Delaware Public Archives Program

The History of the Beatles and the Social Revolution of the 1960s

It’s been fifty years since four young men from Liverpool, England known collectively as The Beatles walked into a recording studio to record their first single “Love Me Do.” The Delaware Public Archives (DPA) is celebrating this anniversary with a program about this legendary group who changed the musical and cultural fiber of the 1960s. To be presented on Saturday, October 6, 10:30 a.m., the program features Delawarean and Beatle historian Joel Glazier.

Along with The Beatles presentation, the Delaware Public Archives will have a small, temporary display of documents from its collections about the protest movement of the 1960s. As noted by State Archivist Stephen M. Marz, “when many citizens think about the Delaware Public Archives, they believe we only keep materials from the 17th century through the early 20th century. However, we want people to know that we have a large collection of materials related to recent Delaware history that researchers and all citizens should know are available for review and research. We think this program on The Beatles, who were so much a part of this historic period, presents an excellent opportunity to bring out a sampling of these 1960s documents. It was a definitely a different era and that is truly reflected in the materials.”

Joel Glazier, a resident of Wilmington, is a retired Delaware public school teacher who has been a Beatles fan since 1964, when the group first achieved recognition in America. His interest continued into his teaching career and The Beatles have been used in his classroom and as part of university courses he has taught. He was fortunate enough to have met all four Beatles and saw the group in concert when they toured the United States in the mid 1960s. As a speaker with the Delaware Humanities Forum he has given talks on various aspects of The Beatles history at dozens of Delaware schools, libraries and for various social and educational groups.

The program is free to the public. No reservations are required. For more information, contact Tom Summers (302) 744-5047 or e-mail thomas.summers@state.de.us.

More information about the Delaware Public Archives.

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Insider’s Guide to Richmond

Photo Credit: Citizen

 

The Richmond Local Arrangements Committee wants to express its enthusiasm about the MARAC 2012 Fall meeting in Richmond, Virginia. Here are some committee members’ favorite recommendations for the city when they have free time in Richmond. We would love to see you around town during the meeting!

Laura Stoner, Virginia Historical Society

 

Citizen

A fun quirky breakfast or lunch place near our hotel is called the Citizen, perfect during a workshop break on Thursday or a snack on Friday. The small restaurant is located at 909 E. Main Street and is open from 7am to 3pm on weekdays. A quick five minute walk from the Omni Hotel, the restaurant specializes in fresh local food. They have food for carnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike. You can take food out and eat at a scenic spot in the city or enjoy their patio weather permitting. Check out their menu here!

Margaret Kidd, Virginia Commonwealth University, Tompkins-McCaw Library

Photo Credit: Jefferson

The Jefferson Hotel
I would have to say one of my favorite things is going to the Jefferson. It is a classic hotel with a lot of charm. I love to walk up the grand stairs and of course have cocktails at Lemaire. The Jefferson is located at 101 West Franklin Street. For drink specials see the link.

Paige Newman, Virginia Historical Society

The Fan
I live, breathe, eat and drink in the Fan District. My home for the past 15 years is full of quirky shops, great restaurants, wonderful bars, and lots of history. The Fan is an historic district in Richmond, so named because of the “fan” shape of its array of streets. If you get a chance to visit the Fan and find yourself on Robinson Street, forgo Starbucks and enjoy a pint at Commercial Taphouse or a burger at Helen’s or tater tots and hummus at Racine or a shot of whiskey at McCormack’s Whiskey Grill or hang with some neighborhood flavor at Buddy’s or Starlite. Richmond offers a variety of ways to spend your time but come visit the Fan and I guarantee you’ll have an enjoyable time if not an unforgettable one. I’ll be happy to join you!

Jennifer McDaid, Norfolk and Southern Corporation

Photo Credit: Jennifer McDaid

Hollywood Cemetery

Archivists might want to visit Virginia’s first state archivist Morgan P. Robinson’s brand-new gravestone at Hollywood Cemetery. His grave was unmarked before. It’s near President’s Circle. And if the weather is nice, Hollywood is always good. There’s a bench nearby at Joseph Bryan’s grave with a nice view of the river . . . .great for a picnic.

