Category Archives: History

Anne Frank, A Graphic Biography

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Many thanks to Nina Dijkstra for this timely post during Banned Books Week: Following the publication of Anne Frank – the graphic biography in the Netherlands at the beginning of July, publications in other countries will follow this autumn. The … Continue reading →

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Covering Lolita

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Many thanks to author and jounalist Dieter Zimmer for this post: Vladimir Nabokov’s modern classic, Lolita, has been banned many time since its first publication in the U.S. . Author Dieter Zimmer has put together an impressive collection of 150 book covers … Continue reading →

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BANNED ! … Books Week

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

September 25−October 2, 2010 Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.  Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information … Continue reading →

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More Burroughs, Aleister Crowley & Jimmy Page

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

With William Burroughs in the literary news again these days, a mind-bending article from the June 1975 issue of Crawdaddy magazine has surfaced: When I was first asked to write an article on the Led Zeppelin group, to be based … Continue reading →

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Rally To Restore Sanity…Let’s Go

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

  Well, the long awaited announcement finally happened and the plans are in place for the Daily Show’s answer to the lunatic Glen Beck rally and the Summer of the Tea Baggers. You can see the announcement on this video clip … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Speech, History, USA | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Does the Pope Need a Library Card ?

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

The magnificent Vatican Apostolic Library is set to reopen next Monday following a three-year $11.5 million renovation, with 21st century technology added to safeguard priceless incunabula, manuscripts and books dating back as far as the 1st century. Each one of … Continue reading →

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Second City History

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Guest post courtesy of Lindsey Washington.   The Chicago Postcard Museum is a privately endowed, independent organization devoted to collecting and presenting Chicago history through picture postcard imagery and correspondence. The Museum displays collections of Rare, Antique, vintage and contemporary … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, History, Museums, Tourism, USA | Tagged | 2 Comments

Attention Map Geeks

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

The amazing new exhibition, Strait Through: Magellan to Cook & the Pacific at the Main Gallery of the Firestone Library, Princeton University runs until January 2, 2011 The fascinating exhibition documents the drama of the unfolding European exploration of the Pacific … Continue reading →

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The End of An Era

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Thanks to Nicky Gardner for this story. When Tobias Smollett left England for France in 1763 he was in no particular rush to get anywhere. The famously ill-tempered Smollett made his way to Dover, complaining about the cold and comfortless … Continue reading →

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It’s…European Heritage Days

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

European Heritage Days is a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission.The 49 signatory states of the European Cultural Convention participate in the European Heritage Days in September each year. This joint action of the Council … Continue reading →

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