#Bentley Historical Library

[streetsofsalem]

A Big Move

No, not me: the Crowninshield-Bentley House! Visiting Louise DuPont Crowninshield’s former garden in Marblehead last week prompted me to reconsider her impact on Salem as a preservation advocate and philanthropist as it is considerable. At least two institutions in Salem, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and the Peabody Essex Museum, reflect her commitment to the preservation of Salem’s…

[arkipelagic]

A 5.9 × 4.4-inch photograph of Papa Isio from the Harry H. Bandholtz Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. He is framed by two followers in a Bacolod prison, circa 1907.

Papa Isio was born as Dionisio Magbuelas on March 20, 1846 and was an anti-colonial rebel and babaylan (i.e. Visayan shaman) during the Negros Revolution who, in response to land loss, lead a group of other babaylans in the cause for nationalistic agrarian reform. At one point in time Papa Isio fled the Spanish authorities during which, according to Modesto P. Sa-onoy, he may have joined Dios Buhawi, a fellow Negrense and babaylan leader who once waged a politico-religious revolt against the Spanish in the late nineteenth century. Papa Isio’s own nom de guerre was an appropriation of the Santo Papa’s title and a repudiation of his and the Church’s authority.

Papa Isio was eventually cornered not by the Spanish but by American forces. He surrendered to Lieutenant J.S. Mohler on August 6, 1907 and died in Manila’s Old Bilibid Prison sometime in 1911, before which he may be regarded as the last revolutionary standing “who was consistent in his fight against the Spaniards and the Americans.”

Since his death, Papa Isio has been commemorated with a statue in Cauayan, Negros Occidental and was featured in the artwork “The Spiritual Landscape of Papa Isio” by Riel Hilario.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"After the week of ‘light duty,’ we were transferred to the ‘First Gang.’ The First Gang was intended to include the most dangerous men and to do the hardest work in the prison. All ‘red’ and ‘yellow’ number men were in it, as well as a large number of first-class prisoners, some of them recent graduates from ‘red numbers.’ The First Gang did various sorts of manual work in and near a stockade about a mile and a half, I think, from the prison. When I worked on the First Gang, the Gang still marched to and from work in the ‘lockstep.’ The lockstep is a remnant of the old-line prison savagery. At Leavenworth it was retained only for the First Gang; and a few weeks after I left the gang it was abolished there ...

In the lockstep as we practiced it, each man marched so close that his body almost touched the body of the man in front of him. Our hands hung at our sides until the line halted, when we were supposed to fold our arms. Men who had been in the First Gang a long time or who had ‘done time’ in other penitentiaries where the lockstep was used assured me that I should soon get used to it so that it would become purely automatic. In the close marching order which the lockstep involves, if one man gets out of step, a general tangle of feet, stumbling, cursing and kicking of shins usually results.

I never felt a more bitter hatred of the whole military and prison system than the first evening that I returned from work on the First Gang. Our part of the Gang had been shoveling dirt and carting it off in ‘buggies’ (wheelbarrows), all day. We were more or less tired, and as we tried to keep the cadence of that damnable lockstep, our feet slipped in the soft mud that covered the roads. Men cursed under their breath, as their fellows fell against them or stepped on their feet; the guards constantly snarled, ‘Close up, there, ’35! Close up!’ or ‘Get that grin off your face, ’39!’

For the first time, during that march, I felt a fundamental understanding of the point of view of [Victor] Hugo’s Jean Valjean, released from the galleys with his heart turned to gall against prisons and the society which maintained them. I felt an all but irresistible desire to break loose and smash something – anything to express my hatred against this organized idiocy that called itself a military prison

- [William] Arthur Dunham, ‘The Narrative of a Conscientious Objector, [1921],’ unpublished MS, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, reprinted in Peter Brock, ed., ‘These Strange Criminals’: An Anthology of Prison Memoirs By Conscientious Objectors from the Great War to the Cold War. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2004. p. 143.

[themovieblogonline]

