麻豆传媒

麻豆传媒鈥檚 Special Collections and University Archives: one of the best kept secrets of the campus and Wichita community. Its rich collection of maps, manuscripts, images, archives and rare books attracts researchers from all over the world.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very exciting because all of these materials are unique,鈥� said Lorraine Madway, assistant professor and curator of Special Collections and University Archives. 鈥淲e have a chance to acquire and process materials so that we can make them available to researchers.鈥�

Although most notably recognized for its Gordon Parks Papers and related exhibits, Special Collections hosts a number of events catered to the wants and needs of the community.

鈥淲e serve the needs of the students, the faculty, the staff and the larger Wichita and research community,鈥� said Madway.

Recent projects include a 鈥淪eparate is Not Equal鈥� exhibit, presenting photographs and documents that show the history of education in the African American community of Wichita.

The exhibit documents the plight, struggle and triumph of early African American educators. 鈥淪eparate is Not Equal鈥� shows the effects of segregation and is available to view in Special Collections and University Archives.

Special Collections also collaborates with other universities and researchers in the region.

鈥淐ommunity & Conflict: The Impact of the Civil War in the Ozarks鈥� is a digital project that combines research from Wichita State鈥檚 Special Collections with research from Missouri State, University of Arkansas, University of Tulsa, regional museums and county organizations.

Specializing in documents of Kansas and local regions, Wichita State鈥檚 Special Collections boasts an extensive map collection, some available online, dating back to 1556.

鈥淲e have one of the best small maps collections in the country. Our maps start from 1556 and go on from there,鈥� said Madway.

In addition to maps, Special Collections has obtained bleeding-Kansas Civil War records, artifacts and photographs, as well as documents depicting the history and struggle of women, African Americans and Native Americans in the community. The history of aviation in Wichita is also a staple of the collection.

鈥淲e are Wichita鈥檚 history detectives,鈥� she said.

Other collections and projects include the Gordon Parks Papers, poems by Albert Goldbarth, the Adele M. Davis Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Wichita State and only poet to be awarded the Book Critics Circle Award twice, and the Margarita Fischer Papers, reflecting Fischer鈥檚 life as a screen actress and her role as Eliza in Uncle Tom鈥檚 Cabin.

Special Collections also played a vital role in the filming of 鈥淏lack and Gold,鈥� a documentary of the 1970 麻豆传媒 football team plane crash that aired on KPTS Channel 8 this past October.

In addition to working with researchers and the community, Madway also assists students, building relationships and practical work experience.

鈥淲e really want to have students feel comfortable and accomplished in dealing with unique materials. That鈥檚 a wonderful achievement for any student to be able to evaluate and research these kinds of materials and appreciate their significance.鈥�

Whether for students, researchers or the local community, Special Collections provides a look at Kansas鈥� past and has established itself in the research community.

鈥淭hanks to the Internet we have researchers from all over the world,鈥� said Madway. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to share this cultural richness.鈥�

鈥淲ichita, Kansas is a very cool place,鈥� she said.

So the next time you research your family, Wichita, the Midwest or the world, remember the gem tucked on the lower level of the Ablah Library on Wichita State鈥檚 campus.

鈥淲e are not only local but are part of the larger world,鈥� said Madway. 鈥淲e make history come alive in a way that reading it in a book or even looking at it online cannot.鈥�

For more information on 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Special Collections and University Archives (316) 978-3590, visit , or specialcollections@wichita.edu.