Library Director Message

One of the most exciting and fulfilling aspects of my role as the library director at Park University is the chance to collaborate with the University's associate archivist, Dr. Timothy Westcott, to celebrate Park's rich history and continuing legacy.

This inaugural issue of The Archives magazine highlights two crucial components of that history. Student and alumni participation in building one of the first structures on the flagship Parkville campus, and the astonishing life of one of our most prolific alumni missionaries, Dr Eleanor Chesnut

The goal of The Archives is to engage members of the Park community--whether they're current students, alumni, long-time Parkville residents, or other constituents--with the University's almost 150 years of history.

To that end, I'm incredibly excited about several library and archival initiatives:

Park University's newly digitized Nisei (secondgeneration Japanese Americans) collection, which includes more than 1,700 documents pertaining to the acceptance of these students to Park during World War II

(https://www jstor org/site/park/archives/)

The George S Robb Centre's Valor Medals Review Project, led by Dr Westcott, which has launched a systemic investigation into minority servicemembers who may have been unjustly denied high-level valor awards due to their racial or religious backgrounds (https://gsr.park.edu/).

Thank you for connecting with The Archives, and, in turn, connecting with Park University's unique past, dynamic present, and exciting future Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me at danielle theiss@park edu

Danielle Theiss Director of Library, Academic and Career Success Services Assistant Professor of Library Services Park University