One of the big break-out success stories of Sundance 2025, so far, is  “Train Dreams,”. The 102-minute film based on Denis Johnson’s novella. Director Clint Bentley premiered the film on January 26th at the Library Center Theatre in Park City. It has since been snapped up by Netflix for a figure said to be “in the high teen millions.” Only Dave Franco and Allison Brie's horror film “Together,” bought by WME Independent, has created more buzz around a Sundance purchase. Production and Theme Black Bear Productions, founded in 2011 by Teddy Schwarzman, is behind "Train Dreams." Schwarzman's previous work includes 2014's "The Imitation Game." Director Clint Bentley's film explores the era of logging and railroad expansion in the American West. The film's historical setting adds another layer to the narrative. The theme of railroad development in America resonated with me personally, as my Norwegian immigrant grandfather, Ole Monson, helped build the B&O Railroad (before his early death from Tuberculosis). The B&O, established in 1830, operated until 1997. (My mother, his daughter, was born in 1907). RAILROADS IN AMERICA The theme of the establishment of the railroads in the U.S. attracted me to this film since my  Norwegian immigrant grandfather (Ole Monson)  helped lay the B&O Railroad (before dying young of Tuberculosis). The B&O Railroad, the oldest of them all, began in 1830 and continued until 1997. The National Book Award-winning "Train Dreams" is described this way: "Suffused with the history and landscapes of the American West—its otherworldly flora and fauna, its rugged loggers and bridge builders—this extraordinary novella poignantly captures the disappearance of a distinctly American way of life." The Train Dreams CAST I was familiar with cast members Joel Edgerton, William H. Macy, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins, Jr., and narrator Will Patton. Add to that that the director co-wrote and produced “Sing Sing” for A24 and won a 2021 Sundance U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Actor and this became a "must-see" Sundance film, for me. Screenwriters (Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar) have adapted the poetic language of the novella. The film opens with these words:  “There were once passageways to the old way.  Even though that has been rolled up like a scroll and put somewhere, you can still feel the echo of it.” The Story of Robert Grainer "Train Dreams" tells the story of Robert Grainer, a day laborer in the American West at the start of the twentieth century. He's an ordinary man in extraordinary times. Buffeted by the loss of his family, Grainer struggles to make sense of this strange new world. As his story unfolds, we witness both his shocking personal trauma and the radical changes that transformed America. My grandfather, Ole Monson, eventually quit working on the railroad to work in his brother's dry goods store in the small town of Hospers, Iowa, but I always was fascinated by the story of his assimilation into the culture of America as he left Bergen, Norway, for the dream of a life in the United States of America. He was dead before I was born, so I never got to hear, firsthand,  his adventures in coming to America and working on the railroad, but I have always been fascinated by the stories of others in the family. A Life of Labor and Loss Robert Grainier in "Train Dreams" is a logger who works for $4 a day. He travels to where the forests are and is gone from his home for extended periods, as a result.  Grainier is portrayed by Joel Edgerton (“Loving”). He is a bit of an enigma, as he lost his original family and watched Chinese families being mass deported from his original home town. Robert quit attending school in his early teens. His life really starts in a new direction when he meets Gladys at church. Within three months the couple are inseparable and build a cabin on an acre of wooded land. Soon, they have a daughter, Kate. But Robert is constantly leaving their cabin to work alongside men from Shanghai and Chattanooga in the forests. In the summer of 1917 he worked for the Spokane International Railroad and witnessed racism against Chinese laborers. They were sometimes summarily executed without any obvious legitimate cause. This is something which haunted Robert for the rest of his life. Encounters and Tragedy In the course of his work as a logger, Robert met many characters, including one played by William H. Macy who used explosives to fell trees---sometimes successfully. In another incident, a Black man crashes into camp. The man demands to know the whereabouts of a man named Sam Loving from New Mexico. When one of the loggers makes a break for it (apparently because he IS Sam Loving) he ends up dead, shot in the back. Incidents like these make up the narrative. In between his logging adventures, Robert returns to his family in the small cabin in the woods and to his beloved wife Gladys and daughter Kate. Robert says, “He began to feel a dread, like some punishment was seeking him.” The Fire and its Aftermath Ultimately, when he returns to his small cabin in the woods, there has been a terrible fire, reminiscent of the recent Los Angeles fires. His cabin and his family are gone.  For two weeks he searches for Gladys and Kate. The acting in the scenes where Edgerton is mourning his lost family and sleeping outside, exposed to  the elements, is Oscar caliber. The cinematography of the area (Adolpho Veloso) is gorgeous. Robert held out some faint hope that Gladys and Kate might still be alive and come home, so he lived on speckled trout during the summer and began rebuilding the cabin. As the novella said, “He wandered the city as though he were looking for something he had lost, out of time and space.  He kept waiting for his wife and daughter to return.” Themes of Loss and Racism Aside from the logging adventures (later, he takes a job helping move people via buckboard) the main  theme is that Robert spends what is left of his life mourning his lost family. The film also comments on racism in America, which made it a fine companion piece to the Sundance documentary “Third Act” that I watched, which referenced discrimination against Japanese Americans and the interment of Japanese Americans during WWII. CONCLUSION Near the end of his years of waiting for his family, Robert is shown attending a film in a theater. He sees his face in a mirror for the first time in a decade. Like many of us, Robert says, “He felt that he was just only beginning to have some faint understanding of his life, even though it was now slipping away from him.” The film was the most impressive I've seen, so far, of the feature films at Sundance. The visual effects of the fire, top-notch acting from all, coupled with great vistas, special effects, and good sound all contributed to a superior film that is also a history lesson, which I will connect to the Grandfather I never knew in life who helped launch this country's oldest railroad. Read the full article

[samuel67m]

5 Top GIS Tools - Discover the Power of GIS

As Geographic Information System (GIS) technology continues to advance, 3D GIS tools are playing an increasingly important role in the visualization and analysis of geospatial data. These tools not only allow for the display of complex spatial relationships but also provide users with a more intuitive way to understand and utilize geographic data. Below are five noteworthy 3D GIS tools, each offering unique features and applications that can greatly support you in creating virtual worlds.