Catherine G. OBrion, Virginia State Law Library

James River Park: Pipeline Walk

One of my favorite places in Richmond is the James River Park System’s Pipeline Walk. Just a few steps away from downtown Richmond and the Omni hotel, it is a great place to experience the juxtaposition of a scenic, wild river in the middle of a busy transportation hub. A busy highway crosses directly above the walk, and abandoned railroad trestles are visible from the river’s edge. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear or feel a train above crossing overhead, in addition to the cars on the highway, and you might see a few kayakers making their way through the rapids.

Photo Credit: Catherine O’Brion



To Get There: The Pipeline runs along the river at the Riverside on the James condominiums, is easy to access from the Canal Walk at South 12th and Byrd streets or from the east end of Brown’s Island. From the Omni hotel, walk down 12th street to the intersection of 12th and Byrd and look for a path toward the flood wall. If you are driving, you can park in a small parking lot to the right of the flood wall.  More information and photographs.

Request for Proposals: CONTENTdm User Group

We’re ready to accept proposals for the Virtual CONTENTdm User Group Meeting. The planning committee has brainstormed a list of potential topics of interest, but we would like to hear from the broader CONTENTdm community. Please consider submitting your topic idea even if you do not see it in the list.

The first global fully online CONTENTdm User Group Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012.  NOTE: If you presented at any of the recent regional face to face user group meetings, we would welcome you to submit another proposal, as this meeting will reach a broader audience.

 

Submit your proposal by Tuesday, September 25th, 2012: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VirtualCONTENTdm

 

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

• Working with the WorldCat Digital Collection Gateway
• Web Configuration Tool Use/Demo (basic or advanced customization)
• Importing and Exporting Metadata from CONTENTdm
• Data wrangling within tab-delimited text files
• Using Google Docs to prepare tab-delimited text files
• Exporting data from CONTENTdm and into other systems
• Metadata Trends
• CONTENTdm and Linked Data projects
• Teaching with CONTENTdm within LIS Programs
• Digital Preservation and CONTENTdm
• Using CONTENTdm as an Institutional Repository
• Engaging Users with CONTENTdm Collections (e.g. for digital exhibits, crowdsourcing metadata via use of user tags, etc)
• Use of forms in CONTENTdm (for public, faculty, students, and other users to submit content)
• New tools, tricks, techniques, or projects

We are especially interested in a lightning round session on these topics. See the proposal form for more details.

Monmouth County Historical Association: Lecture Series

As part of its “Historically Speaking” lecture series, Monmouth County Historical Association is pleased to welcome Dr. David Martin to speak on Sunday, September 23rdat 2:00pm. The lecture will be held at the Court Street School at 140 Court Street at the corner of Rhea (parking lot entrance on Avenue A) and will be part of the Association’s activities during the Civil War Encampment weekend held at the Museum & Library grounds at 70 Court Street in Freehold.

Dr. Martin is the author of over 25 books on the Civil War and American Revolution, including the award-winning “Gettysburg July 1,” “A Molly Pitcher Sourcebook,” and most recently “New Jersey at Gettysburg Guidebook.” He is Vice President of the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association, sponsors of the state’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, and was a member of the state’s Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. Dr. Martin is currently working on a book of biographies of New Jersey’s generals and admirals in the Civil War, which is the basis for his talk for the Monmouth County Historical Association. He is a professor and administrator at the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey.

Dr. Martin’s lecture is open to the public and admission is free. Refreshments will be served. Please call 732-462-1466 for further information or to let us know you will attend.

The Civil War Encampment weekend will occur on both September 22nd and 23rd on the grounds of the Museum & Library, 70 Court Street in Freehold. The public will be welcome to tour the encampment between 10am – 5pm on Saturday, and 10am – 4pm on Sunday. Tours of the current exhibition “Marching Away: Monmouth in the Civil War” will also be offered inside the Museum.

2012 New York Archives Week

The Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York, Inc. (ART), along with hundreds of organizations in the archives community across New York State, will celebrate New York Archives Week (October 7-13, 2012) with special commemorative activities throughout New York City. New York Archives Week is an annual celebration aimed at informing the general public of the diverse array of archival materials available in the Metropolitan New York City region.

Among the many activities free and open to the public will be open houses, exhibitions, lectures, workshops and behind-the-scenes tours of archives throughout the city. These special events are designed to celebrate the importance of historical records, and to familiarize interested organizations and the public with a wealth of fascinating archival materials illuminating centuries of New York City history and culture.

