Prof. Victor Hill, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, 24 January 2006: As I look back on a forty-year career of teaching at Williams, there are many wonderful highlights, but surely one that stands out is the series of “field trips” to the Chapin Library of Rare Book on which I took my History of Mathematics classes. I should add that this benefit went beyond just my students. Every member of my Department in residence attended one of these presentations, as did a couple of Mathematics alumni who returned to town for that explicit purpose.
     Williams is indeed fortunate to have such an extensive collection of books of great interest in the field. The classics – Euclid (1482), Archimedes/Proclus, Copernicus, Newton, Kepler, deMoivre, on and on – form a treasury at which some of my colleagues at other schools gape in wonder. But some of the works of lesser stature – the color-coded Euclid, Dodgson, Flatland – add a further dimension of delight. That one day upstaged everything else I did in the course, but I’m prepared to be upstaged by the collection described in my checklist.
     You, personally, have such an impressive and extensive knowledge of the collection that it’s always been a joy to plan the visit – with all of those little slips in the books at interesting points.
     In addition to the collection itself, the setting is ideal. To have enough room to spread out that marvelous hands-on exhibit filling the main floor is a great pleasure; the room just “feels right” for this day out. I’m sure you were aware of the enthusiasm generated in the class by our Chapin Library trip – they have commented on it for years afterwards.
     Warmest thanks to you (and to Bob) for having made these “field trips” the joy for all that they have been. I hope, in the end, that they have also served to make some students aware of the treasure we have in the Chapin Library.

Naomi Pasachoff, visiting instructor, English Department, 14 December 2005:I want to thank you again for the time you spent with my class [Reading and Writing Biography] this fall. I’m reading the blue sheets now, and more than one students has including a comment something like this: “The Chapin Library visit was very interesting and informative and made me aware of resources I didn’t already know about.” I’m hoping to have a chance to teach the course again, and if I do, I hope you’ll be willing to play a similar role in helping these fledgling biographers.

Prof. Michael Lewis, Art Department, 17 November 2005: Let me thank you again for your kindness today [for a presentation to the “Gothic Revival” class]. Having spoken with some of my students afterwards, I know how much they appreciated every aspect of it – from the luscious visual materials they looked at to your congenial and witty hospitality, which made the whole thing an engaging conversation among friends rather than a formal lecture. I regret that I didn’t do it earlier in the course – but I have now learned an important lesson for the future.

Prof. Darra Goldstein, Russian Department, 2 October 2001, following the opening of an exhibition of rare American cookbooks in the Chapin gallery, in conjunction with the Food History Symposium sponsored by the International Association of Culinary Professionals and Gastronomica:Just a note to thank you for hosting such a beautiful reception last week. It was the perfect start to the symposium, and the participants were thrilled to see such a lovely space and such an impressive collection of books. I can’t wait to revisit Chapin to get a better look.

Prof. Robert Jackall, Sociology Department, 17 March 2001:A brief note to thank you for the wonderful class last week. The class enjoyed it greatly and I’m hopeful that several of them will utilize the Chapin for their work. Many thanks to wonderful colleagues.

Prof. Barbara Takenaga, Art Department, 7 October 1999:Thank you so much for taking time to show books to my [artist books] class. As usual, it was a wonderful opportunity for them to see a range of possibilities – plus beautifully made books. I really appreciate your time and efforts.

Prof. Ilona Bell, English Department, 8 December 1998:My students seemed to enjoy their jaunt through the Chapin classics of English literature enormously. They said in particular that they really enjoyed hearing what you had to say. I received the following e-mail [from one of them], just as I was writing to you: “Anyway, it was a really great experience and I enjoyed listening to them [Bob Volz and Wayne Hammond]. (I’ll be sure to tell other English enthusiasts to visit.) Tell them thanks!”

Prof. William Pritchard, English Department, 29 October 1998:Thanks again for the classes of two weeks ago. Many of the students were quite impressed with what they saw and professed an interest in returning on their own. And our study of Tristram Shandy (just begun) has certainly been enhanced by what we saw that day.

Prof. Steve Fix, English Department, 4 May 1998:My colleagues and I are deeply grateful to you and Bob for mounting the splendid exhibition in John Reichert’s honor. I know it entailed a lot of extra work at a very busy time, but, as always, the results were spectacular. The exhibition was an important way of underscoring to John – and to the community – how much we admire his achievements as a teacher and scholar. Thank you also for everything you did to make it possible for us to have the reception at the Chapin. It was the perfect venue for the celebration, and everyone clearly enjoyed themselves.

Prof. Eva Grudin, Art Department, 16 March 1998: Thank you for preparing that wonderful conference on medieval manuscript illumination for ArtH 102. It was thrilling for all of us, the students especially, to have access to such extraordinary works. I realize 15 conferences and about 300 students must have been a taxing number, but the benefits are enormous. Some students really want to pursue medieval art because of it. I hope you wouldn’t mind if we did something like this every spring.

Prof. Kai Lee, Center for Environmental Studies, 15 November 1993:You were spectacular in ENVI 403. Your expert and engaged discussion of the Chapin, the way in which Americans wrote and thought about nature, and, most of all, your showing of the Audubon work all opened new dimensions for my students to grapple with. Many thanks!

Robin Brickman, WSP instructor, 27 January 1992:Thank you again for your wonderful presentation to my Natural Science Illustration course. The selections you made, and information conveyed, truly gave us all many insights into the history of the field and our own work.

Prof. William Fox, Geology Department, 31 October 1989:Just a brief note to thank you again for all the work that you put into the wonderful exhibit on “Antarctica in Fiction and Fact”. I had several good comments about the display from those who saw it following the lecture, and from one freshman parent who went over on Saturday. It was much appreciated.

Prof. E.J. Johnson, Art Department, 25 February 1997:This to thank you most heartily for the wonderful afternoon my Palladio seminar spent in Chapin Library yesterday. Even though I know your holdings fairly well, I never cease to be amazed at their strength in illustrated architectural books. . . . I also want to thank you both for being present for the entire three hours of the class, and filling in from your knowledge of the books when mine failed, or when there were questions that only an expert in the history of printing could answer. I particularly appreciated (indeed I was thrilled by) your impromptu pulling from a case the Philadelphia carpenter’s manual of the 1770s at just the point in the class when doing so reinforced a point I was making. That went way beyond the call of duty and added immeasurably to what the students got out of the experience.

Prof. Meg Lowman, Biology Department, 10 December 2001:On behalf of Environmental Studies 101, thank you so much for your wonderful presentation about women involved in natural history writing and artistry. It was fascinating to see the selection you chose and to hear your interesting descriptions of the work and lives of these women during their time.

Prof. Karen Swann, then Chair, Women’s Studies, 10 July 1991:Before I leave my post as Chair of Women’s Studies, I wanted to send you a belated thank you for all that you’ve done for the Program. Both the exhibit “La deuxième sexe” and the reception for Women’s Studies concentrators and faculty were a splendid way to make participants in the Program more aware of the Chapin’s great resources. (I know I will be haunting the Library during my coming sabbatical!)

Prof. Steve Fix, English Department, 24 April 1991:Many thanks for the wonderful [Samuel] Johnson class on Tuesday. As always, it was engaging and illuminating. I’ve talked to a lot of students since then, and they all commented on how much they enjoyed and learned from it. The Chapin is a great resource for the College, and you are a great resource for the College.

Prof. Meredith Hoppin, Classics Department, 25 March 1991:Although I had a chance only to glance at the exhibit “Classic Classics”, the many enthusiastic comments made to me by our CANE [Classical Association of New England] guests assured me where my previous experience with the Chapin Library gave me no need for assurance. Still, it was a source of pleasure and pride to hear the chorus of praise attending the exhibit. I want to thank you for your efforts and their wonderful results. . . . I will be coming by to see the exhibit properly, for myself and with students in train.

Prof. Peggy Diggs, Art Department, 14 April 1987: I want to thank you heartily for your introduction to the book that you gave to my two sections of ArtS112. It was an excellent, concise range of information that provided a sense of the past to them, and – most importantly for a studio class – a variety of visuals for them to “keep in the hopper” as they attempt to design and construct their own books. More than a few students have mentioned how important it was to see those things, and I wanted to pass along to you our gratitude for your work.