Photo courtesy of the Villanova University Digital Library.

This week’s Throwback Thursday (TBT) features the late Robin Williams who performed at Villanova on Saturday, Oct. 4, 1986 for Parents’ Weekend. According to the Villanovan article, written by Elia DiTaddeo, “Williams called his stand-up comedy routine ‘Legalized Insanity.’” Students could purchase $13 or $14 tickets to see the comedy act. Small gifts were also given to Williams before the show, including “a small Villanova sweatshirt for Williams’ son.” Read the full article here. Thinking of watching one of Williams’ films over the holiday? Good Will Hunting is available at Falvey Library (portable DVD players are also available to loan.) The film premiered 25 years ago on Dec. 2, 1997.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change this world.” –Dead Poets Society

Image courtesy of the Villanova University Digital Library.

On November 16, 1968, Villanova celebrated the dedication of Falvey Memorial Library. Yesterday marks 54 years since this historic ceremony. Here is a picture of the program from the event, including information about the Rev. Daniel P. Falvey, OSA, and pictures from the original library at Villanova. Click here to celebrate this great event.

Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS is a senior Communication Major from just outside Baltimore who ​​works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant in Falvey.

Photo courtesy pf the Villanova University Digital Library.

In 1975, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (HHAW) was started by Father Ray Jackson and a group of Villanova students. This organization has a deep history at Villanova. This year, HHAW week is Sunday, Nov. 13 to Saturday, Nov. 19. You can donate a meal or enter the raffle to win prizes at this link. This week’s Throwback Thursday (TBT) is a letter from 1986 that Katie Dean, Chairperson of Run for Hunger, distributed to Villanova faculty.

Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS is a senior Communication major from just outside Baltimore who ​​works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant in Falvey Library.

Photo courtesy of the Villanova Digital Library. Special Olympic contenders and Villanova Students, November 1987.

This week’s Throwback Thursday (TBT) celebrates the annual Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival hosted and organized by Villanova University students. The festival is the largest annual student-run Special Olympics event in the world. More than 1,200 athletes will compete at the 34th Fall Festival at Villanova University on November 4-6, 2022. To learn more about Fall Festival visit this webpage.

Ethan Shea, Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library, highlighted additional throwbacks to past Special Olympics on this blog. On Falvey’s third floor, Beaudry Rae Allen, Preservation & Digital Archivist, curated an exhibit containing facsimiles of photographs and programs from the early days of the event.

Best of luck to all the athletes competing this weekend!

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

By Kallie Stahl 

Image courtesy of the Villanova University Digital Library.

Looking for a quick read during fall break? Celebrate spooky season and check out this handbook by A. Anderson. Published in 1898, How To Tell Fortunes by the Hand explains the rules of fortunetelling for readers. Learn more about the art of palmistry—Explore the full manual here.

Don’t miss your chance to see more mystical materials at Distinctive Collections Annual Halloween Event on Monday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. in front of Holy Grounds (First Floor, Falvey Library). On display will be Special Collection’s spookiest material along with a ghoulish game and treats.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Hang in there, Wildcats! Midterms are almost over. Falvey Library has plenty of study space (and a few spots to grab a quick nap). Image courtesy of the 1959 Belle Air Yearbook (page 12).

Read the full yearbook on the Villanova University Digital Library.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Image courtesy of the Villanova University Digital Library.

For this week’s Throwback Thursday (TBT), check out this fall image of Vasey Hall from 1993! The inscription on the side of Vasey Hall reads, “Originally known as the Commerce and Finance Building, this structure was later named for the Augustinian Provincial, Rev. Nicholas J. Vasey, O.S.A., 1918-1926.” Many theater productions were held in Vasey Hall before the new John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2020. Villanova Theatre’s newest show, Men On Boats will be running from Sept. 22 through Oct. 2, so be sure to get your tickets for this comedic satire!

Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS is a senior Communication Major from just outside Baltimore who ​​works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant in Falvey.

Collection Source: Box 1, Folder 5, VUA 35-26-vf Villanova Photograph Collection. Villanova University Archives, Villanova University. Football (Varsity), (1 item / 19 x 23.6 cm), undated.

Image courtesy of Distinctive Collections.

Image courtesy of Distinctive Collections.

Happy September, Wildcats! Football season is officially upon us. The Wildcats recently beat the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at our home opener. To honor the first game at home for the 2022 season, we’ve collected some images from the 1937 and 1938 seasons to honor the legacy of the Wildcat Football Team. Go ‘Cats!

 Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS is a senior Communication Major from just outside Baltimore who ​​works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant in Falvey.

This week’s Throwback Thursday (TBT) is a whiteboard drawing of author Wes Moore. Joanne Quinn, Director of Communication and Marketing, crafted the artwork to celebrate Moore’s arrival to Villanova’s campus on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014. Author of the 2014 Villanova One Book selection, The Other Wes Moore, Moore has been the focus of current events as he is the Democratic nominee for governor in the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election. Moore’s most recent book, Five Days, co-authored with Erica Green, “which tells the story of Baltimore in the days that followed the death of Freddie Gray in 2015.”

Dig deeper and explore Moore’s books below:

• The Other Wes Moore (2010)
• Discovering Wes Moore (2013)
• The Work (2015)
• This Way Home (2016)
• Five Days (2021) 

Villanova’s One Book committee has announced that Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas has been selected as the campus book for the 2022-23 academic year.

In Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, Vargas shares the personal account of his life as an undocumented immigrant living in America. Vargas was born in the Philippines and at the age of 12 was sent to the United States illegally by his mother—a fact which he didn’t discover until he went to apply for a driver’s permit and learned his papers were fake. In the years since, Vargas has struggled with his identity, has had a sense of homelessness, and has been frustrated with the fact that there is no clear way to achieve citizenship. Through his work as a reporter and writer, he has been a champion for the human rights of all immigrants.

Villanova University will welcome Vargas to campus to speak on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 p.m. in the Villanova Room, Connelly Center, as a part of our annual One Book Villanova Lecture during the St. Thomas of Villanova Celebration. A book signing and light refreshments will follow the talk. Please note that you don’t have to have read Dear America to attend the book talk! There will be a limited number of copies available at the event.

Following the author’s visit on September 28, the One Book Committee will continue to focus on the themes and topics presented by Vargas in Dear America by working with campus departments and groups to sponsor topical events so the community can continue the conversation. Be sure to check Campus Currents and Wildcat Newswire for further updates.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Photo courtesy of the Villanova University Digital Library.

This week’s Throwback Thursday (TBT) features the Villanova Theatre production The Higher You Climb. The caption for the photo above, featured in the 1960 Belle Air reads, “Leander (Raymond Kantra) attempts to woo the fair Silvia (Carole Miceli)” (p. 167). Browse the full yearbook here.

View the 2022-2023 Villanova Theatre Season here. Tickets for the first performance, “Men on Boats,” (Sept. 22-Oct. 2) are available at this link. 

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.