Featuring a title from the Libraries’ pop-up book collection and current exhibition, Paper Engineering: Fold, Pull, Pop & Turn. Tony Sarg was a German-American puppeteer and illustrator who created designs more »
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives / Unbound
The Livingston Seed Company, Livingston's Seeds 1899 Annual, 1899, Back Cover. From the Libraries; digital collection, Seed Catalogs. October is National Popcorn Popping Month. Popcorn was first discovered thousands of more »
Originally published on the Smithsonian Collections blog … Pictured here is John Murdoch, a former head librarian of the Smithsonian, in the United States National Museum library, located in the more »
I’m not sure if this etching can reveal anything about Christopher Columbus, who has a more complex profile these days than when the famous rhyme, “In fourteen hundred and ninety two Columbus sailed the ocean blue” became familiar to every kid in the schoolyard. What is interesting to learn about that rhyme is that it is only one couplet in a very long poem, “The History of the U.S.” by Winifred Sackville Stoner, Jr. The poem also features other famous folks who had an impact on America, including John Smith, Paul Revere and William Penn. Winifred was considered a child prodigy and wrote many “jingles” from a young age.
In 1836, Richard E. Locke, writing for the New York Sun, claimed that the noted British astronomer Sir William Herschel had discovered life on the moon. Flora and fauna included bat-men, moon maidens (with luna-moth wings), moon bison, and other extravagant life forms. Locke proposed an expedition to the moon using a ship supported by hydrogen balloons.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website has all sorts of tips and safety advice for families, teachers, about smoke alarms, as well as Sparky the Fire Dog. What, no Smokey the Bear?
Our iPad was a popular new device to demonstrate our digital efforts. Many folks were thrilled they could see entire books at home for free with the Biodiversity Heritage Library and our online exhibits. The latest Kindle e-book reader we brought along was a big hit, too.