Celebrating Anniversaries. Commemorating Wars.

We have been commemorating the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War for years now. My twitter feed has been noting archival projects, social media blitzes, major reenactments, and museum exhibits throughout the events. Cultural Institutions began planning years in advance.  Internet outreach has enabled us to build up interest and create long running projects that aim to keep people engaged. I have very mixed feelings about these activities and while I tend toward the opinion that they are a good thing, a little piece of me thinks otherwise.

One way that cultural institutions aim to get the public involved is through Crowdsourcing. A good example of this is a project through the University of Iowa.

Saylor and her colleagues “crowdsourced” the Civil War by digitizing the letters and diaries and making them available to the public. They created a website where transcribers can choose a document, transcribe it in a niffy box, and email it to them for review.

Goals: To get the public involved, highlight a major event, and get much needed help for making archival materials more accessible.

The Civil War events are having a small lull. According to the civilwar150 site, not much of significance happened during the War in the spring and summer months of 1864. My Twitter feed on the events has been quiet. Perhaps, it's a good thing that the centennial of WWI is getting underway too so I have more commemorative articles to link to. (Am I being fascetious? I'm not sure. That's what I'm here to discuss.)

The United States World War One Centennial Commission has a wonderful web site to remind us about this oft forgotten catastophic event. 100-years after a War, it is easy to see it as ancient history. It is easy for us to forget how the events of the past have lead us to where we are today. The roots of Russian history and conflict go back this far, for one thing. As one example of the need for remembering our history - Understanding events in the Ukraine today can be related to World War One. And, yet, my mind still questions this "celebration" of anniversaries.

I fall victim to anniversary syndrome. For a Town's 250th I think, "let's do it up!" For my school's fiftieth I say, "let's plan retro events and highlight our community!" Anniversaries give cultural heritage professionals a chance to pull in the general public, to help them get as excited about history as we are. In some ways, these celebrations are artificial constructs. We can find an anniversary for anything and make it worth celebrating, but is that a bad thing? If the general public wants festivities to get excited about history, the fact that they are interested is a good thing, right? Anniversaries allow archivists to convince people to dig through their attics and basements to find materials that document our history. Society has used anniversaries to highlight our heritage for at least hundreds of years. We have highlighted war in this way for probably thousands of years -- from stitching battle history into tapestry to honoring our Veterans with special days each year.

2014 will mark the 100th anniversary of what we now sadly know as The First World War – it would never be The War to End All Wars.  As we look back over the century we should remember that these men did not die in vain – they fought a war that, like the one that followed only 25 years later, was necessary to contain the territorial ambition of a major European power.  About one hundred years before the outbreak of the First World War British and Allied troops had defeated France at the Belgium village of Waterloo - and contained a major European power.
Remember the courage and honour the sacrifice of the boys who became men 100 years ago and support the young men and women who have followed in their footsteps and are today's soldiers.  - (from Spirit of Remembrance  web site - "Battlefield tours for discerning travelers") 

I am a bit troubled by the hoopla. How do we pick and choose what anniversaries to mark? What anniversaries are we forgetting? Are there under-documented events/wars/communities that need more attention from the governments that sponsor them? Are we glorifying War -- molding it into something romantic through a "celebration?"  Are we all doing all of this for the right reasons?  

To be sure, much good work is being done. These anniversary events deserve remembrance. Cultural heritage institutions could use the boost, excitement, collections, and donations that come from these events. It is a fine line to walk. Anniversaries, especially those of war, deserve related activities that suit the occasion. We need to remember that these events involve people. We need to remember without a sense of adventure and without romanticism. We need to ensure that our communities are boosted by our commemorations. We run the risk of trivializing terror and giving an amusement park atmosphere to what should be solemn memorials.

Let's remember this as we go on to mark the third year in our commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam Conflict.

What do you think about using anniversaries to boost the work of cultural heritage institutions? Do these anniversaries help our communities? If these anniversary celebrations are a good thing, with whom should cultural institutions partner to make them worthwhile?

Does It Matter if the Wright Brothers Were Not the First in Flight?

Recent news demonstrates how history is not cut-and-dry. History is a puzzle to be explored. Every "story" has at least three sides. Every historical moment should be subject to interpretation.

