WLA – Annual Meeting 9/2008
Minutes of the Annual Meeting 15–16 SEPTEMBER 2008
Cornell University, Geneva / Ithaca, New York
Host: Frank A. Lee Library, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva. Marty Schlabach, Librarian.
Convened: The participants met in Jordan Hall, NYSAES, Geneva, for Registration and Refreshments (8:30–9 a.m.), preceding the meeting. Along with the Conference Agenda Folder, each attendee was given, courtesy of Workman Publishing, a “bag of wine publications” (Wine Trials–A Fearless Critic Book by Robin Goldstein; The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil; and a 2009 Wine Lover’s Calendar by Karen MacNeil). Marty Schlabach called the business meeting to order at 9:15, and welcomed all in attendance.
Attendees: Marjorie Parrot Adams (Researcher at NYSAES, Cornell/ Archival & Curatorial Consultant & former Librarian); Hudson Cattell (Wine writer, Wine East); Charlotte Cooper (Finger Lakes Community College); Gary Cox (Town of York Historical Society); Andrea Davis (Simmons College, Library Sciences Student); Amy Devin (Simmons College,Library Sciences Student); Mike Fordon (Frank A. Lee Library); Chris Gerling (Cornell University); Marcie Jacklin (James A. Gibson Library, Brock University, St. Catherines, Canada); Holly King (Frank A. Lee Library); Marilyn Konopka (Constellation Wines); Joseph Lynch (Wine Book Collector, Wilmington, DE); Mirjana Martic (Société des Alcools du Quebec, Montréal, Canada); Janet McCue (Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell University); Michael McGandy (Cornell University Press); Ashlee Mills (Cornell University Press); Jane Oakes (Town of York Historical Society); Thomas Pellechia (Wine writer/educator/historian); Katherine Reagan (Karl A. Kroch Library, Cornell University); Bruce Reisch (Professor, Cornell University); Nick Schiavetti (SUNY Geneseo); Marty Schlabach (Frank A. Lee Library); Jeffrey Shampnois (Cornell Hotel School, Ithaca); David Sharron (James A. Gibson Library, Brock University, St. Catherines, Canada); Chuck Simon (USDA, NYSAES); Bo Simons (Sonoma County Wine Library, Healdsburg, CA); John Slater (Nickel Plate Road Historical Society, Niagara Falls, NY); Adiva Sotzky (Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau); Suzi Teghtmeyer (Michigan State University Library); Jim Trezise (New York Wine & Grape Foundation); Gail & Ron Unzelman (Nomis Press/Wayward Tendrils); Mary Jean Welser (Cornell University).
Brief Overview of Cornell Viticulture & Enology Program
Alan Lakso, Professor, Horticultural Sciences, Geneva gave a brief presentation and 2-page handout on the status and curriculum of the Viticulture and Enology program at Cornell.
Welcome and Introductions / History and Future of WLA
WLA President Bo Simons welcomed those in attendance and invited all to introduce themselves. Following these introductions, Bo gave a brief background history of the Association. Suzi Teghtmeyer asked if the Association has an archivist; Gail Unzelman replied that as Secretary, she is now doing this, but a permanent archive should be established. Bo brought up “the future.” All agreed a web presence of the WLA was needed and necessary. Our Yahoo listserve would maintain a presence until a blogging website can be established. David Sharron (Brock University) and Mirjana Martic (Société des Alcools du Quebec) offered their services in setting up the sight. It was recommended that the WLA register their user name (wla.org?). A manager of the site would be determined at a later date, but all agreed that fresh content, along with our mission statement, photographs, and similar material was essential to a successful presence. — At the evening dinner there was discussion on “regional” branches of the WLA which could have yearly get-togethers (East, West?) and the combined full-fledged conference would possibly be held every two years (next meeting in 2010, in California?). It was also mentioned that it is time for a new slate of officers to be elected.
Membership Report
Gail Unzelman reported some 50 names on our list of WLA contacts, who in various fields related to wine literature, are prospective members. At present, we have about 30 active members. Dues and membership renewals will go out each January, and membership will be on a January to January schedule. Yearly dues remain at $20.
Treasurer’s Report
In the absence of Callie Kono, Treasurer, Gail Unzelman reported a bank balance of $16, 732.86. These monies result principally from the sale of The Brady Book (published by the WLA in 2003), with minimal income from membership dues.
Individual Member Reports
President Bo Simons invited each member to share their institutional background and recent activities. Proceeding around the meeting tables:
• DAVID SHARRON and MARCIE JACKLIN, Brock University, St. Catherines, Canada. David, Archivist of Special Collections, reported he is implementing a collection of archival material of the Grape & Wine Industry of the Niagara region, and would appreciate input from other members on what materials are thought most important to preserve. Marcie is the librarian for the Enology & Viticulture department at Brock, which now houses part of the original Christian Bros. Collection of wine books.
