Afraid to go out of the house this Friday?  You're not alone, many people suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th.  Others are affected by triskaidekaphobia, the fear of 13.

The belief that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day is derived from two long-standing superstitions, the fear of the number 13 and a negative association with Friday itself. The two superstitions are part of a long and fragmented history making it difficult to pinpoint their origin. The unlucky 13 seems to have ancient origins giving room for plenty of speculation as to why the number came to be considered unlucky.  Some theories argue that there are mathematical reasons for the fear of 13 while others believe that 13 came to be associated with unlucky events.  Whatever the reasons, it is clear that 13 shows up time and time again as the object upon which people have historically projected fear and uncertainty.  One of the first texts to reflect this view is Work and Days, written in 700 B.C.E. by the Greek poet Hesiod. In this text, Hesiod mentions the 13th day of the month as an unlucky day for sowing seeds.  Unlucky 13 is incorporated in the story of the Last Supper at which Judas was the 13th guest. 

Negativity towards Fridays can be traced as far back as the 16th century in western literature.  The term "friday-faced," meaning sad-looking, and "friday-look," meaning a solemn look, surfaced as early as the late 1500s in Greenes Groatsworth of Witte: "The Foxe made a Fridayface, counterfeiting sorrow."²  The expression was used again in 1681 by William Robertson who wrote, "What makes you look so sad, and moodily? with such a Friday face" in the Phraseologia Generalis. Early in the next century William Rowley spoke of a "plague of Friday mornings!" in Match of Midnight.³  Why there's a negative association with Friday is subject to speculation.   It's unclear when the bad luck of 13 and supertitions of Friday coincided.  One historic event is often cited.  On Friday 13, 1307, members of the Knights of Templar were arrested and their leader was killed.  It came to be recognized as an unlucky date in the calendar.  However, according to Nathaniel Lachenmeyer, Friday the 13th didn't show up in lists of unlucky days until the 20th century.⁴ 

I hope this cursory history gives you just a taste of the superstitions surrounding this auspicious date.  If you're interested in learning more about the theories of the origin of Friday the 13th, check out 13: The Story of the World's Most Popular Superstition by Lachenmeyer.  It's located in the Lincoln Park Stacks at 133.3359 L137t 2004.  

1)  Lachenmeyer, Nathaniel. "The Origins of Unlucky 13." 13: the Story of the World's Most Popular Superstition. Thunder Mouth's Press: New York, 2004.

2) "Friday." Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2008.

3)  Ibid.

3) Lachenmeyer, Nathaniel. "The Rise of 13." 13: the Story of the World's Most Popular Superstition. Thunder Mouth's Press: New York, 2004.

Veterans Day, held annually on November 11, was designated to honor America's veterans for their patriotism and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the United States.  The City of Chicago is hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony at Soldier Field honoring those who have served in times of peace as well as in war.  DePaul University is also sponsoring an event to honor our veterans.  Both events are free and open to the public. 

City of Chicago Veterans Day Ceremony at Soldier Field

The Veterans Day Ceremony will feature keynote speaker Brigadier General Steven P. Huber, deputy commander of the Illinois Army National Guard.  General Huber joined the Illinois Army National Guard as a Private First Class in February 1979 and has held numerous command and staff positions throughout his career.  In October 2009, he was appointed deputy commander after returning from a year-long tour in Afghanistan where he served as commander of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VIII.  The General has received several awards throughout his career including the Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal.  Also speaking is DePaul student and army veteran, Katherine R. West. While serving her country, West was deployed for two overseas missions to Korea and Iraq.

The United States Naval Academy Women’s Glee Club, founded when women first entered the Naval Academy in 1976, will be performing two musical selections at the Commemoration, the National Anthem and America the Beautiful. The ensemble has performed across the nation as well as internationally, including tours to California, Hawaii, New York, Texas, Rome and London.

The program also includes a Wreath Ceremony at the Doughboy Statue to honor and remember local men and women who have served our country.

11 am, November 11, 2009

Soldier Field, Doughboy Statue, Gate O

1410 S. Museum Campus Dr.

Veterans Day Celebration with Vet Art Project hosted by the Veterans Advocacy Group at DePaul University

Army veteran, Katherine R. West, will be speaking with other veterans who will share their stories. While serving her country, West was deployed for two overseas missions to Korea and Iraq.  She was recently diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and discharged from the Army in May 2009.  West is currently pursuing a Psychology degree at DePaul University's School for New Learning Adult Bridge New Admission Program.  Her goal is to use her degree to help veterans experiencing the after effects of war as a Peer Support Specialist. Seating is limited so please RSVP to (312) 362-6367.

Reception starts at 5pm and speakers begin at 5:30, November 11, 2009

11th Floor of the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd.

Since 1990, November has been designated Native American Heritage Month to honor Native American traditions, communities and contributions. The theme for this year's heritage month is "Pride in Our Heritage. Honor to Our Ancestors."

Events happening in Chicago:

American Indian Center's 56th Annual Chicago Powwow 

November 7-8, 2009

UIC Pavilion ( University of Illinois, Chicago campus)
1150 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL

Doors open at 12 noon on Saturday, 10am on Sunday
Grand Entry (Dancing) starts at 1pm and 7pm Saturday
Admission $12 Adults, $6 Children (6-12) and Seniors 55+
Student/Groups receive a $2 discount, $18 for a weekend pass

American Indians in Chicago: Our Legacies, Our Communities

November 5, 2009, 7:00 pm

Scott Stevens, Director of the Newberry Library's D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian History, is the guest speaker.

