How does one research 160 years of bicycling?
Historian and librarian Chris Sweet ’01 knows how to make an entrance. In April, he returned to campus with a penny-farthing, a high-wheeled bicycle from the 1870-1880s.
His arrival was on brand. Earlier this year, Sweet published “A History of Bicycling in Illinois: 160 Years of Booms and Bust.”
Chris Sweet ’01 (on the right) and Viking track and cross-country teammate, physics professor Dr. Jim Van Howe
That expertise led Dr. Jane Simonsen, professor of history, to invite Sweet to speak to students in her research methods class. Sweet offered insight into the historical research demanded for his book and possible career paths for history majors.
“I was thrilled to come back to Augie and teach a class,” said Sweet, information literacy and scholarly communications librarian at Illinois Wesleyan University. “I tried to focus on some of the approaches that might be unique to the way a librarian-historian approaches research.
“As part of my process, I published an annotated bibliography of bicycling periodicals published in the U.S. before 1900 — there are more than 100! Another unique approach to historical research involved building my own full-text, searchable database of old bicycle books and periodicals using open-source indexing software.”
Sweet’s earliest connection to bicycling was getting around rural Central Illinois before he could drive and then later as a bike racer. His personal collection started with race bikes, and as he grew interested in bicycle history, he started to add older bikes.
The penny-farthing (the front wheel is 50 inches tall!) is one of the most iconic bikes he owns.
“Counting old and newer bicycles, I have probably 10 bicycles in my collection — 10-and-a-half if you count my unicycle!” Sweet said.