UpFront with NGS: Smithsonian

Showing posts with label Smithsonian. Show all posts

20 September 2017

Museum Day Live! Join in the Fun -- It's FREE! (23 September 2017)

Museum Day Live! Join in the Fun -- It's FREE! (23 September 2017)

Though the below information is not directly genealogically-related, I haven’t yet met a genealogist who doesn’t have an insatiable curiosity and loves museums!

From our friends at the Smithsonian …

The Museum Day Live! ticket provides free admission for two people.

Museum Day Live! is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity hosted by Smithsonian magazine. Participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day Live! ticket.

Where will your curiosity lead you on Museum Day Live!?

Let us know @MuseumDay #BoundlessCuriosity #MuseumDayLive

HOW MUSEUM DAY WORKS:
STEP 1: Find a participating museum here
STEP 2: Download your ticket here
STEP 3: Head to the museum on Saturday, 9/23/17!

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-live-2017/#wREhoq7u1fKhd7eU.99

Give a shout out to your favorite museum?

Planning to a visit a museum new-to-you on Museum Day Live!? Tell us which one.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS. Please drop us a note telling us where and when you are using the article. Express written permission is required if you wish to republish UpFront articles for commercial purposes. You may send a request for express written permission to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org. All republished articles may not be edited or reworded and must contain the copyright statement found at the bottom of each UpFront article.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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30 August 2017

Gardens – Always Changing and Yet the Same!

Gardens – Always Changing and Yet the Same!

True confession time – I do not have much of a green thumb.

My earliest recollection of a garden was my mom trying to grow a little patch in our backyard in Connecticut – it did not last long. What I really remember is that for years afterward, I always forgot about that patch of garden until I mowed the “grass” which took over and it always smelled of mint. Yep, mint! The one thing my mom planted which ran wild for as long as we had that house.

Next up, were growing beans in science class. I suspect I was initially fascinated and then lost interest since I don’t remember anything more than that!

When I first moved into my second house, we built a terraced area for plants. Little did we know (or pay attention to) the fact that it got little sunlight, the roots from the tree next to it, loved it, and with time, all the surrounding trees got so large that it now gets no sunlight! There are many more stories I could tell about my lack of gardening prowess.

A couple of years ago, with my now-grown daughter in tow, we’ve revisited gardening … we now pay attention to sunlight (or lack thereof), watering (hopefully not needed and can be provided), space requirements and few other things. We also now focus more on flowers and herbs that are pretty low maintenance and that “should” work for where we live (fingers crossed). We also realized that our best place for planting vegetables and herbs is right in front of the house. So, if you ever visit and wonder why under the bay window there are no flowers or shrubs, it’s because that patch is reserved for vegetables. We’ve successfully grown onions and sweet potatoes and even artichokes! We are now trying asparagus and rhubarb though you’ll have to wait until next year for a status on those. I will say that the flowers produced by artichokes stunned me with their vibrant colors. We’ve decided to just let them flower next year .

Many people have gardens or access to allotments – sometimes to provide food, or to provide beauty, or to assist pollinators, or to attract wildlife, and more. When you visit historic properties, there is often a garden. Gardens have historically and to this day been an important part of many people’s lives.

I’ve recently visited two arboretums (in Raleigh, NC and the National Arboretum, DC) and found that I loved it. I previously just never associated acres and acres of plants as something interesting to visit before. I have visited historic properties and their associated gardens though always in the narrow context of that property and that garden as something interesting though not necessarily memorable. Now I look at gardens and delight in those which I will never aspire to and take notes on plants that just might work in my own.

This discussion about gardens was prompted by the new Smithsonian Exhibit, Cultivating America’s Gardens which also has a wonderful online presence so that you can explore the exhibit in your jammies without leaving home.

Want to learn more about gardens? The Smithsonian Gardens has an Archives of American Gardens.

Want to share about a Community Garden? Check out the Community of Gardens initiative.

Next time you look at a garden or work in yours, appreciate the memories it might stir or think about how your ancestors may have also done the same.