• AMY DEVIN and ANDREA DAVIS are both graduating librarians at Simmons College, Boston. Both hope to find positions in the wine library field.
• SUZI TEGHTMEYER, Michigan State University. Suzi was previously at South West Missouri State where she helped coordinate AgNIC (Agriculture Network Information Center), a major focal point for agricultural information on the Internet (www.agnic.org)
• ADIVA SOTZSKY, Librarian for the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau, reviewed the work of this federal agency, and later in the morning gave a 15-minute presentation on its work and purpose.
• MARJORIE PARROT ADAMS has spent the past several months researching the historic “wax grape” collection housed in the Geneva library archives. (She would later present a talk on this extraordinary collection.) Marjorie has a long history with wine and its literature, being a librarian, antiquarian bookseller and winery owner.
• THOMAS PELLECHIA, wine author and historian (author of Wine: The 8,000-Year Old Story of the Wine Trade, 2006) spoke of his in-the-works projects relating to wine, including the “Story of the Rise and Fall of the Taylor Wine Co” and an “American Wine Gazette.”
• MIKE FORDON and MARTY SCHLABACH, Cornell University. This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of Cornell’s “Eastern Wine & Grape Growing Archive” with an extensive exhibit at the Kroch Library on the Ithaca campus. In honor of the WLA meeting, several other exhibits have been mounted around the campus: “Phylloxera” in the Entomology Library, “Wine & Grapes in Hospitality” in the Hotel School Library, “We Grow the Grapes” and “On the Finger Lakes Wine Trail” in Mann Library, and a map exhibit, “Cartobibulosity” in Olin Library.
• BO SIMONS, Sonoma County Wine Library, Healdsburg, CA. The SCWL is a special library within a public library, providing present-day technical support to the wine industry, besides a historical collection of important early wine works. The library has extended its program to make the library better known to wine growers, and is proud of its education workshops for Spanish-speaking vineyard workers. The library is active in an Oral History Program and keeps current its WineFiles.org catalogue.
• GAIL UNZELMAN, Santa Rosa, CA. A wine historian with several published titles on California wine history, Gail also edits and publishes the Wayward Tendrils Quarterly, a periodical for wine book collectors, founded in 1990. She recommended the use of Arcadia Publishing, whose standard format to publish local histories, is a winner-winner situation. The “Sonoma County Wineries—Postcard History Series” book published for the benefit of the Sonoma County Wine Library has reaped several thousand dollars.
• HUDSON CATTELL, proprietor with Linda Jones McKee in L & H Photojournalism, has chronicled the Eastern wine beat since 1976 when he started the Pennsylvania Grape & Wine Newsletter. He was instrumental in the founding of the Eastern Wine & Grape Archive at Cornell University. His forthcoming book on the history of the Eastern wine industry will include a 1000-plus item bibliography.
• JEFF SHAMPNOIS, Cornell Hospitality School, Ithaca. Jeff welcomed the Wine Librarians Assn to Cornell and looked forward to their visit to his library on the following day. An exhibit of wine & food books had been prepared. He also mentioned the school’s growing menu collection.
• MIRJANA MARTIC is in charge of the Quebec Liquor Board Business Information Center, and her focus is the commercial side of wine, with a global interest (imports, exports, regulations, packaging, etc.)
• JOE LYNCH, Wilmington, DE, is a long-time wine book collector with a sincere interest in wine education and the appreciation of wine and its literature.
• JOHN SLATER, Niagara Falls, NY, is a railroad historian whose great-grandfather grew grapes along the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt. He would present later in the meeting an historical study, “Fresh Grape Shipping in the Chautauqua-Erie Grape Belt, 1877–1939.”
Digitizing Wine and Grape Literature / P.W. & S. R.
Marty Schlabach led off the discussion of this very important topic. Cornell University has been involved with several projects to get their collections digitized and available to researchers, and some 1900 volumes and numerous periodicals have been scanned and are OCR searchable. He demonstrated, via computer and big screen, Cornell’s Core Historical Literature of Agriculture (CHLA) site.
Bo Simons described the current proposed project of the WLA, the digitizing of the early and invaluable wine industry periodical, Pacific Wine & Spirit Review (earlier known as San Francisco Merchant). This is a rich archive of wine history, dating from the late 19th century until Prohibition. The most complete run of the PW&SR is in the San Francisco Public Library, and the WLA has been working with them for “too many years” to get the issues scanned and digitized. We have offered to pay the cost of digitizing the volumes (some 21,000 pages) which is proposed to be $2200 + $500 incidental costs. It was moved, seconded, and passed, to proceed with this project and allot the needed monies.
