimo Pensamiento, a poem written by Filipino propagandist and writer José Rizal. During his family's last visit before his execution by firing squad, Rizal dropped hints that some of his writings were hidden in an alcohol stove and in his shoes. The Spanish colonial government executed Rizal for his work, which was considered critical to the Philippine Independance movement.

A brighter anecdote came from the background of an anonymously written one-act play thought to be written by an Indigenous author, which was donated to Newberry Library in 2018. Together with Victorino Torres Nava, a native Nahuatl speaker and linguist, Anula translated the short comedic and satirical play, which is sometimes called The Old Lady and Her Grandson. The plot features a grandmother who strictly forbids her grandson to eat honey, which Lopez said her study of the Nahuatl language helped discover was likely an alcoholic drink. Further study revealed the matriarch in the play to be pregnant!

Diversity Issues in Librarianship

Librarians go through great lengths to meet the diverse needs of their learning community. “Decolonization” may be a bit of a buzzword in academia, but it is nonetheless an extremely important concept. Institutions such as the Newberry Library that preserve cultural heritages play a crucial role in allowing historically marginalized groups to have their stories told accurately and respectfully. 

When a student asked where she currently sees decolonization efforts in the field of librarianship, Anula answered, “It depends what you mean by ‘decolonize.’ “ For example, it is not enough for institutions preserving Indigenous culture to have an Indigenous member on staff, because those staff members will need support as well. Anula explained she has adopted the term ”internationalist," which recognizes the universal utility in preserving cultural property.

It is not always clear how to respect cultural patrimony, Anula explained. The Newberry Library gives first right of refusal of donated artifacts belonging Native American people, but items intended for return to rightful owners may instead end up in a museum or government institution. While some headway was made during COVID in updating cultural protocols, there is still more work to be done.

Indigenous Chicago

After the meeting room, the group saw The Newberry's current main exhibit in the Trienens Gallery, Indigenous Chicago. For several years, Anula worked on the project gathering maps, photographs, treaty documents, and other historical records. The exhibit pronounces the powerful message, “Chicago has always been a native place.”

“Home to the Potawatomi, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Myaamia, Wea, Sauk, Meskwaki, and Ho-Chunk peoples,” reads the exhibit's website, "the place we now call Chicago has long been a historic crossroads for many Indigenous people and remains home to an extensive urban Native community." The exhibit combines works from current Native artists with items from the Newberry's extensive Indigenous collection.

Indigenous Chicago includes eye-catching and informative labels covering the history of treaties, the importance of terminology, and activism and resistance. Another placard tells the history of important Native organizations such as The Indian Council Fire. Meticulously curated, the displays work together to ask the audience: "How does our understanding of Chicago change when seen through Native perspectives?

Thinking of making your way to the The Newberry soon? While open to the public, The Newberry is not part of the Chicago Public Library system. Members of the public can apply for a Newberry reader's card, which they can use to browse the Newberry's non-circulating collections. Readers can use the online catalog, finding aids, and research guides to browse the library's many offerings. Just like at our Crown Library, readers can use the “Ask a Librarian” feature to for direct research help.