1. Esri ArcGIS Pro

Overview: ArcGIS Pro, provided by Esri, is a leading GIS software that integrates 2D and 3D geospatial data management, analysis, and visualization. Within a single project, you can work with both 2D and 3D maps and scenes, enabling data analysis from multiple perspectives.

Features:

Powerful 3D analysis capabilities, including line-of-sight analysis and 3D model import.

Support for creating and sharing 3D scene layers, making it easy to display complex terrains, buildings, and urban models.

Suitable for managing large-scale geospatial data, efficiently integrating various data formats.

Use Cases: Urban planning, infrastructure management, environmental impact assessment.

2. Google Earth

Overview: Google Earth is a free geospatial information platform that allows users to explore any location on Earth in 3D. With its intuitive interface and rich satellite imagery, 3D models, and street view, users can examine the terrain and buildings in detail.

Features:

Combines satellite imagery with elevation data to provide realistic 3D views.

Offers location search, route display, and historical imagery time-lapse features.

Displays 3D buildings and terrain data, offering users deep geographic insights.

Use Cases: Tourism, education, basic geographic awareness.

3. Wings Engine

Overview: Wings Engine is a high-performance visualization platform focused on real-time 3D Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It is widely used in urban planning, environmental analysis, and infrastructure management. Wings Engine supports multiple data formats and can render complex terrains and buildings in real-time.

Features:

Supports various 3D data, allowing for the visualization of terrains, buildings, and infrastructure.

Real-time data processing and display, with dynamic scenes and time sliders to visualize data changes.

An advanced rendering engine that smoothly handles large-scale urban models and detailed terrain displays.

Use Cases: Urban planning, disaster simulation, environmental monitoring, infrastructure management.

4. CesiumJS

Overview: CesiumJS is an open-source JavaScript library designed for creating and displaying interactive 3D globes or maps in web browsers. Through WebGL technology, it enables real-time high-performance rendering of large-scale geospatial data.

Features:

Provides streaming and visualization of large-scale 3D data.

Real-time 3D rendering in web-based applications, supporting time-series and dynamic data.

Open-source and highly customizable, suitable for various types of geospatial application development.

Use Cases: Web-based geospatial applications, aerospace, urban planning.

5. Bentley ContextCapture

Overview: Bentley ContextCapture uses photogrammetry technology to convert the real world into high-precision 3D models. By processing images taken by drones or cameras, it can automatically generate large-scale and detailed models of cities, buildings, and terrains.

Features:

Automatically generates realistic 3D models from photos or point cloud data.

Creates high-precision large-scale 3D models that can integrate seamlessly with other GIS software.

Use Cases: Architectural design, city modeling, infrastructure monitoring.

Conclusion These five 3D GIS tools each offer unique advantages and applications in their respective fields. Whether you're involved in urban planning, environmental monitoring, or creating virtual worlds, these tools can provide you with powerful support. Choosing the right tool will significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your geospatial data processing and visualization. If you have any questions or need further advice, feel free to reach out.

[lboogie1906]

Vivian Gordon Harsh (May 7, 1890 - August 17, 1960) was the first African American librarian in the Chicago Public Library system and a significant contributor to Chicago’s Black Renaissance. She was appointed head librarian of the George Cleveland Hall Branch, the city’s first library built in an African American community. She developed a Black history collection that would become a world-renowned resource for residents and scholars.

She was born in Chicago to Fenton and Maria (Drake) Harsh, both graduates of Fisk University. She began work in 1909 as a junior clerk at the Chicago Public Library. She received her BA in Library Science from Simmons College and took advanced courses at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Library Science.

She became the city’s first Black professional librarian. She recognized the need for library services on Chicago’s south side, the heart of the city’s African American community. Funding from philanthropist Julius Rosenwald allowed her to visit African American collections in other cities, providing the basis for the George C. Hall branch that opened in the Bronzeville neighborhood with her as its director.

She and Charlemae Rollins, a children’s librarian, developed the branch’s substantial African American resources along with programming for the Black community. The collection began with over 100 books on African Americans donated by George Bentley, founder of the Chicago branch of the NAACP. She expanded the collection through private donations and her contributions.

The library itself became a Mecca for literary and cultural icons of the period, some of whom contributed manuscripts to the institution. The resources have grown into the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, the largest of its kind in the Midwest and located at the city’s Carter G. Woodson Regional Library. It includes 70,000 books and unique materials like the historic Illinois Writers Project “Negro in Illinois” paper.