What is your earliest recollection of a garden or gardening?

What heirloom plants, seeds, garden designs or more been passed down in your family?

What is your favorite garden-related story?

Who do you most strongly associate with gardening in your family?

Editor’s Note: If this post interested you, you might want to read It’s Fall – Time to Garden – What Seeds Might Our Ancestors Have Planted? (October 2016)

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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27 October 2016

Remembering WWI App

Remembering WWI App

From AOTUS and a post on 17 September 2016 …

Today we’re launching the public beta program for the Remembering WWI iPhone app, which puts newly digitized primary source materials into the hands of teachers and museum professionals nationwide. The app is a product of a two-year collaboration among the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the National WWI Museum, and others, all working toward the goal of connecting teachers, students and history enthusiasts to primary sources in interesting new ways.

I’ve written a few times about the moving and still images related to World War I and II that have been part of a large scale digitization effort at NARA over the last few years. In addition to the digitization of these rarely-seen photographs and moving images, this app is part of a long-term community engagement plan to connect with existing and new audiences for NARA. On our NARAtions blog, the team has shared how we’ve taken a user-centered design approach to one of our first cross-unit productions, and opened up our collections to free and creative reuse.

We welcome your participation and feedback in this beta program for the Remembering WWI app. The best way to get involved is to join the conversation on the History Hub, where you can learn about downloading the beta app, participate in user experience research, and share your feedback and ideas to help inform changes to the app before being promoted in schools and museums in February 2017.

Here is the link for it in Itunes. I don't see an android version yet available.

You can explore a Sample User Journey for WWI app here (PDF file).

What feature did you like best?

If you were a teacher, can you see using this in your classroom?

When traveling, how might you use this?

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

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23 September 2016

The Wait is OVER -- NMAAHC Opens TOMORROW, 24 September 2016

The Wait is OVER -- NMAAHC Opens TOMORROW, 24 September 2016

Tomorrow the newest Smithsonian Museum opens - the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)! Though the passes for visiting in-person tomorrow were gobbled up quickly, you can still be a part of the experience …

Follow @NMAAHC all weekend-long during our Grand Opening celebration!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat for some of the best moments from our Grand Opening Dedication Ceremony this Saturday and all weekend long from the Freedom Sounds Festival. We'll also be streaming live on Facebook. Share your moments from wherever you are using #APeoplesJourney and check out our Social Media toolkit for more ways to connect and be a part of #MakingHistory.

Learn more here.

Don’t have a ticket to visit the museum? You can still enjoy the Freedom Sounds: A Community Celebration to honor the opening of NMAAHC.

Best wishes to NMAAHC on its grand opening and success with its goal of [being] “a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives and how it helped us shape this nation. A place that transcends the boundaries of race and culture that divide us, and becomes a lens into a story that unites us all.”

Will you be attending? If so, please let us know what invoked in you the most powerful responses, whether tears, laughter, anger, happiness, etc.

Editor’s Note: Also check out Though The NMAAHC Doors Are Not Yet Physically Open, Some "Virtual Doors" Are OPEN! #NMAAHC.

Editor's Note: 26 September 2016 -- added in full name of new museum

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

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08 June 2016

So Many Genealogy-Related YouTube Channels, So Little Time!

Are you taking advantage of all the videos posted on YouTube related to genealogy and family history research?

For the most part, I often just stumble across videos of interest embedded in a blog post or similar that I am reading. Once watching the video, I will see what other videos were created by the same source – basically, I check out the “channel” in which the video was found. Think of these channels kind of like tv channels except instead of NBC, ABC, CBS, etc., you have NARA, LOC, LVA, Ancestry, etc.

Since these platforms can be overwhelming, this is where finding “channels” of interest is key!

Do know that on YouTube when you visit a new channel, a video will start up immediately, so you will possibly want to pause that video and/or have your sound off as you explore.

