Top of page
By: Stephen Winick
This blog post about the novelist Ralph Ellison is part of a series called “Hidden Folklorists,” which examines the folklore work of surprising people, including people better known for other pursuits. Ralph Ellison was born March 1, 1914 in Oklahoma City. The grandson of slaves, he grew up to be a brilliant writer, who produced …
Posted in: Folklife Today
By: Lara Szypszak
On a recent trip to Japan, I was on a tour bus from Nikko to Tokyo. At one point, the driver suddenly lowered the overhead television screens and the tour guide began to narrate the final match of the March Sumo Wrestling Tournament taking place in Osaka. She explained the intricacies of Shinto traditions that …
Posted in: Picture This
By: Cary O’Dell
The following is a post by Jenny Paxson of the Packard Campus. Thursday, June 1 (7:30 p.m.) The Best of Shindig (ABC-TV, 1964-1966) ABC’s musical variety series Shindig! offered the best from American and British performers of the day. Artists included on this program of highlights from the show include The Beatles, The Byrds, The …
Posted in: Now See Hear!
By: Cary O’Dell
The following is a guest post by Jenny Paxson of the Packard Campus. Thursday, May 25 (7:30 p.m.) Waiting for Guffman (Warner Bros., 1996, R-rated for brief strong language*) After collaborating with director Rob Reiner on the largely improvised and wildly popular 1984 satire about a fictional heavy metal band, This is Spinal Tap, Christopher …
Posted in: Now See Hear!
By: Cary O’Dell
This time, in our mystery photo blog, we look at a handful of ladies who, despite ringing many bells, we don’t know the name of. Therefore, we need YOUR help. Please take a look (“clicking” on any of the images below will increase them in size to that they are easier to see). And please offer …
Posted in: Now See Hear!
By: Abbey Potter
This is a guest post from Elizabeth England, National Digital Stewardship Resident, and Eric Hanson, Digital Content Metadata Specialist, at Johns Hopkins University. Elizabeth: In my National Digital Stewardship Residency at Johns Hopkins University’s Sheridan Libraries, I am responsible for a digital preservation project addressing a large backlog (about 50 terabytes) of photographs documenting the university’s …
Posted in: The Signal
By: Stephen Winick
[This post is part of a series of blog posts about the song “Hal An Tow.” You can find the whole series at this link.] It’s May 6, and the people of Helston, Cornwall, are celebrating Flora Day [1], a large outdoor festival featuring dancing in the streets throughout the town [2]. One of the …
Posted in: Folklife Today
By: Cary O’Dell
It all began innocently enough. As part of my job working for the National Recording Preservation Board, I assist with the annual announcement of the National Recording Registry. Last year, when Bobby Darin’s recording of “Mack the Knife” was added to the Registry, I researched the Moving Image Section’s collection of film and entertainment stills …
Posted in: Now See Hear!
By: Jaime Mears
This is a guest post by Elizabeth Kelly, Digital Initiatives Librarian at Loyola University New Orleans, and Cheylon Woods, Archivist/Head of Ernest J. Gaines Center at University of Louisiana Lafayette. Participants from the inaugural Digital Preservation Outreach & Education (DPOE) Train–the–Trainer in the Deep South recently delivered digital preservation training to library practitioners in the …
Posted in: The Signal
By: Cary O’Dell
The following post is by Jenny Paxson of the Packard Campus. Thursday, April 27 (7:30 p.m.) My Man Godfrey (Universal, 1936) In one of her greatest roles, Carole Lombard sparkles as a dizzy but good-hearted heiress in Gregory LaCava’s comedic take and sometimes caustic commentary on the Great Depression. William Powell portrays Godfrey with knife-edged …
Posted in: Now See Hear!