This week "Connecticut lawmakers write Wright Brothers out of history as ‘first in flight.’" And one may wonder, "Can they do that? How can such a "fact" be turned around and questioned and even knocked down by a political body?" 

I wonder how we established our fact in the first place. 

It seems in a time when America is strongly polarized that this issue of questioning a "fact" becomes even more important. What is a fact? What does it take for us to settle on a particular historical truth; to enter a narrative into a text book and to teach something as if that is how it absolutely happened? When do we know that the truth is absolute?

Also in the news this week, it was revealed that "Aerial Photos Offer Clues to Earhart Mystery". It seems that new archival evidence may hold some answers for us. The mystery of Earhart's disappearance has become so ensconced in romantic historical notions of Americans, it is hard to believe that we might have a solution to this historical mystery. 

As another case in point, earlier this year, the British discovered the bones of Richard III. DNA evidence confirmed that Richard was indeed found under a parking lot. (Not very romantic.) We learned that Richard III was not who the historical rumors purported him to be. It is interesting to consider how centuries of rumors get passed down and can only be broken by the hard evidence of archives and archaeological finds. But is it too late for the much maligned Richard's reputation to be straightened out? Do we now have too many years of legend behind us to bring "fact" front and center?

I learned in school that the Civil War was fought to combat slavery and to save the Union. I was taught that it was a good and just war. That may be, but nobody ever told me to question that. Some "facts" are actually opinion. In an article written earlier this month for The Atlantic, this week's 150th anniversary of the Civil War is more closely examined. 150 Years of Misunderstanding of the Civil War focuses on the horrors and deeper meaning behind war. Death and amputation that was recorded by diarists and correspondents were backed up by Matthew Brady's "historical" images -- many of which were posed, as I remember. We have two different truths. Both the patriotic legends and the highlighted horrific have been molded into romantic narratives. How do we know what is really true? Even archives are created from a particular point of view.

Does it matter if the Wright Brothers were not the first in flight? Yes. Yes, it does. It is time for us to recognize that stories we are spoon fed are not necessarily right. It is time we realized that history is not romantic. Instead, history can provide us a path for evaluating modern society - to see where we've been and where we should go. Looking back on false notions only perpetuates societal problems that we need to examine with clarity in order to fix them. We must teach children to seek primary sources, to look out for alternative views, and to evaluate information for themselves with an understanding that the information we easily come-by is not necessarily right.

The Archives Year in Review

I recently read that it must somehow be ingrained in us to make top ten lists. So, along those lines, I have culled the ArchivesInfo tweets for the year and come up with the top news stories / trends for the year. (I have provided links to articles I cited in case you want to learn more about each top ten topic.) What didn't quite make the list?-  "Digital Dark Age," citizen archivists, crowdsourcing, digital curation, net neutrality, social media for cultural heritage institutions, human rights archives, and battles over the rights to personal papers such as the Kafka archives. (These didn't make it primarily because I've got a feeling that these stories will grow in the next year and may make it to the 2011 list)  Smaller stories of note, that also did not make it to the list include reports of the opening up of the Vatican's Archives, the finding of Rembrandts and other cultural heritage items in unusual places, Mark Twain's autobiography, the comeback of my beloved bookmobile, and the popularization of history through new programs such as "Pawn Stars," "American Pickers," and "Who Do You Think You Are?"...   With a nod to David Lettermen, here's the ArchivesInfo top ten of 2010.

Top ArchivesInfo identified news stories of 2010 (via ArchivesInfo on Twitter):

#10 Preparations for 150th anniversary of Civil War
2011 will bring the sesquicentennial of the Civil War and there has been a flurry of activity as cultural institutions (especially in the south) prepare to mark the historic event. A business with REALLY bad timing  joins the anniversary news.
Commemorating 150th ann. of Am. Civil War in TN. "Every Tennessean has a story. Share yours." http://bit.ly/dBXSUF
Archives exhibit explores little-known aspects of Civil War, marks 150th anniversary, legacy and strife live on  http://bit.ly/aEn85e
Groups gear up for state's 150th - Kansas get ready for sesquicentennial on a shoestring w Internet  http://bit.ly/aeZP5H
National Trust for Historic Preservation Have something to say about Walmart http://bit.ly/8ZPPnq
Residents share Civil War history. Local war items, documents recorded by state for 150th anniversary project http://bit.ly/aZanUg
How we teach lessons about the #CivilWar - 150th anniversary shows us looking at history through a new lens http://bit.ly/ahoZpB
Archivists want records of Civil War relics: Experts will photograph items for state exhibit http://bit.ly/boo5AO
NYT - Celebrating Secession Without the Slaveshttp://nyti.ms/heYA34
Tennessee's Civil War 150 commemoration marches on despite little funding http://bit.ly/ewkubB

