Researchers uncover two more Lincoln documents
State Journal-Register (Ill.) – Aug. 11
Two previously unknown Lincoln documents have been uncovered in a collection that had been donated to the University of Alabama Libraries in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Springfield-based Papers of Abraham Lincoln has scanned the two documents found in the A. S. Williams III Americana Collection at the libraries. The first document is a letter to Lincoln’s former secretary of war, Simon Cameron, written on Nov. 6, 1863. The letter concerns a series of treason cases against prominent Baltimore officials. Cameron had imprisoned many of them during his time in Lincoln’s Cabinet, and in turn, several of them had sued him for false imprisonment. Cameron wrote to Lincoln urging the president to press the treason trials to demonstrate the government’s intolerance for treason and to help Cameron’s case. Lincoln responded that he had sent an attorney to Baltimore to investigate the matter and had learned that the judge did not want to proceed without the presence of the Supreme Court justice responsible for Maryland’s federal circuit. … The A. S. Williams III Collection is a rich assortment of Americana assembled over 40 years by a Birmingham, Alabama, businessman. Williams presented the collection in 2010 to The University of Alabama, where selections are on display in the Gorgas Library. “It is amazing that in the 21st century new Lincoln materials are still being found,” said George Rable, the university’s Charles Summersell Chair in Southern History. “It was especially pleasing that the two new documents were discovered at the University of Alabama.”
Daily Herald (Chicago) – Aug. 11
WGIL Radio (Galesburg, Ill.) – Aug. 11
NBC 6 (Davenport, Iowa) — Aug. 11
Alabama Action group beautify Faucett-Vestavia Elementary (gallery)
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 11
University of Alabama freshmen Katie Marcus, of Acworth, Ga., left, and Cody Vantrease, of Stow, Ohio, right, paint a fresh layer of yellow paint on the crosswalk at the front entrance of Faucett-Vestavia Elementary School in Northport, Ala. on Monday Aug. 11, 2014. Approximately 150 students from the Honors College and members of the Alabama Action group at UA will be working on different projects throughout the week to beautify Faucett-Vestavia Elementary and Matthews Elementary.
Take a virtual tour of the University of Alabama’s new 85,000-square-foot recreation center
Al.com – Aug. 12
University of Alabama students will have a new campus amenity to take advantage of this school year in the $32 million, 85,000-square-foot Student Activity Center. Located on the north end of campus overlooking the Black Warrior River, the SAC offers more than 10,000 sq. ft. of weight/fitness space in addition to hardwood courts, personal training studios and group class areas. The building also features a 25,000 sq. ft storm shelter below ground, in addition to housing some UA offices and programs outside of University Recreation. George Brown, executive director of University Recreation, said the idea for a new recreation center came about four years ago as UA was experiencing significant population growth. “Our data suggested we were not going to do anything but get more and more crowded and squeeze our patrons if we continued to see enrollment growth and increases of usage,” Brown said.
Tuscaloosa County Chapter of UA Alumni Association gives $85,000 in scholarships
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Aug. 11
Eight-five thousand dollars in University of Alabama scholarships. That’s what the Tuscaloosa County chapter of the Alumni Association is giving local students this year. Outstanding students, like Jade Ladet. Lynn Brooks has her story. It all started with a phone call. “The Tuscaloosa County Alumni Association would like to present you with two scholarships, and I was like ‘OK, great!’” Now, the Bryant High graduate’s dream of attending the University of Alabama is coming true. “I’m very grateful. We’re very grateful. Me and my parents.”
University of Alabama College of Communication inducts five into Hall of Fame
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 11
The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences will induct five new members into its Communication Hall of Fame during an event in October. The 2014 inductees include TV broadcaster William O. “Bill” Bolen, first-amendment attorney Gilbert E. “Gibby” Johnston, and award-winning actress Sela Ward. The college will also posthumously induct newspaper executive H. Shelton Prince Jr. and broadcaster Stan Siegal. The inductees were selected based on their accomplishments that bring prominence to the state through application of disciplines taught, researched and practiced in the College of Communication and Information Sciences, according to a release. The induction ceremony and dinner will be Oct. 9 in the North Zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Tickets are $125 and may be purchased by phoning 205-348-4787.
University of Alabama’s Plank Center re-elects members, adds new adviser
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 11
The board of advisers for the University of Alabama’s Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations has re-elected six members and added a new adviser. The board re-elected Keith Burton, a consultant with Employee Engagement; E. Culpepper Clark, dean emeritus of the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia; Bill Heyman, president and CEO of Heyman Associates; Carrie Kurlander, vice president of public relations for Chick-fil-A; T.R. Reid, vice president of global communications for CHC Helicopter; and Kevin Saghy, manager of communication for the Chicago Cubs.The new member is Nilanjana Bardhan, director of graduate studies in the department of communication studies at Southern Illinois University.
Tips for parents to help kids in new school year
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Aug. 11
The new school year comes with some adjustments for students and parents. One of the areas that can leave parents with some questions is how to help their children with what they are learning in school, especially with some of the recent changes in education. The Common Core standards outline what students should be accomplishing at what grade level to be ready for an entry-level career, freshman-level college courses and workforce training programs. Dr. Shannon Henderson, Assistant Professor of Elementary Education at The University of Alabama, said parents can help their children meet these standards by helping them develop critical thinking skills. She says this is the idea from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade; the complexity of material just changes. Henderson says engaging in conversation with your child is one of the best ways to help them think critically. Henderson also encourages parents to read with their children, focusing on comprehending the material. “Never is there this kind of line in the sand where you read a book, and you say, ‘Well, I’m just focused on the reading process,’ but you get to the end of the book and you can’t talk about what that book was about,” Henderson said.
UA Gadsden Center interim director in place
Gadsden Times – Aug. 11
Skip Campbell, who was named interim director at the University of Alabama Center this summer, describes himself as a history geek. Downtown Gadsden Inc. Director Kay Moore told downtown merchants, as she introduced Campbell during a recent meeting, that he kept stopping to look at every old photo and building as he toured the city. Campbell also is well-versed in the history of the UA Center, and he’s anxious to let more people know about what it’s doing now and what it plans to do in the future. The University of Alabama has had a center in Gadsden for close to 70 years, he said. “We’ve been here so long everyone knows we’re here, but they don’t know exactly what we do,” he said.
Alabama author Rick Bragg to speak in Fayette
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 11
Best-selling author, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and writing instructor Rick Bragg will speak at the Fayette Civic Center on Saturday, Aug. 16. The event, “Rick Bragg Tells Tales,” will begin at 5:30 p.m. with appetizers catered by Missy’s Taste of Home. Bragg will arrive shortly after 6 p.m. and will speak in the auditorium at 7 p.m. Bragg’s books will be on sale in the lobby throughout the event. After his talk, he will be available to sign books in the Chamber of Commerce Room. … He now teaches writing at the University of Alabama and writes a column for Southern Living magazine.