First Fridays, November: 'Unburied' and 'A Plain Pine Box'

  Please register to attend (https://forms.gle/8x1JvHpXJLDLvcgi9) in person or online.  Lunch at 11:30 a.m. Presentations begin at noon. A tour of the archival caverns will take place after the event concludes.   PRESENTATIONS "Unburied: Death and Mourning in the Archives" Presented by Caitlin Marineau, Assistant Curator, Children's Literature Research Collections; Aiden Bettine, Curator, Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies; Erin McBrien, Curator, Upper Midwest Literary Archives; and Darren Terpstra, Exhibit Designer, Archives and Special Collections.   A new exhibit in Andersen Library showcases materials related to death and mourning pulled from across all of Archives and Special Collections. From burial and mourning practices across communities and cultures, to popular conceptions of death in folklore and literature, learn more about this new exhibit from the curators and exhibit designer.   "A Plain Pine Box: Jewish Burial Practices" Presented by Kate Dietrick, Archivist, Upper Midwest Jewish Archives. Traditional Jewish laws have imbued Jewish funerals and burial not only with strong significance but also with practices that deviate from other religions. But these laws weren't always observed. In 1976, a group of concerned yet motivated congregants from Adath Jeshurun synagogue founded the Chevra Kavod Hamet (the Society to Give Honor to the Dead). Their return to traditional Jewish practices – including constructing pine box coffins, sewing shrouds, and preparing the body for burial – sparked a national interest in returning to these simple Jewish rituals. A 1977 ABC-TV documentary called "A Plain Pine Box" brought their work to a wider audience. Learn more about the Chevra's influence, and what it means to mourn in accordance with Jewish traditions.   About First Fridays First Fridays is a series of intellectually stimulating talks from the Archives and Special Collections at the UMN Libraries.   This year's theme is "Archivist's Choice!"  All of our collections have extensive depth and breadth — and some random things too. Not every remarkable story can fit into a theme. This year we're throwing out a theme in favor of the archivist's choice. Anything under the sun is fitting for this smorgasbord of presentations!   These events are made possible by a generous gift from Gov. Elmer L. Andersen and Mrs. Eleanor Andersen in honor of former University Librarian Dr. Edward B. Stanford.