#9 World War II and Holocaust
Always an active topic, there seemed to be an exceptional flurry in archives / cultural heritage related WWII news this year. New documents were found or were made accessible, and battles over ownership of Nazi-looted materials made headlines. 

Holocaust Archives Go Online http://bit.ly/7Mt0qU

Documents from WWII digitized, provide info on fate of those rescued from camps. http://bit.ly/8w9nuC

recordings representing the earliest known oral histories of the Holocaust http://bit.ly/5CTTO6

Did Germany help Eichmann escape to Argentina? - court set to decide on release of docs. http://bit.ly/bR6S65

Museums are morally obligated to return Nazi-looted art, says expert http://bit.ly/cHY1ZT

Vatican puts historical documents, including some from WWII, online http://bit.ly/bdggID

Holocaust Survivor's Story Preserved Forever - oral histories of survivors through University of South Florida http://bit.ly/902q8k

Horrors of WWII captured in found photos http://bit.ly/cuXcHX

Devastation of War. Archival Discovery Revealsa Ruined Berlin  http://bit.ly/b1U31S

Vatican secret #archives for World War II will open within 6 years: Cardinal Kasper  http://bit.ly/cdbZy4

Archive project will digitize WWII Enigma messages http://bit.ly/bW8SZe 

U.S. Holocaust Museum: Auschwitz photos open window into Nazi psyche  http://bit.ly/cwOVZp

43 countries agree to return Jewish property taken by Nazis http://bit.ly/bBL69B

New documents surface on Hitler's jail time http://bit.ly/bNwtK9

Hitler's Prison Memoirs Up for Auction http://bit.ly/aErakd

Getty receives grant money for digital German art initiative. Archiving auction catalogs from Nazi regime http://bit.ly/dmZvdc

Could WWII have bn avoided? Memoirs uncover Irishman who saved Hitler from being kicked 2 death by mob http://bit.ly/cSGSHM

Huntington Library to transfer Germany's original Nuremberg Laws to National Archives http://bit.ly/b6ipJw

German WWII plan to invade Britain revealed in MI5 file http://bbc.in/9srpvB 

History throws us an interesting tidbit - info re Army counterintelligence officer who found original Nuremberg Laws http://bit.ly/c91UxM

AOTUS blog - Nuremberg Laws at National Archives http://blogs.archives.gov/aotus/?p=1618 

Hatikvah Holocaust Education Center at Springfield (MA) Jewish Community Center to close http://bit.ly/aWp6ck

Struggle in Poland over Jewish war diaries http://bit.ly/akr2fJ

Getty traces ownership of Nazi-era looted art http://bit.ly/blb3ZF

Mussolini’s secret diaries http://bit.ly/cKXcAi

Check out exhibit on NH's favorite monkey http://ow.ly/3v8V9 [H.A. Rey archives used 2 interpret authors' WWII experience]

Millions of Jewish Holocaust victims named http://bit.ly/dPdI0U

Kimura's photos of Hiroshima after bombing kept by Hiroshima Prefectural Archives and Library http://bit.ly/ejSC5y

Log documenting Pearl Harbor attack given to Hawaii museum http://bit.ly/dXEmKA

Dutch museum searching for relatives of Southport soldier killed in WWII http://bit.ly/fRKICC

Records detail use of Nazis http://j.mp/h5CBBR

The letter from Hitler that may have saved a woman from the Gestapo http://bit.ly/gUyIUU

Art believed destroyed by Nazis is found in Berlin: http://yhoo.it/bOnZtT

British archives make previously classified acct of Hitler provided by19-year-old Austrian public:http://bit.ly/adoy7X

#8 Say goodbye to the book as we know it?