Among those participating in the event are historical societies, universities, libraries, and cultural organizations. Highlights include: tours of the archives at the Museum of the City of New York, the Davis Library Archives and Special Collections at St. John’s University, and the Girl Scouts of USA National Historic Preservation Center; open house presentations at the Franklin Furnace Archive, Inc. and the Interference Archive; and a presentation by Manhattan Borough Historian, Michael Miscione. A complete list of Archives Week events and schedules can be found on the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York, Inc.’s website: http://www.nycarchivists.org/. Please note that pre-registration for some events is required.

For further information, contact:
Ryan Anthony Donaldson, Communications Director
Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York, Inc.
communications@nycarchivists.org

The Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York, Inc. recognizes the generous sponsorship of Archives Week by MetLife and the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation.

Advocacy: Georgia State Archives

Author: Ed Galloway, MARAC Chair

In case you’ve not already been made aware of this situation in Georgia, which was announced yesterday, but Georgia’s Secretary of State has been instructed by the Governor that as a cost-cutting measure the State Archives should be closed to researchers from the general public. (see The Atlantic Journal-Constitution article)

I’ve indicated to SAA and the National Coalition for History among others that MARAC stands ready to support their efforts in overturning this decision. In the meantime, YOU can help by visiting this website and signing the petition. Every voice counts whether from Georgia or archivists from MARAC. Please participate.

Archives Association of Ontario: Call for Papers

The Archives Association of Ontario is pleased to announce its Call for Papers for the 2013 Annual Conference to be held 29-31 May 2013 in Ottawa, Canada’s National Capital:

Is the Medium Really the Message?: Digital v Traditional Formats, should you, when could you, and why on earth would you?

Proposals are invited for examinations of the general topic – which is better for you, traditional media or digital, electronic or paper (or film, sound recordings, tapes etc)?

In a time of increased calls to deal with digital records, let us examine the issue in all of its variants:
Should you digitise?
When Could you digitise?
Why Would you digitise?

Potential subjects include:
Cost benefit analysis
Data migration – problems and possible solutions
Wider distribution of locally-held records
Tapping into web-based resources
Uses and utility of social media

Come join us in historic Ottawa, visit the beautiful Rideau Canal, travel across the Ottawa River into Québec to experience la belle province, have a Beavertail at Hooker’s in the Market (something at least one American president has done), view the Houses of Parliament, including the wonderful Library of Parliament, and generally enjoy yourself in Canada’s National Capitol.

Proposals are invited in the form of complete sessions or individual presentations, and may be sent to:

Daniel German
Program Chair
AAO2013
Daniel.German@bac-lac.gc.ca

The due date of applications/submissions is 31 October 2012

Free Oral History Conference

Talking Business: Oral History and the History of Enterprises

Date: Friday, November 2nd
Time: 1:00pm-6:00pm
Location: Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware
Cost: Free

The Hagley conference “Talking Business: Oral History and the History of Enterprises” will take place in the Soda House of the Hagley Museum and Library.  Click here for conference schedule and list of speakers.

Registration is free but required. Please email Carol Lockman, clockman@Hagley.org, to register or for more information on the conference, or call 302-658-2400, ext. 244.

Order Your 40th Anniversary T-Shirt

Wondering what to wear to the MARAC Fall 2012 Conference? Pondering about how to show your enthusiasm for celebrating 40 years of MARAC?

Have no fear – the t-shirts are here!

Click here and choose from three MARAC images in a variety of t-shirt styles and colors.

T-shirts will be available for pick-up at the Fall Conference. If you need your t-shirt shipped or have other t-shirt related questions, please email Alex Scott: alex@scottsunlimitedinc.com

Deadline for ordering t-shirts to style and profile at the Fall Conference is October 8th.

ACLU Records Digitized

The Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library at Princeton University has combined social media and digitized records on its blog. Recently, with the generous support of Professor Samuel Walker, the library digitized early American Civil Liberties Union records and Walker then provided historical context and narrative for them which the library posted on its blog. Walker supported this work because he wanted to provide high school students with a digital entry into the voluminous ACLU records. You can access all four entries with links to the scanned documents here.