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Mad about monster movies: Mark Glassy
“Mark Glassy and Frankenstein: Men of Many Parts” features UCR alumnus’ passion for science and science fiction. His SF collectibles will be on exhibit through Dec. 14.
Over the decades Mark Glassy has collected more than 100,000 science fiction items.
Visitors to his home office are greeted by B-9, the Robot from “Lost in Space.” Glassy, a 1978 UC Riverside graduate-turned-cancer research scientist spends most of his evenings sculpting figurines that capture scenes from his favorite science fiction films.
His creations and a small selection of his collectibles became a special exhibit titled “Mark Glassy and Frankenstein: Men of Many Parts” at UCR’s Tomás Rivera Library’s Special Collections and University Archives in honor of the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
The 12-week exhibit on the fourth floor of the Rivera Library will feature guided tours with Glassy. In October and November he’ll offer six guided tours, including one on Halloween. Visitors who arrive at the Special Collections and University Archives will hear how his fandom for science fiction grew over the decades and will also learn how his sculptures evolve from an idea to an actual piece of art. Included in the exhibit are sculptures, comic books, posters, and other Science Fiction and Horror collectables that reflect Glassy’s life-long passion.
Exhibit events also include UCR Professor of English and Director of Speculative Fictions and Cultures of Science program Sheryl Vint, who will lead a conversation with German author and journalist Dietmar Dath, on Oct. 15. Dath is currently working on a Frankenstein screenplay.
All events are free and open to the public, but RSVPs are recommended, as space is limited:
- Guided Tours with Mark Glassy: frankenstein-tours.eventbrite.com
- Dietmar Dath with Sheryl Vint: dath-vint.eventbrite.com
Glassy’s connection to UCR goes back to 1975 when he started his doctoral research in biochemistry. He said UCR granted him both support and independence while he spent endless hours in the lab, designing his own experiments and researching B-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that supports the immune system by fighting off germs and diseases. For the past 37 years he’s been working at UC San Diego, most recently taking a role as a visiting scholar at UCSD’s Moores Cancer Center. Throughout those decades, Glassy has developed pritumumab, a pharmaceutical drug designed to cure brain cancer. His drug has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for review, he said.
UCR’s education helped steer his career. When Glassy heard UCR Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox speak during a San Diego reception two years ago, he was impressed with UCR’s growth, diversity, its mission to support first-generation students, while simultaneously supporting faculty who conduct world-class research.
Glassy’s two passions: finding a cure for brain cancer and delving into Science Fiction, lead him to his home office every day. There, he either writes articles for the scientific journal he founded, Human Antibodies, watches films that inspire his art, or sits in an old elementary school desk, surrounded by wire and stainless steel molding tools, small paint bottles, and jars of Apoxie Sculpt clay.
“In terms of the research environment, I cannot separate the two, science and science fiction. It’s impossible for me. When I’m at the lab, I’m still making analogies and metaphors,” said Glassy, who has authored three books.
Shelves line the office walls, holding thousands of little mementos of decades of Science Fiction history: triceratops, R2-D2, Stormtrooper masks, Pez candy dispensers, a Superman comic book collection from the 1950s, an 1831 edition of Frankenstein the novel, and a human-sized Creature from the “Black Lagoon.”
“It’s me. Look around, it’s me,” said Glassy, 66. “No matter how hectic, how stressful my day has been, when I walk into my room, it all washes away. I can’t help but smile.”
Featuring Glassy’s works and collection brings to the exhibit “the things that make him a ‘Mad Doctor,’” said JJ Jacobson, UCR’s Jay Kay and Doris Klein Science Fiction librarian. Jacobson is one of two exhibit curators. Glassy’s anti-cancer drug addresses brain tumors, the “the way one of his beloved comic book heroes cleans out a secret lab full of supervillains,” Jacobson said.
