Bossier Parish History Center curator Marisa Richardson recently acquired some new items for their collection. This is always exciting because it offers another glimpse into the past of Bossier Parish. She tells about these donations in the “Historical Center Retrospective” newsletter available on the library website at www.bossierlibrary.org.
The spring 2014 issue of the newsletter features a wooden bench vise circa mid to late 1800’s, which is on display in the hand-painted steamboat exhibit. Ship builders used vises to “fabricate or repair” ship masts and booms. This particular vise was possibly used in a Memphis, TN shipyard.
Another early 1800’s piece is a “beautiful oak dining table” handcrafted in America. It was donated to the Center in March. There are several furniture items and many other artifacts on exhibit in the History Center and at the other library branches in the parish.
Last, but certainly not least, David Specht, Jr., publisher of the Bossier Press-Tribune, donated bound hardcopies of the Bossier Banner and Barksdale Observer dating from the 1990’s to 2000’s. The Bossier Banner microfilm collection is fairly complete with the first publications beginning in 1859. There are a few exceptions when publication was suspended during the Civil War and some issues from 1958 are unavailable. The bound collection of the Tribune is almost complete as well thanks to Mr. Specht’s donation.
How many times have you wished you could look up a friend or an event in an old yearbook only to remember it was lost? The History Center has a large collection of Bossier Parish yearbooks from most of the high schools which are available for patrons to use in house.
In the effort to make these yearbooks more accessible to patrons they were recently digitized free of charge. Richardson said, “Working with the OCI (Oklahoma Correctional Industries) the complete yearbook collection was digitized. Sixteen boxes were shipped to OCI in December of 2013 where a special-purpose book scanner with the latest software technology was used to safely convert books or other printed materials to a digital format on DVD.” The plan is to eventually upload the images for patrons to view online.
To learn more about what is available online at the History Center go to the library website. Be sure to click on the blog and go to their Facebook page for up-to-date information.
Visit the History Center and see why we Geek Bossier Parish History.
Make a note:
- Summer Reading Programs begin this week. Check the library website for date, times, and locations.
- Thursday, June 19, from 6-7p.m. the Bossier Central Book Club will meet to discuss “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy” by Eric Metaxas. Refreshments will be served. Call (318) 746-1693 for more details.
New Books
Fiction
“Dance of Cloaks” by David Dalglish
“Fever” edited by M. Rode
“City of Lost Dreams” by Magnus Flyte
“Negotiator” by Dee Henderson
“Be Safe I Love You” by Cara Hoffman
“The Residue Years” by Mitchell S. Jackson
“Cambridge” by Susanna Kaysen
“Mundy’s Law: The Legend of Joe Mundy” by Monty McCord
“The Serpent of Venice” by Christopher Moore
“Bark: Stories” by Lorrie Moore
Vickie Hardin is Outreach Specialist for the Bossier Parish Library. She can be reached at vhardin@state.lib.la.us
