CASTO
DELVES INTO MARSHALL'S HISTORY
FOR NEW BOOK
By
Cara Bailey
The Herald-Dispatch
Dec. 20, 2005
In
a town where people "bleed green" for Marshall University,
one would think books about the school would be everywhere. However,
as James E. Casto found out, that is not necessarily the case.
Casto,
who has been a Marshall student, teacher and supporter, is the
author of the new 128-page book titled "Marshall University."
The book features 200 pictures on the history of the school, from
Marshall Academy to Marshall College and now Marshall University.
The book is the first historical book written entirely on Marshall
since "Marshall Memories," which was published in 1986.
"In
recent years, I've done several books on regional history, and
each touched on the history of Marshall University to some degree,"
Casto said. "Increasingly, I grew convinced that the Marshall
story was so fascinating that it demanded a book of its own."
To
read about Jim's other books and articles,
click here. |
The
book is one that Casto has particular interest in, because he
grew up close to the school and used the campus as a playground
when he was young. He was also a student and a professor at Marshall
and decided supporters needed a book denoting the entire history
of the school.
"Everybody
is loyal to their school, but there is something especially passionate
about Marshall fans," said Casto, retired associate editor
of The Herald-Dispatch.
The
book is divided into eight chronological sections, each highlighting
different areas of importance for the university. It touches on
such subjects as its namesake, the great Chief Justice John Marshall,
and shows many of the buildings on campus in their early building
stages as well as critical historical events.
|
Herald-Dispatch
photo/Lori Wolfe |
Casto
spent several months in the special collections archives of Morrow
Library at Marshall sorting through thousands of photos, trying
to narrow his search to 200 pictures. Ninety percent of the photos
Casto used came from the Morrow archives, he said.
Barbara
Winters, the dean of libraries at Marshall, said it is time for
an updated look at the history of the school.
"It's
important to chronicle the history periodically of any institution,"
Winters said. "A lot has happened since the mid-80s at Marshall."
The
cover of the book has a picture of students in 1961 holding up
The Parthenon, Marshall's student newspaper, with the headline
"Marshall U" emphatically displayed after Marshall was
granted university status.
The
event is No. 1 on Casto's Top 12 list of milestones to happen
at the university, with the plane crash coming second.
"Certainly,
there is nothing more momentous that has happened to the university
and touched the university, but I believe the cover photo should
be cause for celebration, not a tragedy," Casto said.
The
book is published by Arcadia Publishing and can be purchased at
many local book stores.