Translation & Publication of Relazione di un Viaggo d’Istruzione negli Stati Uniti d’America
The last item on the morning agenda was the proposed project of translating into English and the publishing of this 500-page “snapshot of the U.S. wine industry in 1900” written by Guido Rossatti. There are very few copies, in Italian, known, and these are often “falling to bits” because of the brittle paper. Cornell has scanned their copy, so a “working copy” for translating is available. There have been preliminary inquiries into costs of translating, and capable translators, but follow-up is needed. The group agreed it a worthwhile endeavor. Bo reported U.C. Press is mildly interested. Thomas Pellechia suggested contacting the Slow Food group for possible interest in translating and publishing.
End of Morning Session: 12:15 p.m.
Lunch and conversation was enjoyed in Jordan Hall until the 12:45 Afternoon Session began.
Traminette Presentation and Tasting
Bruce Reisch, grape breeder and professor, Horticultural Sciences, Geneva, presented the history of the development of the new wine grape, Traminette, very popular in the Finger Lakes wine region of New York. A tasting of three samples from Finger Lakes wineries followed.
15-Minute Presentations by WLA Members: 1:30 – 2:50 p.m.
P Marilyn Konopka, Constellation Wines U.S., Acnandaigua, NY, presented “FIVS–Abridge,” a database of national regulations and relevant international agreements for markets around the world, covering such topics as certification, composition, labeling, marketing, packaging, production, promotion, tariffs, taxation and transportation, and other industry-related information.
P Adiva Sotzsky, Information Research Specialist, Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau, Washington, DC, presented a brief, illustrated overview and demonstration of the resources and services available from the Bureau: “Who We Are – What We Do – What We Have – How to Access TTB Information.”
P Marjorie Parrott Adams, Archival & Curatorial Consultant and Volunteer Researcher at Lee Library, NYSAES, Geneva, reported on the rediscovery of a long-forgotten treasure trove of hundreds of wax horticultural models that have been packed away in the Cornell warehouse. Entitled “Delicious Deceptions: Wax Fruit & Vegetable Models from the NYSAES, Geneva” Marjorie gave the history and present-day restoration of the collection, and efforts to create a network among the few institutions around the world that still have wax fruit & vegetable model collections.
P Andrea Davis, Student at Simmons School of Library Science, presented a documentary film of her project at the Sonoma County Wine Library to preserve a stockpile of 16mm wine country promotional films of the 1950s era.
Tour of the Vinification and Brewing Lab: 3:00 p.m.
After a short walk to the Food Science & Technology Hall, we were given a tour of the winemaking and brewing laboratory by Chris Gerling, Extension Enologist, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Geneva.
Tour of the U.S.D.A. Grape Repository: 4:00 p.m.
Charles (Chuck) Simon, Grape Curator, Plant Genetic Resources Unit, USDA, Geneva, and his assistant provided an overview of their specimen vineyard of some 1600 plants, used by grape breeders from around the country. Several interesting examples of grapes and grapevines were demonstrated.
Tour of the Frank A. Lee Library, NYSAES, Geneva: 5:00 p.m.
Marty Schlabach, Mike Fordon, and the Lee Library staff showed us the collection of wine books and periodicals.
Dinner at Fox Run Vineyards & Café: 6:00 p.m.
Our first day was concluded with a wine tasting and dinner in the barrel cellar of Fox Run Vineyards, overlooking Seneca Lake, about a 30-minute drive from Jordan Hall at Geneva.
Day Two – September 16th, 2008 – Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Nestle Library, Cornell School of Hotel Administration
Jeff Shampnois welcomed the WLA group to the Ithaca campus and to the Hotel School, which had provided refreshments for us. Jeff gave a tour of the Nestle Library where we viewed the exhibit, “Wine & Grapes in Hospitality,” the first of several wine-related exhibits mounted around campus in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Cornell’s Eastern Wine & Grape Archive,
Entomology Library, Comstock Hall
Marty Schlabach, librarian of the Entomology Library, guided us through toview the exhibit on display, “Phylloxera: How One Tiny Insect Nearly Destroyed the European Wine Industry.”
Mann Library
At the Mann Library, a new state-of-the-art facility, we viewed three fine exhibits: “We Grow the Grapes,” “On the Finger Lakes Wine Trail,” and “The Compleat Grape” presented by the Baily Hortorium and featuring pressed specimens of grapes, vines, and leaves from the actual collection assembled Liberty Hyde Bailey in the early 20th century. Lunch was hosted by the Mann Library and enjoyed by all in the library meeting room.
Olin Library
It was a short walk to the Olin Library, where Bob Kibbee, Map Librarian, had mounted a wine-related exhibit for us, “Cartobibulosity.” We also were given a tour of the map library.
Carl A. Kroch Library
Hirshland Exhibition Gallery, Division of Rare Books & Manuscript Collections, “Song of the Vine: A History of Wine,” is on view from June 2008–January 2009. We met in the adjoining conference room for our afternoon session.
Wine & Grape History Mini-Conference: 1:15–4:15 p.m.