Let’s look at a few of the genealogy-related ones that I am aware of or searched out as I wrote this post:

US National Archives

Library of Congress

Smithsonian (there are also separate channels for the various component museums)

FamilySearch

Ancestry

American Ancestors

Genealogy Roadshow (Seasons 1 & 2)

BYU Family History Library

Library of Virginia

Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems

Dear Myrtle

The Swedish Genealogy Guide

Nick Thorne, The Nosey Genealogist (British Family History)

As you can see there is a quite a bit of diversity in who/what has a channel – from national institutions like NARA to state-level ones like the Library of Virginia to individuals.

Something I like about videos is that I can listen to them in the background as I am doing other work (or fun). Then, if something catches my ear, I can pull up the viewer, rewind, and then actually “watch” a segment of interest.

If you know of family history-related YouTube channels that are must "check out" for our community, please post a comment!

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

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05 April 2016

Some "Rich" Folklife Archives

Since UNC Chapel Hill has a Southern Folklife Collection, I read with great interest Alan Lomax's Massive Archive Goes Online (housed on the website of the Association for Cultural Equity).

Folklorist Alan Lomax spent his career documenting folk music traditions from around the world. Now thousands of the songs and interviews he recorded are available for free online, many for the first time. It's part of what Lomax envisioned for the collection — long before the age of the Internet.

More material of Alan Lomax can be found in the Lomax Family (collection) at the American Folklife Center (Library of Congress).

Of course, I had to see if there are other Folklife collections available to researchers and discovered the Florida Folklife Collection, South Georgia Folklife Collection, and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Are there other folklife collections you are aware of that family historians might want to explore?

An appreciation of regional, ethic, or other groups’ traditional expressive culture always benefits our research into family and the context of the lives of our ancestors.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

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08 March 2016

20 Free and (Relatively) New Genealogy and Family History Resources, 2016 Version, Part 2

My present continues ... 20 more FREE (or mostly FREE) resources ...

CANADA

1. Soldiers of the First Word War: 1914-1918

2. Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery Installation

3. Home Children, 1869-1932

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA + MEXICO

4. Biblioteca Digital del Patrimonio Iberoamericano (English, Spanish & Portuguese interfaces)

FLANDERS

5. FRANDRICA.BE -- Flanders Heritage Library bundles the forces in the field of digitisation in Flemish heritage libraries, particularly of the six partners of Flanders Heritage Library, in a virtual Flemish heritage library.

POLAND

6. Nekropole – in Polish (use Google translate or similar)

UNITED KINGDOM

7. Poignant stories of first world war's conscientious objectors go online

8. Essex Record Office Parish Registers ($) -- registers from over 400 parishes, covering the present county of Essex, including Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, and also those parts of north-east London that used to be in Essex. Most parishes have registers from the 17th or 18th century onwards, but a few go back to 1538

9. The Medical Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen – (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

10. First World War Hospital Diaries Now Online

UNITED STATES

11. Smithsonian Libraries Digital Library

12. The Upper St. John River Valley (ME and New Brunswick

Canada

)

13. Dinwiddie County (VA) Archives and Historical Documents -- names from files and cases located in the Dinwiddie Circuit Court that date from 1830 to 2000

14. 19^th Century Russian Immigrants to USA

15. Free People of Color in Louisiana

16. Missouri State Penitentiary: 1836-1891

17. Green-wood cemetery (NY) – Civil War Biographies Archive

18. Chronicling America’s Historic German Newspapers and the Growth of the American Ethnic Press

19. Kentucky County Court Records Now Online (via ExploreUK)

20. Free for All: NYPL Enhances Public Domain Collections For Sharing and Reuse

Editor’s Note: As of today, each of the above links worked. Now, whether the links in any of the identified articles work, I cannot vouch for that. And, armed with the information provided, it should be relatively easy to get to determine where the discussed database currently resides. If you get really stuck, drop me an email and I’ll try to ferret out the recalcitrant link or cross out my entry in the above list!

Editor’s Note: Know of a neat resource that you think might be a hidden gem? Drop an email to UpFront@ngsgenealogy.org.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

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