E.W. Summar
Library
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Emma Waters Summar Library ...Pointing the way to a community of learning
Volume 1, Issue 1 February 2007
MORE THAN A NAME ON THE DOOR !B!J Y>auÂŁ cSomlÂŁ http://www.uu.edullibrary
Inside this issue: From the Director's Desk
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Library Services
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Library Contacts
2
Recent Acquisitions
3
Shepard Center
3
Tidbits Upcoming Events
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Library Hours
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Meet Margaret
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Book Reviews
4
Did you know ... The Summar Library is open more hours during our fall and spring semesters than any other area library - including the public library!
She looks out upon the library every day with a gleam in her eye and a Mona Lisaesque smile. But unlike da Vinci's enigmatic painting, the portrait of Emma Waters Summar represents a known individual. But how much do we really know of the woman for whom the library is named? What may sound like another mystery of "The Emma" is in fact no mystery at all. Born on June 14, 1869 in Lewisburg, Tennes: see, l Emma j Waters was destined to be an educator. After graduating Lewisburg Academy she moved to Chicago and enrolled in the Cook County Normal and Colonel Parker' School for Teachers where she specialized in kindergarten and primary education. Two years after graduation, Miss Emma moved back to Lewisburg and taught in public education between 1892 and 1913. In 1903 she married fellow educator Meredith M. Summar and in 1913 the couple moved to
Jackson as they both were hired to work for Union - he as the principal of Union Academy, a preparatory school operated by the university, and she as one of the teachers in the academy. In 1915, Mrs. Summar became Union's fulltime librarian and served the university in that role for over thirty years. During her tenure as head librarian, Mrs. Summar was one of the most popular faculty members on campus. She endeared herself to students so much so she was affectionately referred to as "Mother" Summar. Miss Emma was described as being patient, kind and genuinely interested in everyone's needs. For many years she was a sponsor of the Palladians, the first young women's literary organization on campus. She was also active in Greek life at Union serving for years as Chapter Mother for Chi Omega and was part of a group influential in the founding of a local chapter, the Zeta Gamma, which later affiliated with Zeta Tau Alpha. During World War II she spent many hours sewing on patches for the 44th College Training Detachment of the Army Air Corps stationed at Union. To the cadets, she was the "angel" in the library.
Since Mrs. Summar's arrival at Union in 1913, the library had been located in a small room of the Administration Building, however, in 1947 the library moved into the basement of a building which housed the school's dining hall on the first floor. A year later the dining hall moved and the library expanded occupying the entire building. By this time, Mrs. Summar was made Librarian Emeritus and the library was officially named "The Emma Waters Summar Library" for her years of tireless devotion and service to the library and university community. Mrs. Summar retired in 1950 leaving a legacy of gracious service and a growing library. She lived in Jackson until her death on August 20, 1955 at the age of86. ~