The Agenda - Faculty and Staff Newsletter

Author: John Powell

  • Examining the Evolving Meaning of America’s Birthdays

    Three people are looking down at objects in a display case.
    A new student-curated exhibit at Robeson Library highlights the ways Americans have celebrated, marketed, and redefined the nation’s founding ideals over time.

     

    On April 30, Robeson Library hosted an opening reception for its latest exhibit, America’s Birthdays: Selling & Redefining the American Dream. The event brought together students, faculty, librarians, and guests to celebrate the launch of the exhibition and the collaborative work behind it. The students’ research, creativity, and curatorial efforts were recognized, and visitors had an opportunity to engage directly with the themes and stories explored throughout the exhibit.

    Developed through the Rutgers–Camden history course America’s Birthdays: The History of Celebration and Memory, taught by Assistant Professor Carly Goodman, the exhibition was created in conjunction with the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary in July 2026. Student curators examined how Americans have commemorated the country’s founding through major anniversaries in 1876, 1926, and 1976, as well as through annual Fourth of July celebrations. The exhibit explores how these moments of remembrance have shaped public understandings of the American Dream and reflected changing ideas about national identity.

    Featuring objects researched, interpreted, and installed by students, America’s Birthdays: Selling & Redefining the American Dream highlights the ways Americans have celebrated, marketed, and redefined the nation’s founding ideals over time. The exhibition examines themes of patriotism, consumer culture, public memory, and the ongoing pursuit of the promises of the American Revolution. Through their work, the student curators invite visitors to consider how each generation has celebrated and challenged the meaning of America’s “birthdays.”

    The exhibit will remain on display at Robeson Library over the summer. Learn more about the students’ work in Goodman’s story on the Rutgers–Camden website.

  • Honoring Paul Robeson’s Legacy

    A person speaks at a podium.
    An event celebrating the enduring impact of Paul Robeson was facilitated by Jason L. James, Director, Strategy and Operations Support Initiatives for Rutgers–Camden Student Academic Success.

     

    On February 19, Robeson Library hosted an evening that honored the enduring impact of Paul Robeson, the distinguished Rutgers alumnus, activist, artist, and scholar. The program highlighted Robeson’s powerful legacy through curated reflections and engaging dialogue, offering a rich exploration of his contributions to social justice, culture, and intellectual life.

    Facilitated by Jason L. James, Director, Strategy and Operations Support Initiatives for Rutgers–Camden Student Academic Success, the event celebrated a shared commitment to scholarship, leadership, and cultural impact. Librarian John Powell spoke about the life of Paul Robeson, including his time spent as a scholar and athlete at Rutgers in New Brunswick, where he was a two-time All-American in football. While at Rutgers, Robeson was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society and Rutgers’ Cap and Skull Honor Society and was valedictorian of his graduating class in 1919.

    The evening was co-sponsored by the Division of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement (DICE), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. – Nu Gamma Lambda Chapter, and NAACP Rutgers University-Camden Chapter.

  • On Exhibit at Robeson Library: NEA Big Read/Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay

    NEA Big Read

    Paul Robeson Library, in partnership with the Rutgers–Camden Center for the Arts, is hosting an exhibit for the NEA Big Read/Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay now through December 9, 2022.

    “Ross Gay’s poetry collection celebrates life and goodness and that which nourishes us, fleetingly and forever, through love and loss,” said Noreen Scott Garrity, director of the Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts. “He touches on everyday living and notices what we often take for granted. We are looking forward to welcoming guests to share in this enjoyable literary experience.”

    Complimentary copies of Gay’s book will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in early November, and participants will have the opportunity to contribute to a What Are You Grateful For? installation piece constructed by the Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts.

    Launched in 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read aims to inspire meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in participating communities. In partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA supports programming centered around one of 15 different contemporary books.

    For more information, visit the Big Read website.

  • On Exhibit at Robeson Library: “Underground Railroad Sites of Greater Philadelphia”

    Underground Railroad Sites of Greater Philadelphia Exhibit at Robeson Library.

    Underground Railroad Sites of Greater Philadelphia is a new exhibit at the Robeson Library in Camden features notable Underground Railroad sites in the Philadelphia region, including The Peter Mott House in Lawnside, Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia, and several locations along the newly created Upper Darby Underground Railroad Walking Trail in Delaware County.