In 1958, she retired from the Chicago Public Library. A city park near her childhood home was named in her honor. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[rhapsody-clown]

OHHOHO Don't mind if I do!! I LOVE recommending fics! (I might have gone a little over board, so I tried to keep the descriptions short lol)

Demonology and The Tri-Phasic Model of Trauma: An Integrative Approach by Nnm : Crowley begrudgingly goes to therapy. This one's big tear jerker (Teen and Up Audiences)

Two Fish by Grindylowe : A classic featuring two very drunk and very lovey book ineffables (T)

I'd like for you and I to go romancing by dollsome : A very sweet and in character build up to a Realization (T)

It's a new craze by attheborder : They start a podcast and confuse the internet (T)

Lie Back and Think of Dinner by jessthereckless : They can't get it on without causing natural disasters (Mature)

Flowers From Hell by @entanglednow : Crowley grows a sentient plant that becomes their child (T)

Night and Day by Gigi_Sinclair : The boys' time with different queer historical figures throughout history (T)

So Much to be Consoled as to Console by Arokel : Aziraphale being guardian angel to struggling queers (T)

If We've Got Nothing (We've Got Us) by @kedreeva : Their Side starts to include other wayward angels and demons (General Audiences)

Unexpected, but Long Awaited by KitCat_Italica : A light-hearted and fluffy first time fic (Explicit)

The Lady Gardener by jessthereckless : What would've happened if Aziraphale ditched the Brother Frances disguise in favor of presenting fem? Lesbians, that's what (E)

This is Not my Beautiful House by cyankelpie : Crowley loses 6000 years worth of memories (T)

All I Hear is Your Gear by herebewyverns : The Bentley and Aziraphale becoming friends (G)

Slumber Party Summons by JoyAndOtherStories : Crowley gets summoned by a group of young girls having a sleep over (G)

Now for some AUs!

Rearrangements by sheendav : Human AU where they shyly feed the ducks together in companionable silence for 9 months before actually talking to each other (E)

Sideshow Tricks and Other Magic by chamyl , @entanglednow , and gorgeous art by @hollow-head : They're both circus performers with so much tension between them you could cut it with a knife (it's where my pfp is from) (T)

amaretto by @goosetooths : Human Aziraphale accidently summons contract demon Crowley (E)

Omens of Another Kind by WorseOmens : Crowley is the Dullahan (Headless Horseman) and Aziraphale is a fae queen (Not Rated)

Siren's Song by @kedreeva : Siren Crowley and pirate captain Aziraphale (T)

Choose Your Princes Wisely by ZehWulf : Very Pratchett-esqe fantasy where Professional Hero Aziraphale helps Crowley "break a curse" (T)

And finally some non azicrow centric fics!

From the Inbox of God by captloverboy : A collection of prayers from various GO characters (G)

dream to me by weateredlaw : A love story between the Bentley and the Bookshop (M)

Find me Somebody by raiining : Adam and Warlock meet as young adults in college (T)

A Funny Old World by noodlefrog : Hastur misses Ligur, but he definitely doesn't love him (he does) (T)

Agreements by Shift7 : Ineffable Bureaucracy living up to their name by documenting everything (T)

Also, the blog @aziraphales-library is a great resource if you're looking for specific fics!

Reblog this post with your favourite Good Omens fanfics under any category (angst, crack, fluff, smut) to help out fans who are new to reading fanfics - I’m not new, I just want to help. To start, I’ll recommend my favourite smut/angst/dark long fic: ‘Dark Angels, Golden Serpents’ by KiaraMGrey on AO3. It’s a Mafia and Human AU where Aziraphale is a mob boss and Crowley comes to him for protection - of course, they fall in love.

[realtorjamier]

Fun and Unique Events in the DMV this June!

There are so many fun things to do this June in DC, Virginia, and Maryland — check out a few of our suggestions below and start adventuring!

Fredericksburg Nationals Baseball Game

Virginia Credit Union Stadium Fredericksburg, VA June 1 – 4, 6 – 11, & 28 – 30

Whether you’re a die-hard baseball fan or simply seeking a fun outing with family and friends, a visit to a Fredericksburg Nationals game at Virginia Credit Union Stadium is a must. The state-of-the-art stadium was opened just two years ago, making it one of the newest and nicest in all of Minor League Baseball. Join the crowd, indulge in classic ballpark snacks, and root, root, root for the home team! 

Sandy Spring Museum Strawberry Festival

17901 Bentley Rd, Sandy Spring, MD  Sandy Spring, MD June 3

From freshly picked strawberries to mouthwatering strawberry treats, you’ll find a wide array of culinary delights to satisfy your cravings. Enjoy live music, explore artisan vendors showcasing their crafts, and engage in fun activities for the whole family.