“Mark has the kind of vision, passion, energy, and concentration that make it really fortunate for the rest of us is that he’s not the kind of Mad Doctor who wants to rule the world. Instead, he’s mad for science fiction, comic books, and horror movies; absolutely mad about the range and power of the human imagination, and, of course, really mad at cancer,” Jacobson said. “There are many collectors out there who love Frankenstein, there are many model makers who do wonderful work, but what sets the material in ‘Men of Many Parts’ apart is all that combined with Mark’s incredible eye for detail, the scientific understanding with which he views the popular culture of monsters, and his extraordinarily wacky sense of humor.”
- Written by Sandra Baltazar Martinez
Q&A with UCR Archivists Andrea and Andrew
Every October, the Society of American Archivists initiates a month-long celebration highlighting archives and archivists.
American Archives Month gives archivists all over the United States an opportunity to talk to people in their communities about what they do and remind them that archivists are preserving important items and making them accessible. The UCR Library has two full-time permanent archivists on staff, University Archivist Andrea Hoff and Special Collections Processing Archivist Andrew Lippert. Learn about their roles at the UCR Library and more in our Archivist Q&A!
What inspired you to become an archivist?
Andrea Hoff (AH): I’ve always been fascinated by the past. Archives provide a window to history that can shape the way we view the world. This field offers unlimited opportunities for learning. It also allows you to develop expertise in many different areas, since each archive usually has a particular focus. The archives I’ve worked in have all had a unique collecting focus – from architecture to LGBTQ history, higher education to the Presidio of San Francisco. It’s been a thrill to get to learn about so many subjects.
Andrew Lippert (AL): My educational background is in history and I really wanted to find a way to make use of my degree in a career. I learned about archives while looking through the course catalog of my Master’s program and signed up for the classes more out of curiosity than anything else. I really enjoyed the mix of hands-on and intellectual work and decided to pursue a job in the field. It is a real treat, for a history buff, to get to engage with archival collections on a daily basis.
As an archivist at UCR, what does your job entail?
AH: As the University Archivist, I’m responsible for the curation and management of material related to the history of UCR. I collaborate with faculty, academic departments and campus organizations to ensure that their historical materials become part of University Archives. There is a lot of communication and relationship-building that goes into this. Advocacy and outreach is also important in order to increase the visibility of the archives. Making the collections accessible through processing and creating access points is another significant aspect of my job. I also teach and do research and assist people with their research… the list goes on!
AL: As the Special Collections Processing Archivist here at UCR, my primary role is working with our manuscript and archival collections to make them accessible to students, faculty, and other researchers. This is mainly focused on arranging and describing the contents of collections and creating guides to the collections, which we call finding aids. All of us in Special Collections & University Archives tend to have multifaceted responsibilities and my duties have grown over the years to include, at different times, instruction, outreach, presentations, curated exhibits, donor relations, collection development, and much more.
What is the most interesting special collections project you have worked on?
AL: There may be some recency bias weighing in on this one, but I would have to say the First Contact exhibit for this fall quarter was one of my favorite projects. I had a ton of fun diving into the history of first contact stories in science fiction and putting together the exhibit. It was a good excuse to read more science fiction at work, it was a fun puzzle trying to figure out what to include in the displays, and it was very interesting looking at a specific theme within the genre from an historiographic perspective. Aside from that, I would say that any time I get to work with a class has been a very engaging and rewarding experience. Each class asks new questions about the archives and the primary source materials that lead us to learning something new about the collections.
What challenges do you face as an archivist and how are you approaching them?
AH: Competing priorities are a challenge. There are so many things we are trying to accomplish and all of them are important. Different formats present a challenge as well. Preserving electronic records is quite different than preserving 35 mm film, for example. Deciding which collections should be processed and digitized is a challenge because every organization has limited time and resources to devote to those activities. My approach to this is to prioritize the stories that haven’t been told yet. Collecting materials that document the diverse voices that have shaped the history of UCR is my top priority.
Given that space is limited, how do you determine if materials have historical or lasting value?