Sulzer Regional
4455 N. Lincoln Avenue
60625


 

Halloween had its origins in the Celtic Festival of Samhain meaning "end of summer." Samhain was the most important and sinister festivals of the Celtic calendar. On November 1 in ancient Britain and Ireland, it was believed that the world of the gods was made visible to mankind, and the "gods played many tricks on their mortal worshipers; it was a time fraught with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural episodes. Sacrifices and propitiations of every kind were thought to be vital, for without them the Celts believed they could not prevail over the perils of the season or counteract the activities of the deities."¹  Around this time, people lit bonfires on hilltops for lighting hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits.   Masks and disguises were worn to avoid being recognized by the ghosts. "It was in these ways that beings such as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons came to be associated" with Samhain, the precurser to Halloween.²

1. "Samhain."Encyclopædia Britannica.2009.Encyclopædia Britannica Online.30 Oct. 2009 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9065212>.

2. "Halloween." Encyclopædia Britannica.2009.Encyclopædia Britannica Online.30 Oct. 2009 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9038951>.

*Levitt, Helen. Title unknown. circa 1940.

Halloween is fast approaching. Have you picked out a costume yet?  If you need a little inspiration to get into the Halloween spirit, stop by our book cover display in the John T. Richardson Library hallway. We've highlighted some of our especially spooky book jackets for your viewing pleasure.  Here are just a few of the choice picks.     

Bogged down with research?  Unsure of where to start?  Reference Librarians are available to help you. Just come to the reference desk at the campus of your choice and we'll give you guidance on where to start.  If you need more time with a librarian, set up an appointment for a Research Consultation to discuss your research topic one-on-one without interruption.  Our skilled and friendly librarians will guide you through the research process and demonstrate effective searches in the library catalog and databases.  Don't spend hours at home struggling!  Schedule a research consultation this quarter.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.  This observation began in September 1968 when Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week.  The week was expanded to a month in 1988 during the Reagan administration.  September 15 was chosen as the start of the celebration because it falls on the independence days for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.  Independence anniversaries for Mexico and Chile fall closely behind on September 16 and 18.

Visit our Hispanic Heritage Month display in the hallway at the entrance of the John T. Richardson Library at the Lincoln Park Campus and check out these Hispanic attractions in Chicago compiled by the Red Eye.

Have you ever had trouble choosing a topic for a term paper?  Are you interested in following current events? Let CQ Researcher be your guide to the current social and political issues of our day.  CQ Researcher is a weekly publication that covers current and controversial issues with complete summaries, timelines and bibliographies. I like to use CQ as a starting point for research because it provides an overview of the issue at hand including a brief history of the topic, a look at the current situation and the outlook for the future.  Another cool feature is the pro and con argument found in each article, always helpful when writing on a controversial topic.   CQ Researcher can be used to browse topics as well, which can be helpful in choosing a viable paper topic.  As if CQ Researcher weren't great enough, they've expanded the scope to include international topics (see the CQ Global link on the right of the CQ hompage).  Impress your friends, amaze your professors! Use CQ from the library or at home! 

CQ is available in print and electronically.  To get to the database, type CQ Researcher into the library search box and login with your Campus Connection info.  The most recent print copies are located behind the Lincoln Park library reference desk and older issues can be found in the Reference Collection at the call number R. 909.82 E23a. 

The DePaul University Libraries are proud to announce Artstor and the Avery Index to Architecture (AIA).  AIA makes it possible to find articles from over 700 architecture and interior design journals in one easy search.  If you find an article in this database that's not full text, click on "find full text" to see if an article is available elsewhere or request that a copy be sent to you via ILLiad, our interlibrary loan service for articles.

We are also excited to offer ARtsor, a digital library of more than one million images in the areas of art, architecture, the humanities, and social sciences with a set of tools to view, present, and manage images for research and teaching.  As the name indicates, the database can be used to locate images of paintings, sculpture and the like.  But it's also a great resource for students looking for primary source material including historical photographs, propaganda posters, advertisements and maps. 

You can search for either database by name using the library's search box on the middle and left-hand side of the library's homepage.  Both are also listed on the Art and Art History Research Guide.

We hope you enjoy our new resources and have a great autumn quarter! 

  
*Unknown. What Are You Doing to Prevent This? 1937. Distributed outside of Spain. Museum of Modern Art. ARTstor <http://www.artstor.org/index.shtml>.

**Unknown. Head of a King. 1600s. Nigeria, Benin, Edo. Cleveland Museum of Art. ARTstor <http://www.artstor.org/index.shtml>.

The DePaul Libraries will be closed Sunday September 6 and Monday September 7 for Labor Day.  The Libraries will resume regular business hours on Tuesday September 8.  We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. 

Have a wonderful weekend!        

Chicago Daily News. Meat Cutters marching in Labor Day Parade, 1908 Chicago [DN-0053253]. Chicago Daily News Negatives Collection, Chicago Historical Society.  American Memory Project <http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html>.