P Katherine Reagan, Curator of Rare Books & Manuscripts, Cornell University Library, gave an overview of the “Origins and Content of the Eastern Wine & Grape Archive.” The need for such an archive was first promoted by Hudson Cattell in 1977, and through a collaborative effort of the Lee Library, Geneva, and the Rare Books & Manuscripts Division, Ithaca, the archive became a reality in 1998. Katherine stressed the importance of educating the wine industry to the importance of preserving their records. The collection is catalogued on Cornell’s on-line site.
P Gary Cox, President, York Historical Society, NY, & Emeritus Professor, SUNY, presented “Uncovering the ‘York Wines’ Story” of pioneer winegrowers, Samuel Warren and sons. It can be argued that their operation, began in 1832, is the first successful commercial winery in New York, New England, and New Jersey.
P Jane Oakes, York Historical Society, NY, and a free-lance researcher / lecturer specializing the history of Upstate New York, followed Prof. Cox with a lecture on “The Warren Family’s ‘York Wines’ in Primary Sources.” She detailed the research techniques used to search for sources in her quest for information on this pioneer wine family.
P John Slater, Nickel Plate Road Historical & Technical Society, NY, presented “Fresh Grape Shipping in the Chautauqua-Erie Grape Belt, 1877–1939,” an illustrated historical overview of the growth and impact of the fresh-grape shipping industry on the development of the Grape Belt along the south shore of Lake Erie during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
P Suzi Teghtmeyer, Michigan State University Library & AgNIC Viticulture Librarian, lectured on “The Missouri Grape and Wine Industry, Historic and Thriving.” From the early contributions of prominent pioneer winegrowers such as Hermann Jaeger, George Husmann, Frederic Muench, Isidor Bush, and George Englemann, to the present day resurgence since Prohibition, Missouri has occupied a strong presence in America’s wine industry.
P Jim Trezise, President, New York Wine & Grape Foundation, spoke on “Up, Up and Away–The Future of the New York Wine Industry.” Trezise, president of the Foundation since its creation in 1985, has guided this nationally recognized Foundation in its promotion and research programs to see the grape and wine industry of New York become the fastest growing industry in the state’s agriculture and tourism sectors, and a boon to state economy.
Wine Librarians Award Presentation
Marty Schlabach, Cornell host, and Bo Simons and Gail Unzelman, officers of the Association, called Hudson Cattell to come forward to receive the first Wine Librarians Assn Award: “In recognition of his many years of dedication and outstanding contributions in the areas of grape and wine journalism, publishing, and history — given with much gratitude by the Wine Librarians Association on the occasion of their meeting September 15th and 16th, 2008, at Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, in Geneva, NY.” A similar plaque was presented, in absentia, to Hudson’s long-time partner in these endeavors, Linda Jones McKee.
Kroch Library, Hirshland Exhibition Gallery:
Exhibition Reception, Song of the Vine: A History of Wine
The conference attendees and Cornell alumni guests enjoyed conversation, wine and hors d’oeuvres, and a view of the exhibit.
Dinner at Sheldrake Point Vineyards, Simply Red Bistro
A closing dinner at this lovely vineyard site on Cayuga Lake was enjoyed by all Wine Librarians, with hearty toasts to Marty Schlabach and his staff for two extraordinary days of conviviality and education.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Unzelman, Secretary, WLA
Kudos about the 2008 Wine Librarians Association Meeting
Thank you for inviting me to the “Conference”.. I considered it much more than a meeting. It was indeed an excellent and well organized and executed program that you and your staff arranged and coordinated.
While the entire program was very well balanced and presented I particularly enjoyed the Traminette presentation and tasting at Geneva and the presentations at the Kroch Library regarding the “York Wine” story and the Warren Family winery. Also liked seeing the impressive collections of wine and viticulture books, maps, etc at Cornell.
We were very impressed with the facilities and settings at both Geneva and Ithaca and maybe some day will have a grandchild attend Cornell and spend more time there.
The restaurant choices were superb for our group. We enjoyed the meals and the settings.
Again many thanks for including us, and all of your time, effort and planning that went into the successful program.
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It was great fun last Tuesday! I can’t remember when I have enjoyed myself so much. Many thanks to all of you for the hard work you did, as well as the subsequent sending of the scans of the pages.
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I wanted to thank you again for letting me know about the events last week and for making an effort to include me. I had a good time, learned a lot, and certainly made some connections.
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Thank you for a terrific two days of learning and fun! I really appreciate the opportunity you afforded me to meet such wonderful people and learn so much about your great programs at Cornell. Despite my status as a “non-librarian” I felt included the whole time and really enjoyed the sharing that took place.
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First of all, Marty, let me repeat, that you put on one wonderful,
awesome, fun, interesting, enlightening and enjoyable meeting. Spread
over two days, you managed to get our business done, and showcase the
Finger Lakes, the New York Ag Experiment Station and the Cornell Campus.
I loved it. Thank you.
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Many thanks for making the demo this morning happen.
