Special Collections News

Recently, University of Houston Libraries hosted an elegant, festive milestone event. The MD Anderson Library 75th Anniversary Celebration was held on August 29, honoring the history of the Library while setting the foundation for an exciting transformation.

Guests were treated to a unique, crafted Library experience, one shaped by discovery and curiosity. The event featured themed vignettes:

• History of the MD Anderson Library
• Abundant Stacks, Quiet Study: The Library of the Past
• Fueling New Forms of Scholarship: The Library in Today’s Digital Age
• Beyond the Stacks: The Library of the Future
• Enduring Collections: Preserving Memory Across Time

Positioned with intention at selected locations within the Library and brought to life by librarians and archivists, each vignette illuminated a chapter in the Library’s history and its evolution alongside that of the University. The story was told through archival photos, documents, and artifacts of yore including a card catalog and an iconic, midcentury Swan chair that UH alumni can recall from their days studying in the Library.

A VIP experience in the Special Collections Reading Room offered guests an up-close look at rare and ancient records of human history, including a Sumerian clay tablet; a Torah from the historical regions of Bohemia and Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic); a 1769 edition of Experiments and Observations on Electricity by Benjamin Franklin gifted to UH Libraries by the UH Cullen College of Engineering; an 18th-century Ethiopian manuscript of religious texts; a volume of hand-colored woodcuts by artist Bingzhen Yao from the 18^th or 19^th century; a Qur’an manuscript leaf from the 11^th century; and the 1773 Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral by Phillis Wheatley, the first published book of poetry by a Black author in the United States.

At the conclusion of the self-guided exploration, dean of UH Libraries Christina H. Gola gave welcoming remarks. David Bertman, professor in the department of Music, served as the evening’s spirited emcee. Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner in the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion, accompanied by a graceful performance from Moores School of Music harpist Juliana Jordan. A delightful keynote from UH alum Shane McAuliffe (’03), host of The Texas Bucket List, brought a fitting finale to the evening.

Beyond a joyous, nostalgic gathering of UH alumni, friends, and colleagues, the event held a higher purpose: to inspire support for the Reimagined Library, a big idea that drives the development of modern, vibrant, and inspiring spaces and services designed to meet the dynamic needs of UH students, faculty, and scholars. Our bold, ambitious master plan will preserve traditional library spaces to honor the history of MD Anderson Library and our University, and it will transform static spaces into active, collaborative areas that reflect the way students learn today.

UH Libraries warmly thanks the host committee members, our guests, Shasta and Sasha, alumni, supporters, colleagues, and UH Ambassadors for a wonderfully memorable evening. Special recognition goes to UH alumna Cathy Coers Frank (’80), whose invaluable knowledge and connections made the event a success. 

Learn more about UH Libraries giving opportunities

Watch MD Anderson Library, Reimagined on YouTube 

View photos from the 75^th Anniversary Celebration on Facebook

University of Houston is a mobile-first campus. The mobile Cougar Card is a new option that gives UH students, faculty, and staff seamless access to campus resources and services through their iPhone, Android, or Apple Watch without carrying a physical card.

The mobile Cougar Card is a new option that gives UH students, faculty, and staff contactless entry to the MD Anderson Library.

Effective immediately, visitors to the MD Anderson Library who have activated their mobile Cougar Card on an iPhone, Android, or Apple Watch can simply tap their device to:

• Enter the MD Anderson Library using the turnstiles (video)
• Check out materials at all Libraries service desks
• Activate and release print jobs at Libraries printers

Visitors who have not activated their mobile Cougar Card are able to use one of the following Library entry methods:

• Physical Cougar Card: tap or swipe your card at the turnstiles
• Digital Cougar Card: in the UH Go app, generate a QR code and present to the Security staff for scanning
• Valid, government-issued photo ID: sign in at the Security desk

Visit Mobile Cougar Card for more information.

University of Houston Libraries celebrated its outstanding employees at the 2026 Library Excellence Awards recently. Now in its 26^th year, the event, held at the MD Anderson Library Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion, recognizes the commitment and talent of UH librarians and staff. The annual tradition is supported through the generosity of the John P. McGovern Foundation.

This year’s event theme was “Greatest of All Time,” inspired by the distinctions of UH Athletics, the recent Olympic Winter Games, and the upcoming World Cup. Dean of UH Libraries Christina Gola opened the festivities with gratitude for the many individuals who helped produce the awards event, including all nominators, members of the awards committee, members of the employee engagement committee, and staff. Libraries student employees who won scholarships for the upcoming academic year were also honored.

