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Category: Biography

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The Four Days Governor

Posted by: Ellen Terrell

Recently I was in Frankfort, KY visiting a friend and she took me to see the Frankfort Cemetery.  There are a number of illustrious people buried there, including Daniel Boone and many previous governors.  Her favorite, however, was William Goebel, a governor who was assassinated. As a business librarian and blogger, I am always looking …

Photograph of Ruth S. Freitag with Halley's Comet Bibliography taken at the Library of Congress, April 1985.

Celebrating Librarian Extraordinaire Ruth S. Freitag

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

In celebration of  Women’s History Month the American Library Association’s  Feminist Task Force  invited submissions to highlight valued women in libraries.  Library of Congress Science Reference Section Head Constance Carter has contributed this article about her mentor and inspiration Ruth S. Freitag. Ruth S. Freitag is a librarian who should be celebrated during Women’s History Month.   Admired by grateful …

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Carl Sagan, Imagination, Science, and Mentorship: An interview with David Grinspoon

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

The following is a guest post from Trevor Owens, Special Curator for the Library of Congress Science Literacy Initiative.  To most Americans Carl Sagan is a TV persona. To David Grinspoon, who knew him since he was a child, he is much more. Among other things, Sagan was a personal mentor. I am thrilled to be …

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Wit and Lucidity: Carl Sagan’s Christmas Lectures at the Royal Institution

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

Today’s post is from science reference librarian Margaret Clifton. In light of recent discussions about ‘STEM’ (science, technology, engineering, and math) education floating in and around government lately it is worth noting that scientific educational outreach, that is, science communication from the scientific community to the public (or at least to a captive youthful audience) …

Photographic print. Inflation of the balloon Intrepid to reconnoiter the Battle of Fair Oaks; Lowe, not visible in this image, is standing to the right of the balloon.

The Aeronauts

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

Last week I had the fantastic opportunity to give a gallery talk in the Library’s Civil War in America Exhibit Hall about the role of technology during the U.S. Civil War. There were many technologies or tools in use or being developed at this time, such as the telegraph, ironclad steamships (e.g. Merrimack and Monitor), railroads, …

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Fortitudine Vincimus

Posted by: Jennifer Harbster

Today’s post is from science reference librarian  Margaret Clifton.  She is also the author of Loving the Stars – Telescopes from Galileo to James Webb,  Saving Energy: The Fall Back Position,  Stars in his Eyes and Sun Spots this Summer.  “And you thought they were cute” A wide variety of literature on Antarctica has been collected over …