AL: The million-dollar question! Space is a challenge that pretty much all libraries and archives have to deal with. I tend to approach this from a few perspectives. First, it is imperative that we look at who and what is represented in our collections and then identify those communities and voices that have not been well represented in the archival records in the past in order to work towards filling those gaps and silences to ensure that our archival materials are more diverse, inclusive, and representative of our broader community going forward. A second aspect is to look for materials that compliment specific topics that our repository has a strength in, to create a richness and depth of resources on a given subject in a single location. Third, as a part of the academic community, we have the opportunity to tap into current scholarly trends and research, which allows us to focus our collecting efforts in support of the students and faculty more directly. It is by no means a science and it is incredibly hard to predict what will be hot areas of research 10, 50, or 100 years from now.
What advice would you give to people who want to become archivists?
AH: Talk to archivists! I’m a big advocate of informational interviews. Reach out to archivists and librarians and ask to set up an informational interview. This is an opportunity for you to ask questions about the profession, potential career paths, etc. Archivists are the best resource for advice about how to get into this field and we are more than happy to share that. Most archivists consider this type of advocacy to be an essential part of our work. It’s a great way to find out about internships and other opportunities that can help you get your foot in the door.
AL: The field is quite varied in terms of the types of archives and roles that are available. It is definitely worthwhile to experiment and try a few different options before settling into a specific career path within the profession. Also, the early career stage can be challenging with regard to long-term or permanent employment. Most of us have gone through numerous temporary, grant-funded, or project positions before getting established in a career position.
Elsevier Negotiations
TO: UC Riverside Community
FROM: Steven Mandeville-Gamble, University Librarian
DATE: Thursday, February 28, 2019
RE: Outcome of UC Negotiations with Elsevier
I write to you today to share the outcome of the University of California’s negotiations to renew its systemwide license with scholarly journal publisher Elsevier, which have been underway for many months.
What’s happening
While we did make progress, particularly in the past few weeks, toward defining a model for open access publishing of UC research, Elsevier was ultimately unwilling to meet UC’s key goal: securing universal open access to UC research, as stated in the Academic Senate’s principles on scholarly communication, while integrating open access publishing fees and subscription fees into a single cost-controlled contract. These twin goals had been jointly articulated and endorsed by the systemwide Academic Senate, the Systemwide Library and Scholarly Information Advisory Committee (SLASIAC), and the Council of University Librarians.
The Academic Senate today also expressed its support for UC’s position with regard to the Elsevier negotiations.
In the end, cost, in particular, proved to be an insurmountable challenge. For example, Elsevier’s most recent proposal did not include any cap on the total amount UC faculty could end up paying in article publishing fees. Their model also would not have allowed us to fully subsidize article fees for authors who lack the funds themselves. To meet UC’s goal of open access publication for all UC authors, Elsevier would have charged authors over $10 million per year in addition to the libraries’ current multi-million dollar subscription. The university is not willing to accept a deal that increases Elsevier’s profits at the expense of our faculty. As a result, UC has announced that it will not be signing a new contract with Elsevier at this time.
While we do not know exactly when, Elsevier is expected to begin limiting UC’s access to new articles through its online platform, ScienceDirect, possibly very soon. This will mean some changes to how UC scholars access certain Elsevier journal articles.
What content will — and won’t — be affected
If you use Elsevier articles in your research, here are the most important things to know:
- Most Elsevier articles published in 2018 or earlier will still be accessible via ScienceDirect. Because UC’s prior contracts included permanent access to previously published content, you will still be able to get immediate access to the full text of most articles via Elsevier’s ScienceDirect backfiles, just as you have in the past.
- Open access articles in Elsevier journals are also unaffected. Many authors choose to pay an open access fee (called an article processing charge, or APC) when they publish, so it’s always worth checking to see if the article you’re seeking is available open access from the journal’s website or elsewhere online (click here for tips on how to search for open access versions).
- Elsevier e-books and other products licensed by UC such as Netter’s green books and the Reaxys and Inspec (through Engineering Village) databases are covered under separate contracts and remain available as before.
- What is affected: At some point, Elsevier may begin to turn off UC’s direct access to articles with a 2019 publish date and the backfiles of certain journals (download list).
- Alternative access options to the affected articles will be available, including *expedited* document delivery: see UCR’s Alternative Access to Articles webpage for more information.