The Dean’s Advocate Award went to Heidi Appel, dean of the Honors College, who has been an extraordinary collaborator and advocate for UH Libraries over the past two years. Dean Appel deeply understands the essential role libraries serve in student success and has been a true partner in advancing that mission.

Dean Heidi Appel and Dean Christina Gola

Brooke Bailey is the McGovern Staff Rookie of the Year. Bailey is described as “an absolute marvel” whose expertise has had a positive impact on several processes at the Jenkins Architecture, Design, and Art Library. Under her direction, social media engagement has doubled, and with her promotion of materials, circulation has increased by more than 20%.

The McGovern Librarian Rookie of the Year is Louise Kidder, who is described as a “reliable, collaborative, and inclusive colleague.” Just six months after joining the Libraries, she stepped into an interim department head role, helping her team maintain “positive, steady morale during a time of significant change.” She successfully led several complex projects, improving workflows, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing the Libraries’ ability to support student success and research.

The Student Achievement awards were presented to Riya Dhanduke and Christina Miller. Dhanduke is a “highly collaborative and dependable employee” in Resource Management and Metadata whose assistance in the Pressbooks to MARC Pilot project was invaluable. Miller is recognized for her “reliability, cheerful personality, playful creativity, and excellent work ethic” at the Jenkins Library.

This year’s McGovern Outstanding Student is Kira Giannetti, who is known to be a collaborative, professional, autonomous, and diligent sound engineer for the Hamill Studio. Giannetti conveys care, good judgment, and a high degree of technical expertise that is appreciated by her many studio clients.

Jamie Duke and Susan Houston received Staff Achievement awards. Duke is an exceptional team member and “natural problem-solver” who shows grace and skill in her position, making sure that Libraries resources are used wisely and that recruiting and onboarding go smoothly. Houston juggles countless daunting tasks related to building management, and her “practical expertise and deep institutional knowledge” never fail to impress. 

Winners of the 2026 Library Excellence Awards

The McGovern Outstanding Staff awardee, Austin Stakes, is recognized for the essential behind-the-scenes contributions that help make the work of UH Libraries possible. Described as a “meticulous and exacting” digital photo technician, he is known for the attention to detail and technical expertise that strengthen every project he supports. 

Veronica Arellano Douglas and Kate Carter were honored for Librarian Achievement. Douglas has built an exemplary record of scholarship, service, and leadership while advancing UH Libraries’ mission both on campus and within the profession. She led the development of Teaching and Learning’s Reflection Toolkit, serves on the editorial board of the journal portal: Libraries and the Academy, and is a facilitator for ACRL Immersion.

Carter advances the Libraries’ mission through her work in open educational resources. She has taken on important leadership roles in the profession, and contributes to the field through scholarship, including a recent book chapter exploring the work of OER librarians. As chair of the Libraries Research and Scholarship Travel Committee, she leads improvements to application processes and documentation to better support students and future committee work.

Jennifer Holland is the McGovern Outstanding Librarian. “Supportive and dedicated,” Holland made various valuable contributions in 2025, such as participating in the Texas Library Association 2026 planning committee and the National Forum on Privacy Literacy Standards and Competencies at Penn State. She also became a co-convener of the American Library Association’s privacy literacy discussion group, co-presented with a colleague on library resources and research strategies for the Houston Early Research Experience program, and serves as chair for the Library Excellence Awards committee.

This year’s Outstanding Group is the Subscription Accounts Management team, Susan Ryan and Jeannie Pham. Their “tenacity, attention to detail, and insistence on accuracy,” along with their ability to respond quickly to unexpected challenges, were critical to the project’s success. Working collaboratively with colleagues and vendor partners, they navigated numerous billing and subscription management challenges while building strong, high-trust relationships with new partners. Their teamwork and persistence ensured continuity of access to UH Libraries’ print and electronic collections and demonstrated excellent stewardship of these important resources.

The Trailblazer Award for Leading Organizational Change went to collaborators Keith Komos, Frederick Young, and Selina Khan, who navigated the complexities of a shared library system with exceptional creativity and persistence. The group brought together partners from UH Libraries, university IT, and faculty across the UH system to meet an ambitious implementation timeline. Their technical expertise, programmatic leadership, and commitment to collaboration helped establish new relationships and set a standard for effective cross-campus teamwork. 

Members of the Library Excellence Awards Committee are Jennifer Holland, Sarah Barber, Susan Hoover, Eric Larsen, Yesenia Umana, Duong Pham, and Marian Smith; and ex officio members Jamie Duke and Santi Thompson.