Amazon.com has just announced that the Kindle has replaced "Harry Potter" as their number one seller. In 2010 we have seen a big jump away from "traditional" books and have had great debates about the future of reading and the future role of libraries.

Picture Books aren't in trouble just because NYT says so http://bit.ly/bqQiIu

Picture Books No Longer a Staple 4 Children http://nyti.ms/9SC0eT 

No more judging a book by its cover? what will happen to covers in a digital world? http://bit.ly/aUO3yB

 Libraries: stop doing it by the book - transformation from fusty institutes to hi-tech hubs creates schism in libraries http://bit.ly/bkvQsJ

The death of the library book - Cambridge has gleaming new building, but something's missing http://bit.ly/cIAvK0
Is your ebook/kindle lacking that fresh new book smell - here's the solution! http://bit.ly/aJ4d1F

THIS BOOK IS OVERDUE! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All http://bit.ly/cmKaXn

Why are you for Killing bookstores? http://www.idealog.com/blog/why-are-you-for-killing-bookstores

"Will the book survive?...Inquiring minds tend to use whatever means they can to get what they want." http://bit.ly/5Dmy51

Libraries: Not abt Books http://bit.ly/6LP79o 

Library Journal: New Plan Seeks a 'Big Tent' 4 National Digital Library http://bit.ly/eLAywk 

#7 The BP Oil Spill
Reeking havoc on the Gulf Coast of the United States, the BP Oil spill has been called the largest accidental marine petroleum disaster in history. The affair raised obvious concerns about caring for the environment and just as obvious questions about a company's legal responsibilities in the event of such disaster, but it also brought up issues about documenting historical events, disseminating information about news in real time, and caring for documents that may provide insight into culpability.
BPs Photo Blockade of the Gulf Oil Spill http://bit.ly/b8l7Ku
BP’s protective ordr: reasonably refrain & resist from changing, alteration &/or destruction of documents http://bit.ly/cg4XBr
'79 Gulf Oil Spill Leaves Sobering Lessons for BP http://bit.ly/9zBtOE
Documents: BP cut corners in days before blowout http://bit.ly/cOCMav
Museum sends solemn message: http://bit.ly/9uuBiI

#6 International Repatriation of Cultural Objects

Countries and cultural heritage institutions are seeking ways to "remedy" the removal of items from their original homes. War, treasure hunting, and other circumstances lead to the taking of items from the places where they were created. The cultures that identify with the materials are asking for them back with differing degrees of success.
Venezuela Demands Germany to Return Sacred Stone; more scuffling over cultural heritage resources http://bit.ly/5ozk1E
Iran cuts ties with British Museum in antiquity row http://bit.ly/9D3khR
Korea Asks France to Return Looted Ancient Books http://bit.ly/dj2I9v
Getty ordered to return priceless Greek bronze to Italy http://bit.ly/cFS8X5
Should Britain return Africa’s stolen treasures? http://bit.ly/cqBxR7
Antiques Roadshow highlights stolen artifacts. http://bit.ly/bTx1xR
More repatriated artifacts as US returns 'cultural treasures' to Iraq.  http://bit.ly/9F1XtT
Returning archives to their rightful owners - the Descartes lettre http://bit.ly/9SMIqQ
Iran’s Cultural Heritage Under Threat http://bit.ly/bAf8pw
Debate on repatriation of cultural heritage. NYT: Who draws the borders of culture? http://nyti.ms/dog6D6
Iraq-US begin talks to reclaim Jewish archive http://bit.ly/asqH0Y
'Bring Back the Act': Historian, archivist fight to reclaim one of Canada's founding documents from British archive http://bit.ly/dsuoVF
Iraq loses sleep after Torah finds its way into Israel http://bit.ly/dsJ0U
MFA returns stolen artwork to Italy http://j.mp/fNfXDv
Africa Urges Western Countries to Return Looted Treasuries http://bit.ly/f3m7vr
 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Returns Historical Documents To Russian Federation http://bit.ly/gzoJOF
South Korea's lost treasure. Officials trying to bring back plundered items around world. http://lat.ms/hC061L
Yale set to return 4,000 Inca treasures to Peru http://ind.pn/d74bfm
Repatriated records: Missing parish records from England found in New Zealand http://bit.ly/9T4sg2