    The Underground Railroad was a network of pathways, homes, churches, and other structures where abolitionists like William Still assisted Black freedom seekers on their route north to free lands. The Philadelphia region was often the first stop in free territory for people escaping the horrors of slavery. The City of Philadelphia and surrounding communities in South Jersey and Pennsylvania are home to several sites that once served as safe harbors for self-liberated Black people, who were considered fugitives under United States law.

    Curated by Robeson librarians John Powell and Bart Everts (who worked on the Upper Darby Trail as a member of the Township’s Historical Commission), this exhibit gives insight into the struggles of the 19th century and the role of allyship under systemic oppression.

    Underground Railroad Sites of Greater Philadelphia is on display until September 26, 2022. For a complete list of the region’s Underground Railroad sites and related library resources, please visit our Underground Railroad Sites of Greater Philadelphia research guide at libguides.rutgers.edu/urrphl.

    Underground Railroad Sites at Greater Philadelphia exhibit at Robeson Library

    Photos by John Powell

  • OnExhibit at Paul Robeson Library: September 11, 2001

    September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed The World, is an educational exhibition from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum that presents the history of 9/11, its origins, and its ongoing implications through the personal stories of those who witnessed and survived the attacks. This exhibit includes archival photographs and images of artifacts from the permanent collection of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. It explores the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and communities at the local, national, and international levels, and encourages critical thinking about the legacies of 9/11.

    Twenty years after the attacks, with terrorism still a threat today, the events of 9/11 and its aftermath remind us that we may never be able to prevent all the actions of people intent on harming others, but we do have control over how we respond to such events. Whether by volunteering in our local communities, serving our nation in the military, caring for the sick, or through other efforts, all of us can help build the world in which we want to live. As we witness history unfolding in our own time, the ways we choose to respond—both large and small—can demonstrate the best of human nature after even the worst of days.

    The exhibit was developed by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for Humanities.

  • Virtual Stressbusters at Robeson Library

    Puzzle pieces
    Crowdsourced from the staff and faculty of Robeson Library, our #StressBusters LibGuide offers plenty of free online diversions for anyone seeking self-care and relaxation.

    At the end of each semester, Paul Robeson Library offers programming to help students lessen feelings of stress associated with finals. Normally we would fill up a book truck with snacks, set up a puzzle table, break out the button maker, order some pizzas, and schedule multiple visits from local pet therapy providers. So when the COVID pandemic eliminated in-person stress relief sessions, we pivoted to virtual formats and were able to expand our usual offerings by adding tours of Louvre, free yoga courses, and even a basket of kittens!

    Crowdsourced from the staff and faculty of Robeson Library, our #StressBusters LibGuide offers plenty of free online diversions for anyone seeking self-care and relaxation. From aforementioned museum tours and animal cams to even a set of Robeson Library puzzles, stress relief is just a click away.

  • Robeson Pivots to Online Workshops & Drop-in Sessions

    Did you know Camden, New Jersey was once considered the epicenter of the American recording industry with the likes of Elvis, Duke Ellington, and Marian Anderson all cutting records at the RCA-Victor Recording Studios? This is just one of the many things learned by the attendees of the numerous fall workshops and drop-in sessions offered by the faculty of Paul Robeson Library at Rutgers-Camden.

    With the COVID pandemic preventing Robeson Library from offering its usual in-person roster of workshops, the faculty pivoted to virtual formats via WebEx and Zoom and offered over 70 different sessions to students, faculty, and staff. The workshops ran the gamut from traditional information literacy sessions to advanced database search techniques to academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism. Other sessions were offered on informed voting, digital privacy, streaming media, and open educational resources. Robeson faculty members also highlighted their respective areas of research and even a Camden-centric quizzo night was offered.

    “The Camden fun facts were a way for new students who may not have even been on campus to learn about their adopted host city,” said Robeson Librarian Bart Everts, host of the Rutgers-Camden and Camden Fun Facts and Rutgers-Camden Trivia Night sessions. An encore session of the trivia night is being offered on November 12th at 6pm.

    The workshops were promoted on the Robeson and Rutgers Libraries social media platforms, and Library Associate Edward Robinson had the idea to include a printed calendar of events with every Click and Collect and personal delivery order processed by the Robeson Access Services Department.

    Robeson Library has many more workshops coming up in November and December. For registration information, please visit our calendar of events at https://go.rutgers.edu/zxsdq8u8