9:07 a.m., Jan. 26, 2010----The University of Delaware Library announces a new exhibition in the Special Collections Exhibition Gallery in the Morris Library entitled “Games People Play: A Historical Perspective” which will be on view from Tuesday, Jan. 26, through Friday, June 25.

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“Games People Play” highlights books and other materials on sports and games.

Special Collections holds works on recreations from the 18th through the 20th century, including books about horse racing, fishing, boxing and skating. In addition, Special Collections holds a small collection of 19th century board games, chess sets and decks of cards, a number of which came to the library in conjunction with the personal papers of Delawareans whose archives are held in Special Collections.

Of special interest are the items from two University of Delaware Library-related collections. The David M. Nelson Papers document the career of the legendary football coach and expert on football rules. The recently-acquired papers of the late Sen. Thurman Adams document the career of the former Delaware Senate president pro tempore and University of Delaware graduate. Included in the exhibition are items related to his experiences as a member of the University lacrosse team.

The history of recreation at a particular time and place gives the viewer insights into larger society. The role of sports and games in the lives of children and adolescents reveals the values that the culture was trying to convey. The activities that women were allowed to take part in also illustrate their larger roles in society.

Iris Snyder, associate librarian in the Special Collections Department of the University of Delaware Library, is the curator of “Games People Play.”

An online version of "Games People Play" is available on a Special Collections Web site.

About the Special Collections Department

Holdings of the Special Collections Department of the University of Delaware Library include books, manuscripts, maps, prints, photographs, broadsides, periodicals, pamphlets, ephemera, and realia from the 15th to the 21st century. The collections complement the library's general collections with particular strengths in the subject areas of the arts; English, Irish, and American literature; history and Delawareana; horticulture; and history of science and technology.

For Special Collection Exhibition Gallery hours in the Morris Library check the library Web or call (302) 831-BOOK. For online versions of exhibitions, visit the library Special Collections site.