W. E. B. Dubois: A Digital Archive

African American History Month, and especially the last week in February, are especially appropriate times to celebrate the wonderful digital archive capturing the works of W. E. B. Dubois--author, scholar, educator, magazine editor, activist, international spokesman and founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Dubois was born in western Massachusetts on February 23, 1868.

The Papers of W. E. B. Dubois was the first archive collection digitized for Credo, the online repository at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries' Department of Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA).  In fact, Credo, the repository, is named in recognition of Dubois's Credo, a statement of his philosophy of pride, peace, liberty, education, and patience in achieving equality. The over 100,000 items in the Papers, from letters and speeches to novels, plays, and photographs, are available for browsing, searching, and exploring the life of this Renaissance man and prominent civil rights pioneer.   

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Digital Public Library at your service

Since I last visited in May, the Digital Public Library has expanded considerably.   It "offers a single point of access to millions of items—photographs, manuscripts, books, sounds, moving images, and more—from libraries, archives, and museums around the United States. Users can browse and search the DPLA’s collections by timeline, map, format, and topic; save items to customized lists; and share their lists with others. Users can also explore digital exhibitions curated by the DPLA ..."

In addition to making available online offerings of  libraries across the world, the DPLA provides a platform for innovative apps.  Thanks to the DPLA, I have  dusted off my Twitter account to check out and follow "Historical Cats" - @HistoricalCats .

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

William J.Clinton Presidential Library's Digital Library

The Digital Library lives on the website of the Clinton Presidential Library.  "Collections in the Digital Library include President Clinton and the First Lady's daily schedules, nomination papers, Domestic Policy Council’s files, records concerning foreign policy, selected speeches and writings of President Clinton, and photo galleries."  (see more here)

Some of the collections:
-Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets (Records concerning the investigating as to what happened to the assets of victims of the Holocaust)
-Declassified Records (Previously classified records concerning national security and U.S. foreign policy)
-Sonya Sotomayor Collection (Records concerning President Clinton’s 1997 nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit) 

Research and explore these digital collections today!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Digital Public Library of America

Once exams are over--or as a study break--take a look at the debut of a landmark online project: The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).  Launched April 18, the DPLA ultimately aims to make the holding of American research libraries, archives, and museums available free to everyone in the world on the internet.  Right now, the DPLA has taken the first step by offering a wide array of over 2 million books, documents, photos, media, and works of art that have already been digitilized by the libraries and cultural institutions that own them.

Everything in the Digital Library of America is searchable by keyword, time period, geographic location map, and subject.  The site also includes special exhibitions. With a view to a future "world library" for all, the DPLA is designed to be interoperable with Europeana, Europe's digital culture portal.  A current exhibition of photos and artifacts, "Leaving Europe: A New Life in America," was jointly produced by Europeana and the DPLA.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Einstein Archives Online Relaunch

"Albert Einstein wrote famously that imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge, he said, was limited. "Imagination encircles the world."
...
“Knowledge is not about hiding, it is about openness,” Hebrew University President Menahem Ben-Sasson said at the launch of a new public website that archivists hope will soon provide easy access to all of Einstein’s personal and professional writings.

The archive, which is made of more than 80,000 documents spanning Einstein’s 76-year life, includes manuscripts of his scientific and nonscientific writings, his correspondence with scientific and nonscientific colleagues, and writings with friends and family." (See more at CNN.com here)

"The Einstein Archives Online Website provides the first online access to Albert Einstein’s scientific and non-scientific manuscripts held by the Albert Einstein Archivesat the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, constituting the material record of one of the most influential intellects in the modern era. It also enables access to the Einstein Archive Database, a comprehensive source of information on all items in the Albert Einstein Archives." (See more at the Einstein Archives Online here)

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat