Collins Unbound

If you’ve spent any time on campus, you’ve definitely noticed the incredible view we have of Mount Rainier. The Mountain that was “God” (being a little book about the great peak which the Indians named “Tacoma” but which is officially called “Rainier”) by John H. Williams was published in 1911, and features a lot of very attractive photography of our beloved mountain. The language in this book is extremely Romantic, though a little beyond its time. It features many of the legends that surrounded the mountain at the time of its publication, and waxes poetic about the peak: “It is an inspiration and yet a riddle to all who are drawn to the mysterious or love the sublime.” Though with all the talk of legends, of course there is also a venture into describing the native populations, which at most points is painfully problematic.

While I’m not sure if I would recommend it as a source if you’re writing about the history of Mt. Rainier, I’d definitely recommend it for the amazing amount of photography included in it. The book itself is filled with black and white photos and a handful of color photos, and even has some newspaper articles pasted in at the front (which on one hand, makes my skin crawl, but on the other hand, they’re cool to read). The stories about the business and exploration are definitely worth a read, though.

The Archives & Special Collections is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment.

By Morgan Ford

In my History 101 class we’ve been learning all about the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire and as a giant history buff, I’ve been fascinated. Recently, this rather gigantic bible caught my eye with the intricate border work along the side. When I pulled it out I was surprised to see it had silver clasps to hold it shut as well! I had to take a look inside. Its resemblance to a treasure chest was hard to resist, especially with the faded gold edging on the pages, and I found beautiful artwork and intriguing content.

This edition is called the “Parallel Bible” because it includes the King James Bible, a revised version of the Old and New Testaments, Psalms and much more all arranged, you guessed it, parallel to one another. I found works of art depicting religious scenes and even a section entitled “Narrating Bible Stories for the Young” which simplified things such as Adam and Eve’s banishment from Eden for easier understanding. Even if one isn’t quite as fascinated as I am by religious and historical texts, just a glimpse into this book is an adventure in and of itself.

Check it out on Primo for more information!

The Archives & Special Collections is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment.

By Laure Mounts

So there’s been a new little green book sitting on our shelf for months that I hadn’t quite gotten an opportunity to look at until now. Imagine my surprise to find out that it’s actually from our university (even if printed by Rutgers)!

Man and his becoming by Philip H. Phenix is actually part of the University of Puget Sound’s 1964 Brown & Haley lectures, a series that has been going on since 1953, though over the past 10 years it has become bi-annual. If the sponsors, Brown & Haley, sound familiar to you, it’s probably because they’re the inventors of Almond Roca and are located right here in Tacoma.

This specific lecture contains three parts: “Being and Becoming Human,” “Being and Becoming Related,” and “Being and Becoming Oneself.” It explores the age-old question of human nature and its development through a multitude of approaches, including the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. Phenix postulates that no one of these studies can construct a complete understanding of human nature, and on their own can only offer partial understanding. Combining physical (body), behavioral (mind), and artistic (spirit) approaches is the best way to get close to what Phenix calls the “whole truth.”

Though this lecture is over 50 years old, it offers an interesting synthesis of multiple fields to form a moderately cohesive philosophy of human nature. Though to be honest, I’m just happy to have stumbled across another publication that came from our university.

The Archives & Special Collections is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment.

By Morgan Ford