#5 Battle to Save Haiti's Cultural Heritage:
The year began with a major earthquake striking Haiti. The fight to save lives began immediately and the fight to ensure the security of their cultural heritage was not far behind. News revealed that international efforts to try to secure Haiti's heritage resources was swift and has been ongoing throughout the year with the country continuing to live in a state of emergency due to catastrophic damage. 
Experts to assess damage in Haiti museums http://bit.ly/aEmhXf
UNESCO urges ban on trading Haitian artifacts http://bit.ly/9oXGXZ
Quake's toll on Haitian art, heritage and income http://bit.ly/arrenD
UNESCO fears Haiti cultural heritage might be pillaged http://bit.ly/9ZGiCy
Academics to begin search for Haiti's archives http://bit.ly/cBos7X
Workers struggle to save Haiti history buried in rubble of tax office http://bit.ly/bZTZC
Save Don't Bulldoze Haiti's Heritage http://bit.ly/dAUDE6
Gang members in Haiti return to streets after stealing guns & destroying all records of crimes. http://ow.ly/ZlBw
Haiti’s Founding Document Found in London - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/doh1nw
Rescuing Art From the Rubble of the Quake: http://url4.eu/3J3g6
Smithsonian Develops Haitian Cultural Recovery Project http://bit.ly/c0AyNd
Smithsonian leads recovery of Haiti's art, culture http://bit.ly/aAoV7C
Conservator from Maryland State Archives helps salvage Haiti's cultural material  http://bit.ly/9QC1dR
A paper conservator’s trip to Haiti: University of Texas conservator and lecturer's experience representing AIC http://bit.ly/bn6SYP

#4 Google, Copyright, Orphaned Works and more:

Google is shaking up the world with innovation and controversy. This year has brought new means of organizing information and questionable practices for making information accessible via the Internet. Internationally, we are striving to sort out who "owns" information and who has the right to do what with it. 

Google, copyright, and our future http://bit.ly/c3SHR2

Stanford signs Google Book Search agreement,endorses court settlement http://bit.ly/dvlc8f

US Anti-Trust Reviewers Still Objecting To Google Books Deal http://lisnews.org/node/35853

Google book scanning: Cultural theft or freedom of information? http://bit.ly/dyCRAo

Google Fights Back Against Book Settlement Critics - Digits - WSJ http://bit.ly/dl9LZI

'Copyright deal is a cultural disaster' http://bit.ly/bFbYf7

China Counters Google Move by Partly Blocking Hong Kong Site http://nyti.ms/ceSp70

Development on copyright legislation for orphan works,will have implications for museums http://bit.ly/cteC9g

Digital economy bill rushed thru late nite session in U.K. http://bit.ly/a7PyEe

Court Says It's Okay to Remove Content From The Public Domain & Put It Back Under Copyright http://trunc.it/92xha

Canadian Archivist raises questions about copyright - weighs

in & discusses "orphan works" in Google agreement http://bit.ly/bA6AU1

Boston Globe quotes NEH’s director, office of digital humanities on new Google/Harvard text-mining study http://bit.ly/g983vD

Google Editions Really Coming Soon http://bit.ly/gGjlz0

Google seeks digital rights to Miramax films - reporthttp://reut.rs/9aTxgo

Google to put Dead Sea Scrolls online http://bit.ly/di36Ku

 #3 A new leader at the U.S. National Archives brings change, faces challenges:
With a mission to bring NARA into the 21st century, the new Archivist of the U.S. takes up issues of digitization, morale, government records management, and valuing archives.

Ferriero takes on NARA's culture, modernization challenges http://bit.ly/8u1C85

More potential victims of identity theft notified of hard-drive loss, NARA notifies affected individuals http://bit.ly/4X8v2Q

NPR Interview with US Archivist Ferriero http://bit.ly/4O2Wqp

U.S. Archivist Wants You to Have Access - awed by encounters with history  http://bit.ly/717xiP 

National Archives Releases New Datasets on Data.gov and Invites Public Comment on Open Government Plan http://bit.ly/b2oYpS

Archivist details challenges of massive declassification job http://bit.ly/cP8QMb

Federal Office Offers $50,000 Reward for Missing External Drive http://bit.ly/c54Cx9

