There are many facets of Miss Sparks' life that do
not fit into one of the other pages on this website. This page is a collection of the random memorabilia -- the letters on behalf of her father, the alumni records, etc. -- and related links to find more information about Miss Sparks on the Internet or in person at the University of Illinois. It is roughly in chronological order (essays and yearbooks from her college years, followed by career information, and so on).
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Yearbooks
Miss Sparks worked on the 1895 Illio, which was actually published in 1894. The Illinois yearbook was traditionally compiled by the junior class. Since the yearbook does not attribute authorship to articles, we do not know which areas of the yearbook Miss Sparks contributed to. However, in the 1895 yearbook, we did find activities Miss Sparks was involved in, and in the 1896 yearbook, we found her activities and her picture; links to those items and other related pages in subsequent yearbooks are exhibited below. In addition to yearbooks from her time here as a student, there are also various pages detailing clubs she was active in during her tenure as librarian in the Chemistry Library.
The 1895 yearbook corresponds to the 1893-1894 school year; the 1896 yearbook refers to the 1894-1895 school year; and so on.
Class list (hometown, major, and detailed activities with years of membership; the students on the list are almost all found on the class list in the 1896 Illio -- the only difference is the additional details on each person's activities)
Roster and logo of the YWCA (note that both Marion and her younger sister Annie are listed as members)
University statistics (number of students, faculty, buildings, etc.; also includes 'interesting facts')
University of Illinois information guide (details number of students and buildings, lists major colleges and schools, mentions various clubs, and gives contact information)
1898 Illio
Picture of Library Hall (building was dedicated at the 1897 commencement)
Roster and logo of the YWCA (note that both Marion and her younger sister Annie are listed as members)
1899 Illio
Library School information (introduces the newly formed library school, including a picture)
Roster and logo of the YWCA (note that both Marion and her younger sister Annie are listed as members)
University of Illinois information guide (details number of students and buildings, lists major colleges and schools, mentions various clubs, and gives contact information)
1900 Illio
Girls of '99 (gives eye color, hair color, and temperment of each of the 26 women in the class of 1899)
Roster and logo of the YWCA (Sparks is near the top of the third row of the second page. Her name is spelled wrong - she is listed as Marion Spark.)
1898-1899 University of Illinois information guide (details number of students for last ten years, lists major colleges and schools, and mentions various clubs, among other things)
1901 Illio
Roster of the Library Club (Sparks is listed as an associate member)
Staff and explanation of the creation of the Illinois Chemist (Sparks wrote several articles for this Chemistry department publication during her time as librarian)
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School of Library Science
Miss Sparks attended the School of Library Science at the University of Illinois from 1897-1899. Below is information about the library school published during the time Miss Sparks was a student, as well as information on the current library school's website detailing its history.
Sharp, Katharine L. "University of Illinois State Library School." Circular of Information 1897-1898. (5 pages)
The article details the creation of the library school, the objectives of the program, the facilities, the faculty, and the required courses. Written by the director of the library program.
"State Library School." University of Illinois Catalog 1897-1898. pp. 131-134. (3 pages)
This excerpt from the university's course catalog details the aim and scope of the newly formed library school, the methods of instruction, equipment, requirements for graduation, course of instruction, and faculty members.
"University of Illinois State Library School." Circular of Information 1898. (10 pages) The article includes the same information cited above, as well as detailed admission requirements, course descriptions, and positions filled by graduates of the program.
"University of Illinois State Library School." The Illini (Official Paper of the University), vol. XXVIII, no. 15. January 13, 1899. (13 pages)
The article details the history, requirements, and instruction of the library school. It also describes the library collection, classification, services, and hours. The text is accompanied by pictures of both the interior and exterior of Library Hall.
"University of Illinois State Library School." Circular of Information 1900-1901. (10 pages) The article includes the information cited in the previous circulars, in addition to an academic calendar and a section on cooperation with the local library.
Biography of Katherine [sic] Lucinda Sharp. 1900 Illio. Vol. XI., p. 14. 1899. (1 page)
In the Faculty section of the yearbook, the academic and professional history of Sharp - the Director of the Library School during Miss Sparks' time there - are detailed.
Sharp, Katharine L. "Our State Library School." Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs. Decatur, IL. October 18, 1901. (6 pages)
A brief history of the library school in Illinois. The article also details the requirements for, and expectations of, current students.
Ward, Kevin. A Brief History. School Overview section. University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science website.
This portion of the current UIUC library school's website details the history of the school, from its beginning in 1893 at the Armour Institute in Chicago to its move south to Urbana in 1897. It provides a brief history of the school over the last century, mentioning changes to the name of the school and to its curriculum.
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Alumni Information
Handwritten note - [undated]
Miss Sparks details her academic career at Ottawa High School and the University of Illinois. She also includes her library experience through 1903.
Graduate's Record - 1905
Information sheet filled out by Miss Sparks in 1905, detailing her background information as well as her activities since graduating from Library School in 1899. Also includes a handwritten note by Miss Sparks asking the Alumni Record Editor to add to her recent publications to her record.
Alumni Record - 1917
Another information sheet (dated August 31, 1917) detailing background information. Includes activities and jobs since the previous record from 1905.
Civil Service Certifications - 1912
Notice of Certification dated May 1, 1912, stating that Marion was certified for appointment as a Library Assistant at Southern Illinois State Normal University, Carbondale, and a Notice of Certification dated May 7, 1912, stating that Marion was certified for appointment as a Library Assistant at the University of Illinois, Urbana.
Letter from the Civil Service Commission - 1915
A letter dated December 6, 1915, stating that Marion did not have an application for Library Assistant on file and must submit one in order to be admitted to the examination. The envelope is also included.
Letter from Library School. Re: Washington Job Offer - 1910
A letter from the assistant director of the library school dated February 23, 1910, informing Marion of a job vacancy at the Agriculture library at Washington. The letter states that Marion would have a good chance at getting the job as "a considerable amount of science is necessary." A handwritten note at the bottom of the letter indicates that Marion could not pursue this job offer because she could not leave Urbana due to the health of her mother.
The Chemical Literature course (and a few Miss Sparks details) - from 1892-1919 Look at these excerpts from the University of Illinois' course catalog to see how the chemical literature courses evolved over this time period.
Chemistry 11: Investigations and Thesis (1892-1893 University of Illinois Catalog)
The earliest chemical literature course offered by the Chemistry Department.
Description of the Chemistry Department (1894-1895 University of Illinois Catalog)
Details the importance of why students are required to take a course covering chemical literature.
Chemistry 19: Seminary (1894-1895 University of Illinois Catalog)
Includes "reports and discussions upon assigned topics from current chemical literature."
Chemistry 92: Journal Meeting (1913-1914 University of Illinois Annual Register)
First mention of Chemistry 92 -- the course Sparks will later teach.
Chemistry 92: Chemical Literature and Reference Work (1917-1918 University of Illinois Annual Register)
First time Chemistry 92 is called Chemical Literature and Reference Work; also first time Sparks is listed as the instructor.
Letter from the Director of the Library School - 1918
A letter dated August 7, 1918, in response to Miss Sparks' suggestion that the University of Illinois Library School make a course in chemical literature part of the general library curriculum.
Peoria Book of Verse: published for the Peoria Allied English Interests - 1922 This digitized book is part of the collection of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Inside the book is evidence that this book was once part of the personal collection of Miss Sparks. She signed the inside cover (it is partially obstructed by the university library tag). Additionally, on the next page is a picture of Miss Sparks and a poem. These features were taped into the book and thus not part of the original publication.
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In Honor
The following sites exhibit either an award or designation created in honor of Miss Sparks.