One Loudoun: Carnival at Uptown

44605 Russell Branch Pkwy, Ashburn, VA June 7 – 25

Who doesn’t love a good carnival?! They’ll have rides, games, prizes, and more. It’s a great getaway for the whole family and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Horse & Horsepower Car Show at Upperville

8600 John S. Mosby Hwy. Upperville, VA June 8 – 10

This unique event brings together two beloved passions in an exciting display of beauty and horsepower. Explore the stunning grounds of Upperville, Virginia, as you admire a wide array of classic cars meticulously restored to their former glory. As you stroll through the show, you’ll also have the chance to witness majestic horses in action, adding an extra touch of grace to the event.

Mount Vernon Summer Fest

Mount Vernon 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria, VA June 9 – 10

Hosted at one of the area’s most regal and iconic venues, the Mount Vernon Summer Fest is a fun opportunity to hang out and enjoy drinks after hours at George and Martha Washington’s famous estate. Your ticket includes a commemorative tasting cup and 8 tasting tickets, with live music and plenty of food to choose from.

Children’s Summer Reading Festival

Lorton Library 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton, VA June 10

Attention all bookworms and young readers! This fun-filled event, held at the Lorton Library, invites children of all ages to immerse themselves in the world of books and storytelling. With a wide range of interactive activities, workshops, and author signings, this festival is the perfect way to ignite a love for reading in children.

St. Theodore Greek Cultural Festival

St. Theodore Greek Orthodox Church 7101 Cipriano Rd, Lanham, MD June 16 – 18

Located in a beautiful setting, this annual event promises fun for everyone. Indulge in mouthwatering food from various vendors, offering a delectable array of treats — plus live music, carnival rides, and more! Get ready for a memorable weekend filled with laughter, delicious food, and joyful celebrations.

Family Day and Outdoor Aviation Display

National Air & Space Museum  Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA June 17

Discover the wonders of flight at the National Air and Space Museum’s “Innovations in Flight” event. This captivating event showcases the cutting-edge advancements in aviation and aerospace technology. From the thrill of seeing historic aircraft up close to experiencing interactive exhibits and engaging presentations, there is something for aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle

Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th streets NW Washington, DC June 24 – 25

If you like barbecue (or just friendly competition), this is a can’t miss event for a DMV resident. Dozens of pit masters, local restaurants, and musicians shut down historic Pennsylvania Avenue downtown. Get ready for great vibes, live music, and even better food.

Manassas Bee Festival

Liberia House and Grounds 8601 Portner Avenue, Manassas, VA June 24

Join in on the family-friendly fun at the third annual Manassas Bee Festival! This buzzing event offers a wide range of activities and attractions for all ages. From a lively costume parade and delicious food trucks to a tranquil mead garden and captivating live music, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The festival aims to raise awareness about the importance of planting native species and preserving declining pollinators.

[xtruss]

Lesser-Known American History: Above is picture proof that U.S. troops ended up embroiled in the Russian Civil War at the end of WWI—something both Presidents Nixon and President Reagan incorrectly declared never happened. The 1919 photo shows Private Alfred Schuck looking across a snowy expanse at a Russian church used by forces of the Communists, who won—and remained America’s adversary for much of the last century. Photograph By University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

[merrickautomuseum1]

Building Your Dream Vintage Car Collection

Welcome to the Vintage Car Collection page, showcasing the best in classic car brands and models. Our collection includes Sports, Vintage, Muscle, Touring Car Models, and Cadillac Classic Cars. We invest heavily in protecting the historical backdrop of these notorious vehicles, each with its exceptional plan, design, and style.

  Our Games Vehicles Assortment includes the most notorious auto brands, like Porsche, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. These vehicles were worked for speed and execution, and we have cautiously organized our assortment to grandstand their power and agility. Our Classic Vehicle Assortment incorporates models from the mid-1900s, exhibiting the development of car designing and planning over the last hundred years.

  Muscle Vehicles are one more famous classification in our assortment, highlighting notable American brands like Portage, Chevrolet, and Evade. These vehicles were intended for power and execution, with huge block motors and solid outsides. Our Passenger Vehicle Models incorporate exemplary vehicles worked for solace and extravagance, like Rolls Royce and Bentley.

  Cadillac Classic Cars are also featured in our collection, showcasing this classic American brand's iconic designs and engineering. We have carefully restored these cars to their original glory, showcasing their unique style and elegance.

  As automotive enthusiasts, we understand the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest automotive news and trends. We offer access to leading Automotive Trade journals and Auto Parts Catalogs Online. Our Old Car Brochure Project provides a glimpse into the past, showcasing vintage car brochures from years ago.

  We offer an extensive Auto Parts Online Catalogue for those looking for specific auto parts. Our Automotive Parts Catalog includes everything from engine components to accessories, making finding the features easy. We also offer a Car Part Catalogue and Auto Accessories Catalog, providing easy access to the latest auto parts and accessories.

  The Merrick Auto Museum was incorporated in 1992 by Jim and Richard Merrick, and the Merrick's were avid automobile enthusiasts passionate about the industry's hobby and history.