Report criticizes archives on security of hard drive w info abt Clinton employees. allegedly mishandled by NARA http://bit.ly/bhQ636

The Archivist of the U.S. David S. Ferriero is Now a Blogger http://bit.ly/bs8EAe

Many [government] agencies earn failing grade for e-recordkeeping http://bit.ly/bzmDht

NARA hosts 1st social media scavenger hunt http://j.mp/9NBoak

National Archives Hunts Lost Documents on Facebook - WSJ http://bit.ly/aIS5Re

National Declassification Center Issues First Report http://bit.ly/dxjg0z

U.S. Archivist acknowledges morale problems at his agency http://bit.ly/8YtQ9L

Archivist David Ferriero works to improve employee morale after bad poll results http://bit.ly/aZQ4eX

#2 "Poor economy" resulted in layoffs, closures and the selling off of collections: 

Cultural heritage institutions are fighting for their lives in a difficult economy, forcing many changes in the cultural heritage scene and in the way many of us need to run our programs. 2011 should be a turn-around point, allowing us to better see which institutions will survive. We have had a couple of years to work on changed strategies where warranted. Those of us left standing can view this economic crisis as a chance to revisit our missions and procedures for operation, perhaps making us stronger in the long run.

Should (art) museums sell objects in hard times...? http://bit.ly/8aI1hy [NY Times]

Will US Museums succeed in reinventing themselves? http://is.gd/66QJM 

Arts funding cuts proposed by Conservatives in U.K. http://bit.ly/51bfi2 

Greece shuts more than 40 museums to save money: http://bit.ly/7CpkSG

New survey shows U.S. public libraries in financial jeopardy http://ow.ly/WQMI

University museums among greatest in UK, yet their core funding is threatened: http://bit.ly/7g83ba

ash in the attic: Cash strapped governments consider selling art http://bit.ly/alTCuy

Canterbury's Roman Museum could fall victim to the credit crunch - Museum closures British cost cutting trend? http://bit.ly/99dvtT

Nation’s Libraries Get More Use, Less Funding http://bit.ly/cEsP0I

Good news -- and bad -- about museum [and archives] hiring - economy skews good prospects http://bit.ly/ciB4d0

Cut all librarians before any cop?: http://bit.ly/bQ7zKd

History at risk in PA http://bit.ly/9kVz2f

History has value beyond nostalgia - funding for historical society's in Oregon http://bit.ly/ckowDa

Western Reserve Historical Society Sells Its History to Save Institution http://bit.ly/du0ruP

Another consequence of a museum closing, unhappy donors. Ansel Adams' Son Sues Museum for Prints: http://bit.ly/blwmqM

Valuable lessons from Western Reserve Historical Society mess http://bit.ly/akGe5Y 

Cleveland historical society defends sale of items http://bit.ly/b5klmA

Why libraries are a good investment in any economy on "Word of Mouth" radio http://bit.ly/bJgODI

cultural institutions generate nearly 2x their budgets in local spending annually..." http://bit.ly/9DiB9g... http://bit.ly/cuVOwF

Museum professionals march on Washington today - lobbying for cultural heritage http://bit.ly/cvXIfG

Almost half of poor Americans go to the #library for Internet says report by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation http://bit.ly/bVqxZv

State history museum reopens in Massachusetts - some of earliest and most famous US docs housed there http://bit.ly/bIvbZA

AZ Historical Society & residents taking steps to secure historic sites closed by state budget crisis http://n.pr/9a6WQf

On the Posterity Project: This little piggy had none: Libraries and archives considered "pork" by CAGW

http://bit.ly/9kY2dR

Librarians Protest Budget Cuts, Crowding Hollywood Intersection During Rush Hour;  library makes up 2% of city budget http://bit.ly/ceyzEv

California Budget Drought Threatens Water Archive http://bit.ly/9oewjw

11 Most Endangered Historic Places (in U.S.) http://bit.ly/aD1R1D

Queens Library is facing a potential funding cut of $16.9 million this year http://bit.ly/9CVpAJ

What Happened to Public Libraries During the Great Depression? an interesting look from MA Library Commissioners http://bit.ly/3chc0P

Devaluing America's culture: Gov Sanford cuts funding to South Carolina Dept of Archives and History http://bit.ly/aQN9o2