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Thank you. I do not know how else to put it. The meeting was perfection. Thank you.
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First, I want to again express my sincerest thanks for the invitation to participate in the WLA meeting. I really enjoyed meeting so many nice people and learning so much about so many topics associated with my interest in grape history. The experience has led me to decide I should probably become a member of the WLA. If nothing else, you guys sure do know how to enjoy good food and wine!
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One more time, for overkill.
Marty, I can’t begin to express how much I appreciate what you guys put together.
I was supposed to attend one day only, but after the first day, I knew I had to at least get back for half of Tuesday, and I’m so glad that I managed it, even if the York presentation tore out a few pages of my last book–but with Thomas Pinney acquiescing to the York history, I’m at least in good company!
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I was also honored to have participated in the Wine Librarians’ meeting. And applaud your team’s effort to produce such a fine conference. What an interesting group of sessions and participants.
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Just a quick note to thank Bo, Gail, Marty, Mike and Holly (and a lot of other people) for organizing a great conference. I gave a report of the meeting to our Library Council and everyone was jealous. It was great meeting everyone!
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Thank you so much for the opportunity to present FIVS-Abridge to this wonderful group. I am so thrilled that Ramon has jumped right in and is integrating it into his class work. We are thrilled that Cornell has taken the lead in the academic community and is utilizing this important tool to better prepare their students for the business world, and we look forward to developing other applications with you.
But, I was especially enamored with the wax fruit collection and am so tickled that you are taking the lead to bring it back to life. Not only is it of historical significance, but the artistry is fabulous. And, if you can find significant differences between fruits and vegetables now and then, how great is that.
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You all did a phenomenal job with the conference— I am still raving about it and seem to have become a one person ambassador for visit the Finger Lakes and the wineries!
Minutes of the Annual Meeting 15–16 SEPTEMBER 2008
Cornell University, Geneva / Ithaca, New York
Host: Frank A. Lee Library, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva. Marty Schlabach, Librarian.
Convened: The participants met in Jordan Hall, NYSAES, Geneva, for Registration and Refreshments (8:30–9 a.m.), preceding the meeting. Along with the Conference Agenda Folder, each attendee was given, courtesy of Workman Publishing, a “bag of wine publications” (Wine Trials–A Fearless Critic Book by Robin Goldstein; The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil; and a 2009 Wine Lover’s Calendar by Karen MacNeil). Marty Schlabach called the business meeting to order at 9:15, and welcomed all in attendance.
Attendees: Marjorie Parrot Adams (Researcher at NYSAES, Cornell/ Archival & Curatorial Consultant & former Librarian); Hudson Cattell (Wine writer, Wine East); Charlotte Cooper (Finger Lakes Community College); Gary Cox (Town of York Historical Society); Andrea Davis (Simmons College, Library Sciences Student); Amy Devin (Simmons College,Library Sciences Student); Mike Fordon (Frank A. Lee Library); Chris Gerling (Cornell University); Marcie Jacklin (James A. Gibson Library, Brock University, St. Catherines, Canada); Holly King (Frank A. Lee Library); Marilyn Konopka (Constellation Wines); Joseph Lynch (Wine Book Collector, Wilmington, DE); Mirjana Martic (Société des Alcools du Quebec, Montréal, Canada); Janet McCue (Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell University); Michael McGandy (Cornell University Press); Ashlee Mills (Cornell University Press); Jane Oakes (Town of York Historical Society); Thomas Pellechia (Wine writer/educator/historian); Katherine Reagan (Karl A. Kroch Library, Cornell University); Bruce Reisch (Professor, Cornell University); Nick Schiavetti (SUNY Geneseo); Marty Schlabach (Frank A. Lee Library); Jeffrey Shampnois (Cornell Hotel School, Ithaca); David Sharron (James A. Gibson Library, Brock University, St. Catherines, Canada); Chuck Simon (USDA, NYSAES); Bo Simons (Sonoma County Wine Library, Healdsburg, CA); John Slater (Nickel Plate Road Historical Society, Niagara Falls, NY); Adiva Sotzky (Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau); Suzi Teghtmeyer (Michigan State University Library); Jim Trezise (New York Wine & Grape Foundation); Gail & Ron Unzelman (Nomis Press/Wayward Tendrils); Mary Jean Welser (Cornell University).
Brief Overview of Cornell Viticulture & Enology Program
Alan Lakso, Professor, Horticultural Sciences, Geneva gave a brief presentation and 2-page handout on the status and curriculum of the Viticulture and Enology program at Cornell.