If you are having trouble accessing a particular article, please contact a UCR Collection Strategist.
Interested in updates?
Find the latest information on the Office of Scholarly Communications website.
If you have any general questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Tiffany Moxham, Assistant University Librarian for Content and Discovery (tiffany.moxham@ucr.edu) at any time.
Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that created a set of simple, easy-to-understand copyright licenses.
These are legally enforceable licenses that allow creators to mark a work with permission to make a variety of uses, with the aim of expanding the range of things available for others to share, quote, adapt, and build upon.
And there's the humor of it: Shakespeare and the four humors
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) created characters that are among the richest and most humanly recognizable in all of literature. Yet Shakespeare understood human personality in the terms available to his age—that of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors –blood, bile, melancholy, and phlegm. These four humors were understood to define peoples’ physical and mental health, and determined their personality, as well.
The language of the four humors pervades Shakespeare's plays and their influence is felt above all in a belief that emotional states are physically determined. Carried by the bloodstream, the four humors bred the core passions of anger, grief, hope, and fear—the emotions conveyed so powerfully in Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies. Curator Gail Kern Paster explains “The four humors were an early typology for human personality. Shakespeare uses them, even as he transcends them, to create the vivid characters whose emotions continue to fascinate and delight us.”
“And there’s the humor of it”: Shakespeare and the four humors explores the role played by the four humors in several of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays through beautiful imagery and rare books from both the National Library of Medicine and the Folger Shakespeare Library, and examines more modern interpretations of the four humors in contemporary medicine.
This exhibition was developed and produced by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health and the Folger Shakespeare Library.
Assistant University Librarian for Collections
UCR Library is pleased to announce that Tiffany Moxham is appointed as our Assistant University Librarian for Collections, effective January 1, 2018.
Moxham, most recently the UCR Library’s Coordinator of Medical Library Services, has fourteen years’ experience working in academic and research libraries in North America, including ten years’ experience as a supervisor and manager in academic libraries and research groups.
Her work with the UCR School of Medicine has been transformational, both in terms of the services that the library has provided the SOM and also in terms of helping to prepare the School of Medicine for its successful accreditation review in spring 2017, which resulted in the SOM receiving full accreditation.
Moxham has superlative experience strategizing around issues related to ensuring quick and timely access to critical information resources while living within finite and constrained budgets. She has a demonstrated track record of using data-informed decision-making, being academically nimble, and engaging deeply with the academic programs that she supports. Throughout these efforts, she has consistently demonstrated what it takes to be a key partner in the academic and curricular success of the students and faculty at UCR as well as her previous institutions.
Her skills and insights will be critical as the UCR Library faces the challenges of ever-spiraling academic resource costs, evolving faculty and student curricular and research needs, and emerging forms of scholarly discourse alongside traditional modes.
Please join us in congratulating Tiffany in her new role!
Living the Promise Symposia
Join us as we examine the academic themes of Living the Promise: The Campaign for UC Riverside, and how UCR is impacting our community, our nation, and our world, and how you are part of it all.
Living the Promise Symposia are a yearlong series that will reflect on the key themes of UCR’s comprehensive fundraising campaign.
All symposia are free to attend for UCR students, staff, faculty, and alumni, as well as community members, friends, and supporters of the university.
Upcoming events include:
Discover the Emerging Technologies and innovations at UCR that enrich the ways we experience and interact with our world. RSVP online.
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Date: |
Thursday, February 16, 2017 |
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Time: |
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
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Location: |
HUB 302 at UCR |
From Genomics to Harvest: Explore the vast contributions UCR is making to the basic science, cultivation, and production of plants and food. RSVP online.
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Date: |
Friday, March 17, 2017 |
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Time: |
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
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Location: |
The Barn at UCR |
Examine the concept of Renewable Nature and learn how UCR’s environmental, energy, and sustainable development research solutions are creating a healthier planet. RSVP online.
