All of the Washington State Library blogs have been consolidated in a new location!  The address for one stop shopping is:

http://blogs.secstate.wa.gov/library/

Hope to see you there!

Some of you have been kind enough to email and remind us that it’s been ages since our last post.  Yes, indeed it has – and we apologize!  But we’re happy to announce that as of this week, the Washington State Library Public Services Blog will be moving to a new home on the Secretary of State’s website:

http://blogs.secstate.wa.gov/wslpublic/

While we’ve been very happy with WordPress over the last two years, we’re even more happy to find a permanent home on our official servers! 

What this means for you:

• Those of you whose computers were blocked from accessing blogging websites like WordPress should now be able to access our most recent news and features.
• You shouldn’t notice any change in our content.  We’ll still feature Newspaper Gems, Government Documents, and notices about our Events.  We’re also looking at the possibility of posting book reviews and expanding our Research Success Stories.
• You may think that things look a little sparse compared to our digs on WordPress, but we’re working to recreate much of the content found on the tabbed pages here on the State Library’s website. 
• This is a great time to let us know what features you’d like to see here.  If you have ideas about Washington, Northwest, or State Library- themed content you’d like to read about, just leave a comment.  You can also drop us an email at: askalibrarian@secstate.wa.gov.  We read all our comments and are eager to gather new ideas on how to improve.

Thanks to all of you who have supported this “little blog that could”!  Please visit us at our new home:

http://blogs.secstate.wa.gov/wslpublic/

Footnote

The Footnote.com collections feature documents, most never before available before on the Internet, relating to the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, U.S. Presidents, historical newspapers and naturalization documents.

At the Washington State Library, you have special access to images that are normally part of their paid subscription services. You don’t need to sign in or register to view these images or any other content on Footnote while you are here.

Historic Map Works Library Edition (distributed by ProQuest)
Trial subscription through Sept 5 2008

We have not purchased this database, but we just started a trial run which ends September 5.  Please drop in before it’s over and let us know what you think! Your feedback helps us decide which databases to purchase for our library.

Here is a description from the creators:

Our high quality, full color digital collection of historic maps is one of the most extensive available. The core of the collection consists of over 100,000 cadastral, land ownership maps detailing the geographic and development history of the United States over several hundred years. There is extensive coverage of rural and suburban areas, as well as cities and towns across America.

Why not stop by and give these valuable genealogy resources a spin?  The smart genealogist avoids costly personal subscription fees and uses the databases at the State Library for free!  Information on our open hours and directions can be found here.

Today’s story features Jill, who contacted us with a problem.  She had in her possession a picture of a small brass band in front of a wooden building that was labeled, “Winlock Band, Centralia W.T., July 4, 1885.”  She wondered how this picture related to her ancestor, John T. Burgess, a noted musician and businessman who died in Montana in 1896.  John had a colorful personal life and had been linked to a number of other musical groups, but what was he doing at the time this picture was taken?  What was his role in the Winlock Band?

Librarian Mary thought that a local paper from Centralia might have some description of the 4th of July activities, but wasn’t sure if the Winlock Band would be described in enough detail to be helpful in Jill’s search.  But Mary hit the mother lode in the July 11, 1895 Chehalis Nugget.  The paper not only described the 109th Anniversary of Independence festivities in detail (down to the ladies who were costumed to represent various qualities of Liberty and individual States of the Union), but it also listed the names of members of the Winlock Band.  The first name to appear was “John Burgess (leader).”  The Chehalis Nugget answered Jill’s question about her ancestor’s role in the Winlock Band decisively.  Click here to read the account from the Nugget.

Mary was delighted to receive an envelope from Jill less than a week later which contained a letter of thanks as well as a copy of the picture of John T. Burgess and the Winlock Band on that 4th of July in Centralia so long ago.  John is the first person on the left in the top row, wearing a top hat.  If anyone can definitely match another of the names listed in the Nugget to the band members in the picture, please let us know!  We’d love to put more names with faces.

We’re very grateful to Jill for both the picture and the permission to share her Research Success Story here.  Thanks, Jill!

Have a safe and happy Independence Day, everyone!

Most notable of these prize winners is Stanwood’s Amy Christianson who won National History Day’s Top Prize, the David van Tassel Scholarship.  The prize is a four-year, all expenses paid scholarship to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  Congratulations, Amy!

The many other top medalists from Washington are described in detail on the Washington History Day blog.  The complete list of winners from across the country is found on the National History Day site.  Congratulations to all of these student scholars who helped Washington State achieve the second highest medal total out of all the competing states! 

Inspired?  Why not take some time over summer vacation to begin work on a project for next year’s History Day?  2009′s theme is “The Individual in History.”  More information can be found on Washington’s History Day page at the Washington State Historical Society’s website.

Our Brownbag series of Events also wrapped up on May 29 when the ladies of the Conservation Kitchen returned to demonstrate more economical and effective conservation strategies.  We’ve uploaded some pictures of Marcea’s creation of a paperback book cover so you can see her at work.  More information on this series can be found on our Handouts page.

Pictures from both events can be found on Flickr.  Thanks to everyone who made this years events – from Lucia Perillo to Jim and Jess and everyone in between – so very successful.  See you next year!

More information on this year’s Letters About Literature contest is available on the Washington State Library’s website.

McKenzie Dent from Zieger Elementary School in Puyallup.  McKenzie wrote to Alice Mead, the author of “Soldier Mom.”  Read her letter here.

Jessica Jang from NOVA School in Olympia.  Jessica wrote to Richard Adams, the author of “Watership Down.”  Read her letter here

Alayna Chamberland from Capital High School in Olympia.  Alayna wrote to Wally Lamb, the author of ”She’s Come Undone.”  Read her letter here.

Congratulations McKenzie, Jessica, and Alayna!  Their letters will also be submitted to the national Letters About Literature competition. Thank you to all the students, teachers, and families who participated in Washington’s Letters About Literature program. Keep reading and writing!

Update: The link to order copies of the Miguel Batista poster can be found here.  Please note that posters can ONLY be sent to Washington State residents.