Welcome and Introductions / History and Future of WLA
WLA President Bo Simons welcomed those in attendance and invited all to introduce themselves. Following these introductions, Bo gave a brief background history of the Association. Suzi Teghtmeyer asked if the Association has an archivist; Gail Unzelman replied that as Secretary, she is now doing this, but a permanent archive should be established. Bo brought up “the future.” All agreed a web presence of the WLA was needed and necessary. Our Yahoo listserve would maintain a presence until a blogging website can be established. David Sharron (Brock University) and Mirjana Martic (Société des Alcools du Quebec) offered their services in setting up the sight. It was recommended that the WLA register their user name (wla.org?). A manager of the site would be determined at a later date, but all agreed that fresh content, along with our mission statement, photographs, and similar material was essential to a successful presence. — At the evening dinner there was discussion on “regional” branches of the WLA which could have yearly get-togethers (East, West?) and the combined full-fledged conference would possibly be held every two years (next meeting in 2010, in California?). It was also mentioned that it is time for a new slate of officers to be elected.
Membership Report
Gail Unzelman reported some 50 names on our list of WLA contacts, who in various fields related to wine literature, are prospective members. At present, we have about 30 active members. Dues and membership renewals will go out each January, and membership will be on a January to January schedule. Yearly dues remain at $20.
Treasurer’s Report
In the absence of Callie Kono, Treasurer, Gail Unzelman reported a bank balance of $16, 732.86. These monies result principally from the sale of The Brady Book (published by the WLA in 2003), with minimal income from membership dues.
Individual Member Reports
President Bo Simons invited each member to share their institutional background and recent activities. Proceeding around the meeting tables:
• DAVID SHARRON and MARCIE JACKLIN, Brock University, St. Catherines, Canada. David, Archivist of Special Collections, reported he is implementing a collection of archival material of the Grape & Wine Industry of the Niagara region, and would appreciate input from other members on what materials are thought most important to preserve. Marcie is the librarian for the Enology & Viticulture department at Brock, which now houses part of the original Christian Bros. Collection of wine books.
• AMY DEVIN and ANDREA DAVIS are both graduating librarians at Simmons College, Boston. Both hope to find positions in the wine library field.
• SUZI TEGHTMEYER, Michigan State University. Suzi was previously at South West Missouri State where she helped coordinate AgNIC (Agriculture Network Information Center), a major focal point for agricultural information on the Internet (www.agnic.org)
• ADIVA SOTZSKY, Librarian for the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau, reviewed the work of this federal agency, and later in the morning gave a 15-minute presentation on its work and purpose.
• MARJORIE PARROT ADAMS has spent the past several months researching the historic “wax grape” collection housed in the Geneva library archives. (She would later present a talk on this extraordinary collection.) Marjorie has a long history with wine and its literature, being a librarian, antiquarian bookseller and winery owner.
• THOMAS PELLECHIA, wine author and historian (author of Wine: The 8,000-Year Old Story of the Wine Trade, 2006) spoke of his in-the-works projects relating to wine, including the “Story of the Rise and Fall of the Taylor Wine Co” and an “American Wine Gazette.”
• MIKE FORDON and MARTY SCHLABACH, Cornell University. This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of Cornell’s “Eastern Wine & Grape Growing Archive” with an extensive exhibit at the Kroch Library on the Ithaca campus. In honor of the WLA meeting, several other exhibits have been mounted around the campus: “Phylloxera” in the Entomology Library, “Wine & Grapes in Hospitality” in the Hotel School Library, “We Grow the Grapes” and “On the Finger Lakes Wine Trail” in Mann Library, and a map exhibit, “Cartobibulosity” in Olin Library.
• BO SIMONS, Sonoma County Wine Library, Healdsburg, CA. The SCWL is a special library within a public library, providing present-day technical support to the wine industry, besides a historical collection of important early wine works. The library has extended its program to make the library better known to wine growers, and is proud of its education workshops for Spanish-speaking vineyard workers. The library is active in an Oral History Program and keeps current its WineFiles.org catalogue.
• GAIL UNZELMAN, Santa Rosa, CA. A wine historian with several published titles on California wine history, Gail also edits and publishes the Wayward Tendrils Quarterly, a periodical for wine book collectors, founded in 1990. She recommended the use of Arcadia Publishing, whose standard format to publish local histories, is a winner-winner situation. The “Sonoma County Wineries—Postcard History Series” book published for the benefit of the Sonoma County Wine Library has reaped several thousand dollars.
• HUDSON CATTELL, proprietor with Linda Jones McKee in L & H Photojournalism, has chronicled the Eastern wine beat since 1976 when he started the Pennsylvania Grape & Wine Newsletter. He was instrumental in the founding of the Eastern Wine & Grape Archive at Cornell University. His forthcoming book on the history of the Eastern wine industry will include a 1000-plus item bibliography.
• JEFF SHAMPNOIS, Cornell Hospitality School, Ithaca. Jeff welcomed the Wine Librarians Assn to Cornell and looked forward to their visit to his library on the following day. An exhibit of wine & food books had been prepared. He also mentioned the school’s growing menu collection.
• MIRJANA MARTIC is in charge of the Quebec Liquor Board Business Information Center, and her focus is the commercial side of wine, with a global interest (imports, exports, regulations, packaging, etc.)
