This post was written by Special Collections student assistant Jen Wachtel. Thank you, Jen!

The Retriever Weekly, our university’s proud student newspaper, began publishing as UMBC News in 1966. Special Collections and the University Archives maintain the print copies of all issues of the Retriever, and a large section of the issues (1966-1981 and 2002 to the present) are available online in UMBC's Digital Collections. With monetary support from UMBC's Office of Institutional Advancement, students and staff have been preparing to send the remaining issues to Creekside Digital, a digitization vendor located a short drive away in Glen Arm, MD. This project is a part of the Lyrasis Digitization Collaborative.

I conducted an inventory of the issues of the Retriever dating from January 1983 to May 1997, totaling over four hundred newspapers. Along the way, I found insights into some of UMBC’s hot-button topics of the 1980s and 1990s, including contentious construction projects and students’ demands for increased parking spaces (ed. note - complaining about parking is a long-standing UMBC tradition!). I particularly enjoyed following the timeline of the university administration, including the appointment of one Freeman A. Hrabowski III to Vice Provost at UMBC and his later position as Interim President for a “full academic year and possibly longer.” Of course, no inventory of The Retriever would be complete without the satirical Deceiver. Published annually on the week of April 1^st, the Deceiver  featured such choice headlines as “Giant Terrapin attacks UMBC” (referring to College Park’s mascot) and “SCHPORTZ” (1993).

Jen Wachtel working in Special Collections.

I also noticed some strange anomalies in The Retriever’s numbering system. From miswritten Roman numerals (XXVIV for 29 and IXX for 24) to a startling continuity error, the Retriever always had special surprises in store. The most bizarre circumstance was that in the academic year 1995-96, the Retriever accidentally published two separate versions of Volume 31 – one for fall, and one for spring, before continuing with Volumes 32 and 33 in 1996-97. This means that since spring 1996, every volume of The Retriever has been one number short!

Special Collections is located on the first floor of the library behind the gallery. We are open Monday through Friday from 1-4pm, on Thursdays from 1-8pm, and by appointment.

Volunteer Usher for Chesapeake Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Educational Matinees
Weekday Mornings April 7 - May 12

We are thrilled to be offering our 90-minute matinee production of Romeo and Juliet to schoolchildren from public schools in the City and surrounding counties as well as local independent schools.

Position:

Art Handler/Driver is responsible for the careful loading, unloading, wrapping and transport of artwork between our three fast paced art galleries and frame shop. Other responsibilities include packing and unpacking crates, receiving art and frame moulding shipments and recording in our database.

Successful candidates must be motivated and responsible, have an excellent/clean driving record and be able to pass D.O.T. medical exam. Carpentry skills are a plus.

If you are eager to learn, we will teach you the skills necessary to be successful!

The Development Coordinator will be responsible for researching potential grant funding, submitting grants and managing grants, coordinating a volunteer program and maintaining the donor and membership database and acknowledgment process.

Director of Program Planning & Administration

Finance & Administration Division

We are seeking a results-oriented, highly motivated professional with public relations and social media experience and a commitment to the highest levels of excellence. The salary range for this position is $35,000 to $45,000.

OFFICE SECRETARY III

SALARY: $30,472 -$47,710

STATE OF MARYLAND

(CONTRACTUAL)

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DIVISION OF TOURISM, FILM, AND THE ARTS

MARYLAND STATE ARTS COUNCIL

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development is seeking qualified applicants for the position

of Office Secretary within its Division of Tourism, Film, and the Arts, Maryland State Arts Council, whose

primary function is to provide support to agency administrative and program operations. Tasks include responding

Job Description

The Walters Art Museum is seeking a talented Director of Finance to lead the museum's day-to-day financial operations, play a key role in the strategic direction of the museum, and ensure the organization's accounting policies and practices are compliant and effective.

The Position