Peggy Caffrey reports research at the Library of Congress

Hello, from the Library of Congress! I've been spending most of the summer here in American historians' Mecca, reading the papers of anthropologist Margaret Mead for a book of letters a friend and I are editing. I saw former student, now Asst. Prof. Mike Bertrand here one day--he was here researching his next book on African-American radio. I lug my computer in with me, but many people now are taking digital photos of documents, instead of notes and xeroxing.

The security is extensive and cumbersome, but necessary, I guess--x-ray machines and you need to have a special picture ID card made to use any of the collections. I did take time to see the new Museum of the American Indian--went intending to spend an hour or so and spent the whole day--an excellent shredding of the stereotypes and affirmation of Native American culture.

Looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks!
Peggy Caffrey

John Robertson reports on research in Illinois, including "archival brownies"

Regarding Dr. Sherman's suggestion that we share vacation anecdotes, I have one. After intense double stressing over selling my and Marcel's house there in Memphis and finally completing it, and preparing for comps, I went to visit my working-class relatives, mainly my first cousin/surrogate sister, in Illinois. The east Alton area was, in the 1950s, the only industrialized area in Southern Illinois - the "other" Illinois; hill country with a large concentration of second- and third-generation transplanted Illinois rurals, many of whom have, as my cousin, Southern ancestry.

The area is, for one thing, important for religious groups that three of us are studying. I was privileged to interview a key denominational historian for one of the denominations. This man has the status of a retired member of the papal curia within that organization. This particular group is a bit gun-shy over their treatment in the hands of some not-too-complimentary historians, and they are very guarded with access to their archives. The interview went very well, but what was more important, I think, was the establishment of an amicable relationship with the religious official's secretary and the other women on the staff there. In an effort to consolidate the good relations, at the suggestion of my cousin, I took the secretaries some fresh-baked brownies. Those brownies, and similar gestures, may be the most important component of my vacation.

Dr. Benin has repeatedly suggested that administration in large institutions should be left entirely up to the secretaries. They are, after all, the ones who actually know things.

By the way, Amanda and Karen like sugar-free Planter's turtles and low-carb ice cream.

John Robertson

Let's get blogging!

(Janann Sherman, Chair of the Department of History, originated the idea of a Web "space" where anyone connected with the department -- faculty, staff, students, alumni -- could "talk," particularly about their travels throughout the country and throughout the world. This "blog," Memphis Historians on the Go, is where the action should be. Here's her invitation to get things moving more than they have been lately. Be sure to keep reading below to see all the great photos that she sent from her recent trip to Montana and Alberta. And then start clicking on the COMMENTS links to add your own comments.)

(You might want to visit the department's Web page about this blog to get a better idea of how it operates. You'll find it at http://history.memphis.edu/onthego.html. )

Hello everyone! I’d like to see us use this blog to keep in touch with one another, to debate current issues of concern in the department, the city, the state, the nation, the world!

If you wish to submit a message of your own (to begin a new blog) and/or photographs, you need to send those to mcrouse@memphis.edu. As “owner” of the site, he has to post them. But if you just want to engage in the conversation that begins here, you can do that by simply clicking on “comments.”

Okay. I’ll start. How about: how have you spent your summer? I’d like to hear from everyone before we get caught up in the new semester.

Cheers! Janann

Pictures from western trip ("photographer's paradise") by Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols

Jan Sherman couldn't send pictures from her Blackberry while she and Kim Nichols were on a trip through western Canada and western U.S. Now that they're back, here is a sample of the many photos she took during that trip, with captions that she provided.

This was the first photo I took on the trip. We arrived at Many Glaciers Lodge in Glacier National Park, Montana, in the fog and rain the night before. I grabbed my camera in the morning, walked outside, and this is what I saw. I knew then that I was in paradise.



This lovely young grizzly was taking a morning stroll among the wildflowers in a field near Many Glaciers Lodge. Fortunately, I was in a large vehicle for this shot.



We arrived at the hotel in Waterton, Alberta, in late afternoon. On approach, we spotted this view. I could not have ordered up better lighting for a photo! The Prince of Wales, like several hotels where we stayed, was built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad near the turn of the previous century to stimulate tourism among the well-to-do. So out in the middle of pristine wilderness, you happen upon these fabulously elegant hotels. Now that's my idea of "roughing it"!



This is Waterton Lake from the hill upon which the Prince of Wales Hotel is perched. Note the white caps. The Chinook winds blow so strongly down this channel that it literally blew me off my feet.



Moonrise over Waterton Lake, as seen from the terrace of the Prince of Wales Hotel.



The deer were so tame at the edge of Waterton Lake (in Alberta, Canada) that I was able to come close to take their photographs. Lest the viewer think that I had simply used a telephoto lens, I present this photo with Kim Nichols as proof.



This tiny island (Spirit Island) was a half-hour's boat ride down Lake Maligne near Jasper, Alberta. I believe that of the 200 or so photographs I took on this trip to photographer's paradise, this one is the best one.



These canoe-ers on Maligne Lake gave me the perfect shot. The lake was allegedly named by a trapper who lost all his horses and supplies in the river feeding the lake. He wrote in his diary that this was "le traverse maligne"-- ie evil and perverse. Americans pronounce it MA-LINE; Canadians say MA-LEEN.



Mt Rundel is just outside of Banff, Alberta. We saw a photo of it reflecting in a lake, and set off to find the right lake. This is the result: Mt. Rundel reflected in Vermillion Lake.

Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols traveling in Canada

Hello from Alberta! Kim is driving us across western Alberta on our way from Waterton to Banff. Since arriving in the mountains on Saturday we have been out of the reach of cell phones, TV etc-a wonderful break from civilization. I'm composing this on my blackberry while bouncing down the highway--not recommended for long messages.

We have seen spectaclar scenery, taken dozens of photos, hiked in the woods, rowed across a glacial lake, communed with several forms of wildlife. (Including the 4 legged kind), eaten well and rested much. In short, a grand vacation!

See you all in a week!
Janann