• JOE LYNCH, Wilmington, DE, is a long-time wine book collector with a sincere interest in wine education and the appreciation of wine and its literature.
• JOHN SLATER, Niagara Falls, NY, is a railroad historian whose great-grandfather grew grapes along the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt. He would present later in the meeting an historical study, “Fresh Grape Shipping in the Chautauqua-Erie Grape Belt, 1877–1939.”
Digitizing Wine and Grape Literature / P.W. & S. R.
Marty Schlabach led off the discussion of this very important topic. Cornell University has been involved with several projects to get their collections digitized and available to researchers, and some 1900 volumes and numerous periodicals have been scanned and are OCR searchable. He demonstrated, via computer and big screen, Cornell’s Core Historical Literature of Agriculture (CHLA) site.
Bo Simons described the current proposed project of the WLA, the digitizing of the early and invaluable wine industry periodical, Pacific Wine & Spirit Review (earlier known as San Francisco Merchant). This is a rich archive of wine history, dating from the late 19th century until Prohibition. The most complete run of the PW&SR is in the San Francisco Public Library, and the WLA has been working with them for “too many years” to get the issues scanned and digitized. We have offered to pay the cost of digitizing the volumes (some 21,000 pages) which is proposed to be $2200 + $500 incidental costs. It was moved, seconded, and passed, to proceed with this project and allot the needed monies.
Translation & Publication of Relazione di un Viaggo d’Istruzione negli Stati Uniti d’America
The last item on the morning agenda was the proposed project of translating into English and the publishing of this 500-page “snapshot of the U.S. wine industry in 1900” written by Guido Rossatti. There are very few copies, in Italian, known, and these are often “falling to bits” because of the brittle paper. Cornell has scanned their copy, so a “working copy” for translating is available. There have been preliminary inquiries into costs of translating, and capable translators, but follow-up is needed. The group agreed it a worthwhile endeavor. Bo reported U.C. Press is mildly interested. Thomas Pellechia suggested contacting the Slow Food group for possible interest in translating and publishing.
End of Morning Session: 12:15 p.m.
Lunch and conversation was enjoyed in Jordan Hall until the 12:45 Afternoon Session began.
Traminette Presentation and Tasting
Bruce Reisch, grape breeder and professor, Horticultural Sciences, Geneva, presented the history of the development of the new wine grape, Traminette, very popular in the Finger Lakes wine region of New York. A tasting of three samples from Finger Lakes wineries followed.
15-Minute Presentations by WLA Members: 1:30 – 2:50 p.m.
P Marilyn Konopka, Constellation Wines U.S., Acnandaigua, NY, presented “FIVS–Abridge,” a database of national regulations and relevant international agreements for markets around the world, covering such topics as certification, composition, labeling, marketing, packaging, production, promotion, tariffs, taxation and transportation, and other industry-related information.
P Adiva Sotzsky, Information Research Specialist, Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau, Washington, DC, presented a brief, illustrated overview and demonstration of the resources and services available from the Bureau: “Who We Are – What We Do – What We Have – How to Access TTB Information.”
P Marjorie Parrott Adams, Archival & Curatorial Consultant and Volunteer Researcher at Lee Library, NYSAES, Geneva, reported on the rediscovery of a long-forgotten treasure trove of hundreds of wax horticultural models that have been packed away in the Cornell warehouse. Entitled “Delicious Deceptions: Wax Fruit & Vegetable Models from the NYSAES, Geneva” Marjorie gave the history and present-day restoration of the collection, and efforts to create a network among the few institutions around the world that still have wax fruit & vegetable model collections.
P Andrea Davis, Student at Simmons School of Library Science, presented a documentary film of her project at the Sonoma County Wine Library to preserve a stockpile of 16mm wine country promotional films of the 1950s era.
Tour of the Vinification and Brewing Lab: 3:00 p.m.
After a short walk to the Food Science & Technology Hall, we were given a tour of the winemaking and brewing laboratory by Chris Gerling, Extension Enologist, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Geneva.
Tour of the U.S.D.A. Grape Repository: 4:00 p.m.
Charles (Chuck) Simon, Grape Curator, Plant Genetic Resources Unit, USDA, Geneva, and his assistant provided an overview of their specimen vineyard of some 1600 plants, used by grape breeders from around the country. Several interesting examples of grapes and grapevines were demonstrated.
Tour of the Frank A. Lee Library, NYSAES, Geneva: 5:00 p.m.
Marty Schlabach, Mike Fordon, and the Lee Library staff showed us the collection of wine books and periodicals.
Dinner at Fox Run Vineyards & Café: 6:00 p.m.
Our first day was concluded with a wine tasting and dinner in the barrel cellar of Fox Run Vineyards, overlooking Seneca Lake, about a 30-minute drive from Jordan Hall at Geneva.
