Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Did you grow up watching Tom and Jerry? We have something for you! These animation stills, certified with a stamp from the “Advertising Code Administration of Hollywood,” are from the short titled “Johann Mouse.” Aired 1953, these photos are the black and white version of the colored cartoon. If you look closely, you can see where the animators cut out Jerry so they could move him for each frame— because of course, everything was done by hand!

From: C0477

Enjoying our day in Richmond at the VA Caucus Meeting and touring the “Give Me Liberty” exhibit the archives and rare books vault!

Welcome back to 🎭! Today we’re paying tribute to the one and only Judy Garland with a belated birthday celebration. Born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922, the young child who would come to be known to the world as made her professional performance debut at the young age of 3, before formally joining “The Gumm Sisters” musical trio at the age of 5. While best known for her movie roles, most enduringly as Dorothy Gale in MGM’s 1939 Technicolor musical 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘻, when her film career stalled in the 1950s Garland returned to her roots, beginning a series of long-running and successful concert engagements, including several multi-week performances at Broadway’s Palace Theatre in 1951, 1956, and 1967.

📸Details from “The Story of Judy Garland” program, circa 1956. Broadway souvenir theatre programs collection, C0182.

📸Playbill and ticket stub, August 1967. From Charles Rodrigues playbill collection, C0184.

In April of 1992 George Mason University's Gay Le***an Student Association, along with the George Mason University Women's Coalition, Student Services, and the Women's Center sponsored Gay/Le***an/Bi Awareness Week. The stated goal was to raise awareness of LGBTQ issues. This was but one example of grassroots organization of LGBTQ students at Mason before the turn of the century. From the Broadside student newspaper collection, R0128, April 6, 1992 and April 13, 1992. Mason Libraries George Mason University Alumni Association Mason's LGBTQ Resources Center

Welcome to a SPECIAL FRIDAY EDITION of Today's (or yesterday's) feature is a selection of images from a photo session Sardi's Restaurant for the winners of the 1967 Tony Awards, the first ever television broadcast of the program. In order we have Lauren Becall and Paul Rogers, winners for their roles in I Do! I Do! and The Homecoming, Marian Seldes (A Delicate Balance) and Peg Murray (Cabaret), Barbara Harris (The Apple Tree), and Mary Martin and Robert Preston (I Do! I Do!). From the Robert and Wilva Breen papers,
https://aspace.gmu.edu/resources/c0004

The earliest record of organized LGBTQ+ groups at George Mason University begins in November of 1975, when a new group, the GMU Gay Alliance began informally meeting on the Fairfax Campus. In January of 1976 the George Mason University Club Council voted 10-0 in favor of adding the Gay Alliance to the existing 56 student clubs and Greek organizations. From the Broadside student newspapers, Mason Libraries George Mason University Alumni Association Mason's LGBTQ Resources Center

Happy Pride Month! This minicomic series from Latvia, titled “mini-kuš!”, was created with the intent to “popularize comics in a country where this medium is practically non-existent.” “Queer Power,” the comic pictured here, speaks on the meaning of LGBTQIA+ relationships and the positive impacts they can have. Other comics in the series can be found in our “International art publishing collection.”

From: C0517

Inspired by today's rain, we feature a brief photoessay by George Mason University Broadside photographer Pete Lyon in September 1975. When processing this collection, we found the negatives to this series of photographs in a folder simply titled: "Rainy Day". It features images of rainsoaked Thompson Hall and downtown Fairfax from 50 years ago. And note the multiple George Mason University parking decals on the left-rear bumper of this 1968 Volkswagen Squareback wagon. From the Broadside photograph collection, .
George Mason University Alumni Association

ago, on May 1, 1975 the newly-built Robinson stood about fifty yards from the front of George Mason University's Fenwick Library. It was home to many of the departments in Mason's College of Arts and Sciences. Today, that very spot is occupied by Horizon Hall, home of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. From the Broadside photograph collection ( ) and author.
George Mason University Alumni Association Mason Libraries
George Mason University College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Our artists’ books can come in many forms, including pop-up books! This book by Robert Sabuda, titled “Peter Pan: A Pop-Up Adaptation of J.M Barrie’s Original Tale” takes the child-like wonder of Peter Pan and transforms it into a new art form. From colorful tropical scenes to enormous boats, these extremely detailed pop-ups play with perspective and interactivity. Come check them out for yourself!

From PS3569 .A233 P48 2008

Welcome back to . Today's triple-feature deals with a play, a George Mason University unit, and an archival collection! "The Sins of Sor Juana" by Karen Zacharias, a 2000 winner of Outstanding New Play of the Year at the Helen Hayes Awards, premiered in November 1999 as part of George Mason University's Theatre of the First Amendment (TFA). The play is about the 17th-century Mexican poet, Juana Inés de la Cruz.

The TFA was a professional theatre company founded in 1990 by George Mason University professor and playwright, Paul D'Andrea. It operated until 2012, having produced 44 productions, many of them by new and innovative playwrights. Its artistic director was the current dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Rick Davis.

The Theater of the First Amendment records:

https://aspace.gmu.edu/resources/r0147

contain scripts created between 1990 and 2012 by playwrights associated with the Theater of the First Amendment, costume descriptions, stage directions and setup instructions, photographs, photographic negatives, recordings of soundtracks for productions and accepted grants, and schedules for upcoming seasons.

Images from the Theatre of the First Amendment records, .

Mason Arts
TheatreWashington George Mason University Alumni Association Mason Libraries

on May 23, 1975 George Mason University conferred degrees on 485 Mason sudents! The event was held in the basketball gym of P.E. Building (now called the RAC). What a difference 50 years makes! Tomorrow, May 15, 2025, Mason will graduate 11,800 in the EagleBank Arena Images from the George Mason University photograph collection, and the George Mason University Office of University Relations newsclippings and press releases records, .
George Mason University Alumni Association Mason Libraries