Stephanie Muringer

Review of Bentley Historical Library

This place is so cool, if I hadn't taken my histor...

This place is so cool, if I hadn't taken my history course I would have never known about it. They keep all sorts of records tangentially related to the university's history. I was unable to go with my class for the initial meeting where they explained the rules, but the staff helped me out without complaint. The staff have always been helpful, and even interested in what kind of work I was embarking on. In my quest to learn about how WWII veterans changed the university, I was able to come across other information thanks to the archivist about the Army's Japanese Intensive Language course that ultimately led to the formation of the Center for Japanese Studies. There's a crazy history of spying, moving folks from the internment camps on the west coast, and professors pulling military strings to get the cultural studies of Japan ramped up through the university. I've come across language books, letters, and amazing photos through all this. So far, this has been the highlight of my first semester at the university.

The only challenge is parking. They have a really small parking lot, and you have to get a hang tag from inside. The university's bus stop isn't terribly far, and I've used that as well when I wasn't sure on parking. In the worst case scenario, parking at the VA hospital across the street would be viable.