History Unfolded: U.S. Newspapers and the Holocaust

In the 1930s, what could the average American citizen learn about the Nazi persecution of Jewish individuals and other minorities from reading American newspapers? How did the U.S. press report on these atrocities? How did American domestic politics, social movements, and prejudices influence press coverage? The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has launched the History Unfolded project to facilitate exploration and conversation around these important questions.

The museum has invited researchers and students across the United States to collect and digitize U.S. newspaper articles to include in the museum’s growing online database. In Spring 2018, these archives will be incorporated into an exhibition about Americans and the Holocaust. Meanwhile, visitors to this website can learn how to participate in the project or browse through the articles currently in the database. There are a number of Teacher Resources here, including a detailed lesson plan and links to online newspaper databases that will help history instructors facilitate classroom research projects. [MMB]

You’ll also find useful tutorials on “How to Read Newspapers from the 1930’s and 1940’s” and “How to Use Microfilm.” While those of us of a certain (ahem) vintage may find it astonishing that these concepts need to be explained, the fact is that the newest generations among us haven’t had to get their information in these formats and their organization can be baffling for those uninitiated.

This review originally published in The Internet Scout.

Savage Minds

Savage Minds is “a group blog dedicated to ‘doing anthropology in public’ – providing well-written, relevant discussions of sociocultural anthropology that everyone will find accessible.” Since its establishment in 2005 by a group of anthropology scholars and students, the blog has been recognized as one of the best science blogs by Nature and has been enthusiastically praised by American Anthropologist.

Frequently updated, recent posts include a consideration of how anthropological principles can be utilized to help businesses and organizations resist the “silo effect“(when information and expertise is not shared throughout the organization), and a reflection by a medical translator about how the field of anthropology informs her work. In addition, this blog includes Around the Web Digest features, which highlight online articles that may be of interest to anthropologists. While this blog is specifically aimed at anthropologists, much of this content may also be of interest to scholars in other fields, including bioethics, medicine, and sociology. [MMB]

This review originally published in The Internet Scout.

Dynamic Dialects: An Interactive Accent Database

Dynamic Dialects is an interactive accent database that allows visitors to compare English dialects from around the world. The research team behind the project – who represent the University of Glasgow, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, University College, London, and Napier University, Edinburgh – use a technique called Ultrasound Tongue Imaging (UTI) to document and analyze these dialects.

The UTI is able to record the movement of the tongue and other articulatory organs. (This site contains an extensive explanation in How UTI Works for interested visitors.) Project participants from around the world pronounced the same 28 words in a studio with a UTI. On this website visitors can listen to an audio recording of all participants via an interactive map, which allows one to explore the pronunciation of multiple words by a single speaker. Alternatively, visitors can browse the Accent Chart, which allows visitors to quickly compare the pronunciation of the same word by different speakers. [MMB]

This review originally published in The Internet Scout.

Lady Science

Lady Science is a monthly magazine that addresses the history of women in science and other topics relating to gender and science. The magazine’s editors-in-chief, Anna Reser and Leila McNeill, both hold master’s degrees in the history of science from the University of Oklahoma. The magazine features contributions from doctoral students and independent scholars, and academics from a variety of fields, including history of science, English, and art.

Each issue features two critical essays that share a central theme. Recent issues have addressed the intersections of disability and gender, literary portrayals of female scientists, and an exploration of gender, the modern kitchen, and food at the dawn of the Cold War. Readers will also find a blog here, along with recommended reads and television shows relating to women in science. [MMB]

This review originally published in The Internet Scout.

The Trap Set

The Trap Set is a podcast for drummers, music lovers, and anyone who enjoys hearing artists reflect on their creative processes. Every week Joe Wong interviews a different drummer and invites his guests to speak about how they came to music, their development as an artist, and their approach to practice and performing.

Wong’s low-key interview style and direct, detailed questions allow each guest to speak to their own experiences and passions. Listeners, in turn, will get a sense of each guest’s personality. Wong interviews drummers from every genre of music. Pasts guests include Venzella Joy (who drums for Beyonce); John “Jabo” Starks (who drummed with James Brown and B.B. King); Clem Burke (of Blondie); and Sheila E. Listeners can subscribe on iTunes and explore past episodes – 84 so far – on this website. [MMB]

This review originally published in The Internet Scout.