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Date: |
Wednesday, April 19, 2017 |
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Time: |
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
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Location: |
University Theatre |
Watch, look, and see the New Voices and Visions of UCR as we showcase the various expressions and celebrations of our humanity through visual and performing arts, and nurture voices from across the rich tapestry of society. RSVP online.
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Date: |
Thursday, May 4, 2017 |
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Time: |
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
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Location: |
University Theatre at UCR |
The Symposia Launch took place in October 2016, where special guest U.S. Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell discussed improving access, increasing affordability, enhancing quality, and accelerating college completion, and how UCR is leveraging these priorities to become a university of the 21st century: A Place Where All Succeed.
The second symposium was held in November 2016, and that event focused on the topic of Social Innovation & Empowerment.
Master Musician Curtis Wright to Trace the History of the Banjo at Orbach Science Library
Lecture and musical performance will show the evolution of the instrument from its African roots to contemporary times
By Ross French
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) — Master banjo player and historian Curtis Wright will explore the historical roots of the instrument and other African-derived elements in bluegrass music in a special performance on Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12 noon in room 240 of the Orbach Science Library at the University of California, Riverside.
The performance, titled “The African-American Banjo: A Musical Journey from Slavery to Contemporary Times” is sponsored by the Librarians Association of UCR and is a part of the campus’ celebration of Black History Month throughout February.
“Curtis is a wonderful musician. I take any opportunity I can to hear him play” said Christina R. Cicchetti, reference and educational services librarian and the organizer of the event. “It is a real privilege to share his talent with the campus community. He is particularly knowledgeable on the history of the banjo and its African roots. This event will be both a fun and informative opportunity to celebrate Black History Month.”
Wright’s appearance is a combination lecture and musical performance that traces the origins of the banjo from its roots in Africa as the West African kora, through its evolution from a handmade instrument made and used by African-American slaves to its current position as a mainstay instrument in country, folk, traditional and bluegrass music.
The predecessor of today’s banjo traveled to North America with slaves brought from Africa.
In a career that spans nearly four decades, Wright has worked as a professional cowboy, educator and is currently a circuit pastor as well as an in-demand musician, having performed with Buck Page and the Riders of the Purple Sage, the Frank Wakefield Band and Jimmy Collier. In addition to the banjo, Wright plays violin, mandolin, harmonica, guitar and the Indian flute.
The event is free and open to the public. Metered visitor parking is available in Lot 10 or a parking permit may be purchased at the parking kiosk near University Avenue.
Poster Contest for GIS Day 2017
The UCR Library will host a poster contest as part of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day 2017 activities at UC Riverside, in collaboration with the Center for Conservation Biology, the Department of Earth Sciences, the Department of Environmental Sciences, UCR Extension, the Department of Psychology, and Capital Asset Strategies.
GIS Day, first established in 1999, provides an opportunity for people to learn about geography and the uses of GIS. This year, GIS Day falls on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
Both undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to enter posters that highlight their use of GIS. All academic disciplines are eligible, including natural and social sciences as well as humanities.
Acceptable formats
Printed posters and a limited number of dynamic displays (Story Map, PowerPoint) will be accepted.
Collaborations are allowed, as are multiple entries. Please note that for group entries, the first author listed will be eligible for any prizes, should that entry win.
How to enter
Prior to entering, students must submit an abstract before 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 for review and approval by the GIS Day Planning Committee.
To submit an abstract, please fill out this application form and send to Planning Committee member Paige Trubenstein (btrub001@ucr.edu). For questions, you can also contact Janet Reyes (janet.reyes@ucr.edu) at the Orbach Science Library’s Map Collection, or call (951) 827-6421.
The committee will notify prospective entrants if their abstract was accepted or declined by Saturday, Nov. 4.
Students whose abstracts were accepted must submit their posters by Thursday, Nov. 9.
Poster display
Beginning on Monday, Nov. 13, the entries will be included in a GIS poster display in the atrium of Orbach Science Library.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 15, entrants will have the opportunity to explain their posters and answer questions.
The contest’s first, second, and third-place winners will be announced at 4:00 on Nov. 15 prior to a reception for all participants.
Contest prizes will include a variety of items students will find useful.