  They started the collection with 11 fully restored antique automobiles. Over the years, they grew the group to include 100+ cars, with a complete research library and automobile memorabilia. 

  Today the Merrick Auto Museum holds the world's most extensive collection of automobile literature from the 1800s to the present day.

In 2020 the museum purchased the Walter Millers' literature collection, growing its library to include a wide range of present-day literature.

  The Merrick Auto Museum library contains an extensive collection of automotive research material, including sales literature, owner's manuals, illustrated parts books, automobile magazines, and other promotional information.

  Our library staff can perform research for restorers and enthusiasts with photocopies and reports provided. This service fee is $15 per hour (min. one hr.). Photocopies will be charged $0.35 per 8-12" x11 page. We accept Visa, MasterCard, or PayPal.

[ausetkmt]

Anyone with an internet connection can now access more than 3.5 million records documenting the lives of free Black people during the Reconstruction period. Created by genealogy company Ancestry, the free online portal amounts to a treasure trove of information about Black communities in the United States between 1846 and 1878, reports Rosalind Bentley for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC).

The newly debuted tool will allow researchers to study the records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands (also known as the Freedmen’s Bureau) with unprecedented ease. Though some of the documents, which are housed at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, D.C., have been digitized previously, the searchable database offers a new level of accessibility. Users can find the resource here.

2 / 3 The Freedmen's Bureau aimed to provide food, shelter, clothing, medical care and more to newly freed Black Americans in the wake of the Civil War. Library of Congress

The Freedmen’s Bureau dates to the end of the Civil War—the bloodiest conflict in American history. Established by Congress in March 1865, the program offered education, medical care, food, clothing and labor contracts to displaced Southerners, including more than four million newly freed Black Americans. Bureau officials also helped the formerly enslaved locate their loved ones, investigate incidents of racist violence and legally marry their spouses, per the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

A social relief program of unprecedented scope, the bureau remained in operation for less than a decade. In 1872, pressure from white Southern legislators and the threat of vigilante violence (such as attacks by the Ku Klux Klan) led Congress to abandon the project.

Today, historians continue to debate the effectiveness of these short-lived relief efforts. But the millions of pages of records that officials produced during this period have become a boon for historians and genealogists eager to study their ancestors and learn more about the lives and concerns of newly freed Black people.

For many formerly enslaved people, bureau documents represented the first time their names were written down in official records of any kind, notes the AJC. Prior to 1870, U.S. censuses neglected to include the names of enslaved people, instead listing them statistically under their enslavers’ names or referring to them as numbers.

The bureau’s handwritten records are often unwieldy and difficult to read. As Allison Keyes reported for Smithsonian magazine in 2018, the Smithsonian Transcription Center offers ongoing opportunities for volunteers to translate the 19th-century cursive in more than 1.5 million image files into searchable text.

During a virtual roundtable announcing the Ancestry initiative, genealogist Nicka Sewell-Smith said, “I spent 14 years going through this collection going image by image.” Per the Grio, she added, “So with the [new, searchable] collection, in the manner in which it’s being released, that changes the game quite a bit for a lot of people.”

Stan Deaton, a senior historian at the Georgia Historical Society who was not involved in the Ancestry project, emphasizes the possibilities opened up by the portal.

“It’s hard to overstate how important this could be,” Deaton tells the AJC. “The Freedmen’s Bureau was … in many ways was the first social service agency.”

The historian adds, “So [the Ancestry project] is very important in capturing the lives of four million people who were newly freed and starting new lives in one of the greatest social changes in this country’s history. This could be a gold mine.”

Editor’s Note, August 27, 2021: This article has been updated to clarify how enslaved people were counted in the census prior to 1870.

[accuratepicuresofanthropologists]

Very cool. "Party at 819 Avon Road for Mrs. Burd who was leaving her position as Sec'y Dept. of Anthropology after many years." via the Bentley.

Here is the complete caption:

"Standing L-R 1. Estelle Titier [sic -- this should be 'Titiev'] 2. Mischa Titier [sic -- this should be 'Titiev'] 3. Lila Burns 4. Joan Meggitt 5. Mrs. Yengoyan 6. Katya Wolf 7. Agnes Miner 8. Ruby Griffin 9. Leslie White 10. Ellen Burd 11. [Mervyn] Meggit 12. Norma Diamond 13. Stevie Service 14. Joyce Jones 15. Horace Miner 16. Mac Spuhler 17. [blank] 18. [blank] 19. Eloise Kerlin 20. J. N. Spuhler 22. Marjorie Goldschmidt 22. Aram Yengoyan 23. Ernst Goldschmidt; Seated L-R James B. Griffin, Frank Livingstone, Volney H. Jones, Robert Burns, Eric Wolf, Reclining: Elman R. Service"

[theloverstomb]

Little girl kissing pet bird, ca. 1912

Bentley Historical Library

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Our sentences by the Executive Officer were, technically, fourteen days in solitary confinement, on full diet if we worked on the rockpile, or on bread and water, hand-cuffed to the bars nine hours a day if we refused to work on the rock pile. Of course, we refused to work on the rock pile, as that did not differ materially from other work done at the D.B. [Disciplinary Barracks.]

