RAMble, the University Libraries' blog

Ruby Johnson Jones (1912-1976)

Assistant Professor of Education (1961-1973), she was the first African American Professor in West Chester’s history.

Ruby Johnson Jones was born in Evergreen, Alabama in 1912 to Elizabeth and Rufus Johnson.  She graduated from Langley High School in Pittsburgh in 1928.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from West Chester University in 1940 and a master’s of education degree from Temple University.  She joined the West Chester State College faculty in 1961 as a teacher in the campus’ Demonstration School, an elementary school for local West Chester students on the college’s campus.  Jones became an Assistant Professor of Education and supervisor of Student Teachers in 1968.  She retired in 1973.

Ruby Jones passed away in the summer of 1976.  After her passing, the former Demonstration School Building was formally dedicated Ruby Jones Hall in the fall of 1977.

Updated on 2/22/17: Access problems have been resolved! If you are still having issues, please contact us!

Having problems accessing a database? If' it's an Alexander Street Press database, you're not alone. People off campus and on campus have been having trouble getting in - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  

We're in contact with Alexander Street Press and hope to have the problem resolved soon!

Walter H. “Smitty” Smith

The first confirmed African American Student to graduate from West Chester State Normal School (W.C.S.N.S) was Walter H. Smith in 1910.  He, like most of his classmates, studied to be a teacher.  He was a member of the Moore Literary Society, one of two literary societies on campus serving as the social and scholarly outlet for students.

Walter Hibberd Smith was born April 15, 1892 in Malvern, PA.  He served in both World Wars after graduating from W.C.S.N.S.  He married Louisa C. Smith and had two children, Charles and Eleanor.  He taught in Wilmington, Delaware and Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he worked his way up to Principal.  He died in 1956.

To learn more about W.C.U graduates check out our digital Yearbooks and use the Ancestry Database.

Calling all retired faculty who currently use their bar code and last name to access databases from off campus! Access to library databases from off-campus has changed, and logging in via bar code is no longer an option.

You will need to log in with your WCU email address. If you did not set up your WCU email after retiring, please contact the Help Desk at 610-436-3350 to do so.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards ceremony, better known as the Oscars, is a highly anticipated event viewed by millions.  The nominees are announced  weeks before the academy members make their decision and the red carpet is rolled out.  And in the weeks between we Hollywood outsiders weigh in on the relative merits of the films we’ve seen, which actor or actress really deserves a nod, and how appalling it is that certain people seem to be forgotten, yet again.  On the night of the Academy Awards viewers around the country thrill to “and the Oscar goes to”.  But for every winner there are several that almost were.  This year in celebration of Oscar season we are honoring nominees that did not take home the trophy.  Come to the IMC and borrow a great runner up.  You won’t believe what didn’t win!

February 6-10, 2017 is #ColorOurCollections week across the world.  Libraries, Special Collections, Archives, and Museums around the world share black and white images for people to download and color.  The concept is an unusual one as institutions of these type rarely open up their unique, valuable collections in this way but it is meant to share unique items for creative purposes.  For more information on the institutions participating check out the official website from the New York Academy of Medicine.

This year West Chester University’s Special Collections is getting in on the action.

 Our coloring book images come from flower plates scanned from Robert Thornton’s Temple of Flora.  The original volume was published in 1807 in a series titled, New illustration of the sexual system of Carolus von Linnaeus.  The folio (or large book) includes large, beautifully colored images of flowers in artistic settings.

To access our coloring book click here: flora2_color_collections_reduced.  Not into coloring flowers?  Try your hand at coloring rammy.  This image is from a 1960s sport schedule.

We challenge you to #ColorOurCollections and share your recreations of these beautiful pieces by tweeting us your artwork @FHGLibrary.