Members of the Employee Engagement Committee who contributed to the development of the theme and celebration are Armin Lopez, Susan Ryan, Ann Blosser, Molly Knapp, and Quoc Phung.

Jessica Rodriguez and Larry Schmidt provided logistics support for the space and committees. Kyle Boberg provided photography.

See more photos on Facebook

The University of Houston MD Anderson Library was occupied in 1950 and dedicated on April 1, 1951. 75 years later, we are commemorating the legacy of our Library, the heart of the University, and looking toward the future of a Reimagined Library. In 2026, we invite the UH community to join us in celebrating this significant moment in our University’s history.

Celebrating 75 Years of the MD Anderson Library

The original MD Anderson Library, modest in size, has since evolved through three major expansions—the 1968 Blue Wing, 1977 Brown Wing, and 2004 Gold Wing—into a 400,000-square-foot facility. Its evolution mirrors the University’s growth, becoming a modern, collaborative hub for scholarship and creativity.

Explore this page to learn more about MD Anderson Library through the decades, engage in signature anniversary events, share your Library story, and find out how you can help shape the future of the Reimagined Library.

A new exhibit at University of Houston Libraries features local primary sources curated from the LGBT History Research Collection.

“We the People: Exploring the American Experience through the UH Libraries LGBT History Research Collection” illuminates lived experiences represented by photos, handwritten letters, artwork, newspaper clippings, clothing, and ephemera. Presented with support from The Hollyfield Foundation, the exhibit offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience deeply individual yet publicly resonant perspectives from the 1940s to 2000s.

Artwork and a photo from the Pat Gustavson and Mignon Weisinger Papers

After thoughtful research and planning, archivist Joyce Gabiola selected rare, one-of-a-kind materials documenting extraordinary moments and milieus in Houston and LGBT history. 

“As a UH alum and professional archivist who grew up in Houston, it’s an honor and privilege to have developed the exhibit for the UH community and public,” Gabiola said. “It’s also personally meaningful. One of my favorite parts of the exhibit is the inclusion of recent UH graduates’ affective engagement with materials in the collection, which represent academic and creative possibilities of archival research.”

Some of the collections featured in the exhibit are the Botts Collection of LGBT History, Diana Foundation Records, Arden Eversmeyer Papers, Fundación Latinoamericana de Acción Social Records, Gulf Coast Archive and Museum of GLBT History, and PFLAG Houston Records.

Photo from the JD Doyle Archives; correspondence from the Arden Eversmeyer Papers

UH Libraries has one of the most significant LGBTQ research collections in the country, built through decades of scholarly collaboration with members of the local community,” said Christian Kelleher, director of exhibitions and external relations. “While the exhibit only has room for a small sampling of materials from the extensive collections, it captures a sense of the personal and public, the civic, social and cultural historical primary sources represented in the archives.”

Curatorial assistant Lysandra Cruz stated that materials from the C. Patrick McIlvain Papers were especially notable for her. “It was a physical showcase of the kinds of emotions a person could go through,” Cruz said. Connected to Special Collections for a capstone course, she was motivated despite limited prior experience with physical primary sources. “What brought me to do this archival work was my want to learn more and experience a part of history that I felt also belonged to me,” she said.

Any UH student scholar, or member of the public who may be interested in exploring research collections can start with a finding aid search and connect with UH librarians and archivists who oversee the collections. 

“We the People” is on view through December 2026 and is located at MD Anderson Library floor 1. For more information or to discuss possible instruction opportunities connected to the exhibit, contact Joyce Gabiola.

To support a safe and accessible environment for all Library visitors, bicycles and electric scooters are no longer permitted inside the MD Anderson Library, effective April 6, 2026. As stated in MAPP 09.04.02, bicycles and scooters are not allowed inside buildings; and reckless or negligent operation of all bicycles and scooters (motorized or otherwise) on any part of campus is prohibited.

This change is being implemented to:

• Reduce safety hazards in high‑traffic areas
• Prevent damage to Library facilities
• Ensure clear walkways and emergency access routes for all visitors

What this means for you:

Bicycles and electric scooters may not be brought, ridden, charged, or stored anywhere inside the Library. Students, staff, faculty, and visitors are encouraged to secure or park bicycles and scooters at designated outdoor racks before entering.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our shared spaces safe, welcoming, and conducive to study and research. If you need accommodations related to mobility, please contact the Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center. 

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and accessible environment for everyone.

University of Houston Libraries is pleased to welcome Allison Young as the new library manager in Special Collections.