Five cell doors were opened. I was ordered into one. The barred door was locked. I placed my hands through the bars of the door, and for the first time the steel handcuffs closed over my wrists. For a moment I caught a glimpse of a guard grinning malevolently at us; then the wooden door was closed, shutting off most of the light and deadening all sounds. I was alone in the Hole.

After a few moments I began to whistle softly to myself. And the air that I whistled – wholly unthinkingly – was ‘The Marseillaise.’ The flaming hymn of revolutionary France was the natural psychological reaction to the Hole of Leavenworth. Ray, who was musically inclined, soon began to sing and whistle aloud. ‘Shut up!’ I heard a guard roar; ‘do you think this is a playhouse? If you don’t shut up I’ll handcuff you this afternoon, too.’ It was Saturday morning, and we had entered the Hole about ten o’clock.

The handcuffs were taken off at noon, and we were handed our ‘meal’ through the bars, three slices of bread and a cup of water. I ate sparingly (my interest in bread waned after a few meals), chewed the bread very thoroughly, and lived on the crusts as much as possible. From the warning of other prisoners, we were afraid that the soft center of the bread might clog up our stomachs, inducing constipation or other digestive disorders.

....

On Monday the ‘real thing’ began.

We were awakened at six, swept out our cells, ate ‘breakfast,’ and were handcuffed to the bars at seven. I had not been standing there very long before I heard Jake call, ‘Hello, Arthur!’ ‘Hello, Jake, what is it?’ I replied. ‘What century is this we’re living in?’ queried Jake.

From twelve to twelve-thirty we were freed from the handcuffs (though one lazy guard left mine hanging to one wrist) for ‘lunch’; then from twelve-thirty to four-thirty we were ‘strung up’ again. My hands were at about the level of my breast; I could move them in a limited number of positions, and could also lean against the wall as I stood. The position of my hands was not particularly painful in itself, though the steel on my wrists was rather cold and the arms of a smaller man would have been slanted up in a manner to induce coldness through the stopping of the circulation.

....

We were allowed our toilet articles, but no reading matter, not even our Bibles. For that matter, there was no light to read by, except when the cells were open at meals or, at the pleasure of the guard, in the evenings. Usually, we were allowed to talk from cell to cell, but it was difficult to make one’s self heard when the wooden doors were closed. One evening, when the doors were open, we were having an interesting historical discussion of some of Napoleon’s campaigns, when suddenly our red-headed guard burst into the corridor, cursing at us for ‘talking socialism,’ and noisily closing both the doors and the discussion.

There were a number of other C.O.’s in the same line of cells with us ... Besides this there were a number of ordinary prisoners, most of them working on the rockpile. One of these boys, ‘Toledo Red,’ a generous-hearted Irish lad, twice slipped into my cell contraband articles of food which he had abstracted from his own ‘full diet’ portion.

Out of pure generosity, this ‘criminal’ risked punishment to do a good turn to a despised C.O."

- [William] Arthur Dunham, ‘The Narrative of a Conscientious Objector, [1921],’ unpublished MS, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, reprinted in Peter Brock, ed., ‘These Strange Criminals’: An Anthology of Prison Memoirs By Conscientious Objectors from the Great War to the Cold War. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2004. p. 138, 139-140.

[themovieblogonline]

One of the big break-out success stories of Sundance 2025, so far, is  “Train Dreams,”. The 102-minute film based on Denis Johnson’s novella. Director Clint Bentley premiered the film on January 26th at the Library Center Theatre in Park City. It has since been snapped up by Netflix for a figure said to be “in the high teen millions.” Only Dave Franco and Allison Brie's horror film “Together,” bought by WME Independent, has created more buzz around a Sundance purchase. Production and Theme Black Bear Productions, founded in 2011 by Teddy Schwarzman, is behind "Train Dreams." Schwarzman's previous work includes 2014's "The Imitation Game." Director Clint Bentley's film explores the era of logging and railroad expansion in the American West. The film's historical setting adds another layer to the narrative. The theme of railroad development in America resonated with me personally, as my Norwegian immigrant grandfather, Ole Monson, helped build the B&O Railroad (before his early death from Tuberculosis). The B&O, established in 1830, operated until 1997. (My mother, his daughter, was born in 1907). RAILROADS IN AMERICA The theme of the establishment of the railroads in the U.S. attracted me to this film since my  Norwegian immigrant grandfather (Ole Monson)  helped lay the B&O Railroad (before dying young of Tuberculosis). The B&O Railroad, the oldest of them all, began in 1830 and continued until 1997. The National Book Award-winning "Train Dreams" is described this way: "Suffused with the history and landscapes of the American West—its otherworldly flora and fauna, its rugged loggers and bridge builders—this extraordinary novella poignantly captures the disappearance of a distinctly American way of life." The Train Dreams CAST I was familiar with cast members Joel Edgerton, William H. Macy, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins, Jr., and narrator Will Patton. Add to that that the director co-wrote and produced “Sing Sing” for A24 and won a 2021 Sundance U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Actor and this became a "must-see" Sundance film, for me. Screenwriters (Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar) have adapted the poetic language of the novella. The film opens with these words:  “There were once passageways to the old way.  Even though that has been rolled up like a scroll and put somewhere, you can still feel the echo of it.” The Story of Robert Grainer "Train Dreams" tells the story of Robert Grainer, a day laborer in the American West at the start of the twentieth century. He's an ordinary man in extraordinary times. Buffeted by the loss of his family, Grainer struggles to make sense of this strange new world. As his story unfolds, we witness both his shocking personal trauma and the radical changes that transformed America. My grandfather, Ole Monson, eventually quit working on the railroad to work in his brother's dry goods store in the small town of Hospers, Iowa, but I always was fascinated by the story of his assimilation into the culture of America as he left Bergen, Norway, for the dream of a life in the United States of America. He was dead before I was born, so I never got to hear, firsthand,  his adventures in coming to America and working on the railroad, but I have always been fascinated by the stories of others in the family. A Life of Labor and Loss Robert Grainier in "Train Dreams" is a logger who works for $4 a day. He travels to where the forests are and is gone from his home for extended periods, as a result.  Grainier is portrayed by Joel Edgerton (“Loving”). He is a bit of an enigma, as he lost his original family and watched Chinese families being mass deported from his original home town. Robert quit attending school in his early teens. His life really starts in a new direction when he meets Gladys at church. Within three months the couple are inseparable and build a cabin on an acre of wooded land. Soon, they have a daughter, Kate. But Robert is constantly leaving their cabin to work alongside men from Shanghai and Chattanooga in the forests. In the summer of 1917 he worked for the Spokane International Railroad and witnessed racism against Chinese laborers. They were sometimes summarily executed without any obvious legitimate cause. This is something which haunted Robert for the rest of his life. Encounters and Tragedy In the course of his work as a logger, Robert met many characters, including one played by William H. Macy who used explosives to fell trees---sometimes successfully. In another incident, a Black man crashes into camp. The man demands to know the whereabouts of a man named Sam Loving from New Mexico. When one of the loggers makes a break for it (apparently because he IS Sam Loving) he ends up dead, shot in the back. Incidents like these make up the narrative. In between his logging adventures, Robert returns to his family in the small cabin in the woods and to his beloved wife Gladys and daughter Kate. Robert says, “He began to feel a dread, like some punishment was seeking him.” The Fire and its Aftermath Ultimately, when he returns to his small cabin in the woods, there has been a terrible fire, reminiscent of the recent Los Angeles fires. His cabin and his family are gone.  For two weeks he searches for Gladys and Kate. The acting in the scenes where Edgerton is mourning his lost family and sleeping outside, exposed to  the elements, is Oscar caliber. The cinematography of the area (Adolpho Veloso) is gorgeous. Robert held out some faint hope that Gladys and Kate might still be alive and come home, so he lived on speckled trout during the summer and began rebuilding the cabin. As the novella said, “He wandered the city as though he were looking for something he had lost, out of time and space.  He kept waiting for his wife and daughter to return.” Themes of Loss and Racism Aside from the logging adventures (later, he takes a job helping move people via buckboard) the main  theme is that Robert spends what is left of his life mourning his lost family. The film also comments on racism in America, which made it a fine companion piece to the Sundance documentary “Third Act” that I watched, which referenced discrimination against Japanese Americans and the interment of Japanese Americans during WWII. CONCLUSION Near the end of his years of waiting for his family, Robert is shown attending a film in a theater. He sees his face in a mirror for the first time in a decade. Like many of us, Robert says, “He felt that he was just only beginning to have some faint understanding of his life, even though it was now slipping away from him.” The film was the most impressive I've seen, so far, of the feature films at Sundance. The visual effects of the fire, top-notch acting from all, coupled with great vistas, special effects, and good sound all contributed to a superior film that is also a history lesson, which I will connect to the Grandfather I never knew in life who helped launch this country's oldest railroad. Read the full article

[365daysoflesbians]

Ruth Ellis and a girlfriend, Blanche. Date unknown. 

Ruth (July 23, 1899-October 5, 2000) was the oldest known lesbian until her death at the age of 101. She was also the first Black woman to own a printing business in the city of Detroit. 

Read more about her amazing life at 365 Days of Lesbians 

Source: Bentley Historical Library