Sanford's veto overkill http://bit.ly/cFalKp 

Library closings temporarily averted in Boston  http://bit.ly/94swO2

Closing libraries "a terrible, terrible mistake" akin to "stealing from the future" according to a top children's author http://bit.ly/dvEBIb

Decline of Britain’s museums http://bit.ly/9U3FSJ

Can Historic Preservation Help Lead Us Out of the Recession? http://bit.ly/b4qHAf

Local Culture Cuts Are Biggest Threat To The Big Society Says MLA...  http://bit.ly/bRbO1j

Cultural impoverishment in the UK?! Hunt proposes closure of Museum, Libraries & Archives Council http://gu.com/p/2tj8v/tw

"Fisk Says It Must Sell O'Keeffe Art Collection to Survive" http://bit.ly/dy4UjQ

BBC News - How history can inform spending cuts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/11452575

NY auction of rare photos aids Eastman museum http://bit.ly/bXA1cQ

Upstate NY small town library deaccessioning draws attention and library director resignation.http://nyti.ms/g01UqB

A Crumbling Heritage: Italy france24.com/en/node/5127867 

Manchester museums could face cash crisis http://bit.ly/9ZwEQE

Historic Teamster trucks could soon be homeless. Volunteers heartbroken as money woes threaten Vancouver area museum http://bit.ly/hVrpdp

National library of Wales set to 'lose £1m' after draft budget http://bbc.in/aqhq6z

Pompeii collapse forces Italy into heritage debate http://bit.ly/g9nHFa

Help Zombies Shuffle Over Brooklyn Bridge, Save Libraries http://bit.ly/d0bS0d

As budget cuts across Europe put heritage under pressure, some say should spur better mgmnt http://bit.ly/fN7jzC

Note that YouCut is currently taking votes on cuts in funding for NHPRC & IMLS: http://bit.ly/a2ejWT

Congress to put words like "games" "culture" "media" & "museums" on a federal funding watch list:http://bit.ly/dX2RcC

As more and more communities are cutting library funding, these wonderful web sites have come to my attention:...http://fb.me/upcmdKty

U.K. - Urgent warning over cuts threat to libraries in unprecedented joint initiative http://bit.ly/aalJfw

#1 Digital Projects (collaborative and otherwise):

As the world gains momentum in placing information about its cultural heritage resources online, news came out regularly about newly available access to materials. Our accomplishments in this area will be long-lasting, inviting this news to take our number one slot and edging out the hopefully relatively short-lived economic woes. Kudos to my colleagues for embracing the digital revolution and striving to improve access to materials despite the rough economy. The links to your achievements are too numerous to include here.

Stereoscopic Memories

The day I received my stereoscope in the mail, the painter was finishing the exterior work on my house.

"Oh! I've been waiting for this!" I exclaimed. I was taking a break from seclusion in my home office to see how the painting was coming along and found the package propped against the garage. "I think you'll appreciate it," I told Bruce. (I have learned that my painter is a man with many interests from his chattiness and friendly demeanor.)

I ripped the tape off my E-Bay purchase, gave the item a once over. I was happy that the condition was as it was described. My daughter and I had been seeking the perfect (cheap) stereoscope after she admired a pricey one in the local antique shop. I took the little "free" stereocard and slipped it into the metal brackets that held it on the scope. I took a peek through the device and saw the image of a Civil War soldier. "Take a look at this."

Bruce carefully took the scope from me and peeked through as I had done. His face lit up. "I had something like this when I was little!" He said. "I would sit for long periods clicking through little pictures."

"You had a Viewmaster," I nodded smiling.

He smiled back, seemingly grateful for that quick remembrance of his boyhood. I love reminding people of their memories...

Tomorrow I am heading to the antique shop to get more cards for my 19th century "Viewmaster." Oh! And I'm going to call Dad to ask him about that little key chain I now remember he showed me when I was young. It had a 3D photo of him inside. I sat in his home office looking through the small plastic lens and asked questions to learn about my father's memories of his own childhood...

I guess I've always been a memory keeper and an archivist at heart.

***
See Wikipedia for an interesting history of the viewmaster.

For authoritative information on stereoscopic photography (or any photography for that matter) see the George Eastman House website