Join us for a Wikipedia Loves Libraries Editathon at the Smithsonian American Art and Portrait Gallery Library, focusing on American Artists at the World’s Columbian Exposition. This event will include new editor training, an afternoon Editathon, and an evening happy hour. No experience necessary–technical or subject!
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives / Unbound
This the third and final installment of National Museum of African Art Library volunteer Judith Schaefer’s series on David Livingstone. See Part I and Part II. “In Congo, unrelenting violence” more »
This post is the second in a three post series by National Museum of African Art Library volunteer Judy Schaffer. If you missed the first installment, posted right before our shutdown-induced hiatus, check it out here.
“. . . this trade in Hell, this open sore of the world . . .”
David Livingstone’s first book, Missionary travels and researches in South Africa, published in 1857, was a huge success, not only because of the harrowing adventures it related but because it alerted the British public to the existence of the Arab slave trade flourishing along Africa’s east coast. The book, along with Livingstone’s many lectures and letters, provoked a call for action once again, and finally, in 1873, a few weeks after Livingstone’s death, Parliament outlawed this trade, too (the West Coast trade had been outlawed in 1834). The Royal Navy sent ships to Africa to enforce the ban.
The Smithsonian Libraries will be open today for the first time since October 1st. The Smithsonian museums will open today at their usual times and the National Zoo will reopen tomorrow. Please note that the Smithsonian Libraries’ Adopt a Book event, previously scheduled for October 17th, has been postponed. We will let you know when the even has been rescheduled.
Stay tuned next week for the continuation of our blog series on David Livingstone and the African slave trade.
Due to the federal government shutdown, all Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, and the Smithsonian Libraries are closed today. We hope to reopen as soon as the situation is resolved.
2013 marks the bicentennial of Scottish explorer David Livingstone (1813-1873). His explorations in central Africa are well known – – “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.” Less well known is his first-hand encounter with the horrors of the Arab slave trade in East Africa. Two Smithsonian Libraries – – the Warren M. Robbins Library at the National Museum of African Art and the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library at the National Museum of Natural History – – have exceptional collections on David Livingstone and 19th-century African exploration. Drawing upon our Smithsonian Libraries’ resources, volunteer Judith Schaefer recounts David Livingstone and the other slave trade.
This post was written by Tyler Phelps. Tyler spent the summer of 2013 as an intern at the National Museum of American History Library and is completing her librarian degree at San Jose State University.
Each state or territory that makes up the United States has its own unique identity. Because of this, visitors and locals alike inevitably have a favorite area—it might be a great vacation spot, the one they dream of seeing, or the place they were born.