Day Two – September 16th, 2008 – Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Nestle Library, Cornell School of Hotel Administration
Jeff Shampnois welcomed the WLA group to the Ithaca campus and to the Hotel School, which had provided refreshments for us. Jeff gave a tour of the Nestle Library where we viewed the exhibit, “Wine & Grapes in Hospitality,” the first of several wine-related exhibits mounted around campus in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Cornell’s Eastern Wine & Grape Archive,
Entomology Library, Comstock Hall
Marty Schlabach, librarian of the Entomology Library, guided us through toview the exhibit on display, “Phylloxera: How One Tiny Insect Nearly Destroyed the European Wine Industry.”
Mann Library
At the Mann Library, a new state-of-the-art facility, we viewed three fine exhibits: “We Grow the Grapes,” “On the Finger Lakes Wine Trail,” and “The Compleat Grape” presented by the Baily Hortorium and featuring pressed specimens of grapes, vines, and leaves from the actual collection assembled Liberty Hyde Bailey in the early 20th century. Lunch was hosted by the Mann Library and enjoyed by all in the library meeting room.
Olin Library
It was a short walk to the Olin Library, where Bob Kibbee, Map Librarian, had mounted a wine-related exhibit for us, “Cartobibulosity.” We also were given a tour of the map library.
Carl A. Kroch Library
Hirshland Exhibition Gallery, Division of Rare Books & Manuscript Collections, “Song of the Vine: A History of Wine,” is on view from June 2008–January 2009. We met in the adjoining conference room for our afternoon session.
Wine & Grape History Mini-Conference: 1:15–4:15 p.m.
P Katherine Reagan, Curator of Rare Books & Manuscripts, Cornell University Library, gave an overview of the “Origins and Content of the Eastern Wine & Grape Archive.” The need for such an archive was first promoted by Hudson Cattell in 1977, and through a collaborative effort of the Lee Library, Geneva, and the Rare Books & Manuscripts Division, Ithaca, the archive became a reality in 1998. Katherine stressed the importance of educating the wine industry to the importance of preserving their records. The collection is catalogued on Cornell’s on-line site.
P Gary Cox, President, York Historical Society, NY, & Emeritus Professor, SUNY, presented “Uncovering the ‘York Wines’ Story” of pioneer winegrowers, Samuel Warren and sons. It can be argued that their operation, began in 1832, is the first successful commercial winery in New York, New England, and New Jersey.
P Jane Oakes, York Historical Society, NY, and a free-lance researcher / lecturer specializing the history of Upstate New York, followed Prof. Cox with a lecture on “The Warren Family’s ‘York Wines’ in Primary Sources.” She detailed the research techniques used to search for sources in her quest for information on this pioneer wine family.
P John Slater, Nickel Plate Road Historical & Technical Society, NY, presented “Fresh Grape Shipping in the Chautauqua-Erie Grape Belt, 1877–1939,” an illustrated historical overview of the growth and impact of the fresh-grape shipping industry on the development of the Grape Belt along the south shore of Lake Erie during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
P Suzi Teghtmeyer, Michigan State University Library & AgNIC Viticulture Librarian, lectured on “The Missouri Grape and Wine Industry, Historic and Thriving.” From the early contributions of prominent pioneer winegrowers such as Hermann Jaeger, George Husmann, Frederic Muench, Isidor Bush, and George Englemann, to the present day resurgence since Prohibition, Missouri has occupied a strong presence in America’s wine industry.
P Jim Trezise, President, New York Wine & Grape Foundation, spoke on “Up, Up and Away–The Future of the New York Wine Industry.” Trezise, president of the Foundation since its creation in 1985, has guided this nationally recognized Foundation in its promotion and research programs to see the grape and wine industry of New York become the fastest growing industry in the state’s agriculture and tourism sectors, and a boon to state economy.
Wine Librarians Award Presentation
Marty Schlabach, Cornell host, and Bo Simons and Gail Unzelman, officers of the Association, called Hudson Cattell to come forward to receive the first Wine Librarians Assn Award: “In recognition of his many years of dedication and outstanding contributions in the areas of grape and wine journalism, publishing, and history — given with much gratitude by the Wine Librarians Association on the occasion of their meeting September 15th and 16th, 2008, at Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, in Geneva, NY.” A similar plaque was presented, in absentia, to Hudson’s long-time partner in these endeavors, Linda Jones McKee.
Kroch Library, Hirshland Exhibition Gallery:
Exhibition Reception, Song of the Vine: A History of Wine
The conference attendees and Cornell alumni guests enjoyed conversation, wine and hors d’oeuvres, and a view of the exhibit.
Dinner at Sheldrake Point Vineyards, Simply Red Bistro
A closing dinner at this lovely vineyard site on Cayuga Lake was enjoyed by all Wine Librarians, with hearty toasts to Marty Schlabach and his staff for two extraordinary days of conviviality and education.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Unzelman, Secretary, WLA