Special Collections Reading Room

Please describe your role. How does your work align with the student success and research impact focus of the University?

My role as Library Manager is directly involved with student success. I oversee our student employee pool in daily operations and patron service. I also assign students to archival projects that align with their academic and personal interests, which fosters a more rewarding work experience. Our students thus gain invaluable insight into archival research and processing.

I am also responsible for fielding research requests, making me a direct line of communication between potential patrons and our services. I thus not only assist former and future patrons in finding relevant materials, but I also schedule their appointments and put them in contact with curators of relevant collections. I further assist researchers at our reference desk when they visit our Reading Room.

Please share a bit about your background and professional interests. How do these inspire and shape your approach in Special Collections?

I received my BA in Art History with a minor in Anthropology and my MA in Art History from the University of Houston. My academic interests are reflections of my personal passions for the arts and humanities. The investigation of human history and creativity has always led me to libraries and museums. As such, I was extremely excited when I landed a student worker position at Special Collections. As a student worker, I was exposed daily to intimate materials reflecting parts of local, national, and international history. Excited and motivated by new skills in archival research, I translated my experience into my thesis work by visiting Special Collections and other institutions as a patron. These skills I continue to sharpen have colored the determination I bring to my new position at Special Collections daily. 

What are one or two things you’d like scholars and students to know about engaging with primary source materials?

Researching primary source materials can be like an archeological dig in the archives, you never know what you will uncover. What can be found can move your research forward or stop it dead in its tracks. It can also humanize your perceptions on a person, people, and/or history. From personal experience, I have found glimpses into people’s lives–anywhere from centuries to a few years ago–that have made me laugh, made my heart ache, made me empathize. Primary sources are intellectual and emotional tools that, I believe, should not be underestimated.

UH Libraries is pleased to introduce Cougar Collections, a new video series featuring the rare and unique research collections you can find at UH Special Collections.

In the inaugural episode, processing archivist Kevin Kinney shares a few compelling themes of the Red Adair Collection.

The Red Adair Collection is the first to be featured in UH Libraries’ new series, Cougar Collections.

Special collections and archives contain primary source materials, the ingredients of original scholarship. The new Cougar Collections series brings archives alive, surfacing the stories and voices that illuminate our history and inform our future.

Watch Cougar Collections: Red Adair.

Learn more about visiting Special Collections.

Access digitized materials at UH Digital Collections and the Audio/Video Repository.

Tommy Tune’s portrait from William Morris Agency

The announcement of the Tommy Tune Collection acquisition at University of Houston Libraries has garnered strong media coverage. Materials documenting the life and career of the prolific dancer/singer/director/choreographer are currently being processed, and will be accessible for research at a future date.

Thomas James Tune was born in Wichita Falls and grew up in Houston where he attended Lamar High School. After graduating from University of Texas at Austin, the 6 foot 6 tap dancer began graduate studies in directing at University of Houston, but soon left Texas for New York City, where his career launched from day one. In 1965, Tune made his Broadway debut in the production of Baker Street, followed by A Joyful Noise (1966) and How Now, Dow Jones (1967). 

Assistant university archivist Katy Allred carefully checks each item of the Tommy Tune collection to ensure proper preservation.

The acquisition was facilitated by Mary Manning, university archivist, together with Christian Kelleher, head of UH Special Collections. Manning sees a host of opportunities for how the Tommy Tune Collection can advance academic and scholarly productivity. “The Tommy Tune Collection is a significant contribution to the study of theatre history, particularly musical theatre,” she said. “Tommy Tune is not only a talented singer, actor, and dancer, but also a celebrated director, producer, and choreographer; his archives will be enlightening to scholars and performers researching any of these fields. The collection will provide insight into Tune’s creative processes and provide cultural context for the plays he directed and performed in; it can serve as a source for reconstructing the plays and performances, inspiring and providing material for musical theatre students and professionals.”

“Broadway legend donates personal collection to University of Houston” – Houston Chronicle, January 8

“Tommy Tune Collection Finds a Home at the University of Houston” – Broadway World, January 8

“Tommy Tune’s Archives Will Be Housed at the University of Houston” – Playbill, January 8

“Broadway legend Tommy Tune donates his costumes, scripts, letters to University of Houston” – Houston Public Media, January 9

“Houston-born Broadway legend  donates 50,000 item personal collection to UH” – CultureMap Houston, January 9

Hello Houston – Houston Public Media, January 22

“Tommy Tune’s personal archive at the University of Houston” – ABC13 Houston Localish, February 2