150th Anniversary of the Civil War

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War between the North and South. On April 12, 1861, fighting began with an attack on Ft. Sumter, South Carolina. Follow the link above, to read about this historical day and other information including Civil War artifacts from the Smithsonian Institute.

During the Civil War, several battles took place in Oklahoma which was considered Indian Territory at that time. To commemorate this anniversary in Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation will host a tour on April 16, 2011, focusing on how the war impacted the Cherokee people. The tour will run from 8am to 5pm and will depart from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa. For more information, please consult the Cherokee Nation Tourism site.

"The tour includes a visit to historic Capitol Square in Tahlequah, Okla., to learn about the destruction by Confederate troops. Guests will also visit the Murrell Home, an antebellum home that survived the fires of the Civil War. Visitors will explore Fort Gibson Historic Site, which changed hands several times between the Union and Confederate forces. Guests also will stop at Honey Springs Battle site, a turning point in the Civil War and the site of the largest battle fought between the states in Indian Territory."

What Would a Government Shutdown Look Like?

With the deadline for reaching an agreement just days away, it raises the question: What would a shutdown look like today? For those hoping to explore a national park or museum, those sites may be closed. Veterans could see their services curtailed. And, anyone who submits an application for a passport could find themselves having to postpone whatever foreign travel they were hoping to do this spring.

A Congressional Research Service Report, published in 2001, lists some of the consequences of those most recent shutdowns:

• Over 1,000,000 federal employees were sent home during the combined 1995-96 shutdowns. Major federal work force furloughs occurred in of the Department of Education, the Department of Veteran Affairs, Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Social Security Administration, to name a few.
• National museums and monuments closed down, resulting in an estimated loss of 2 million visitors.
• 368 National Park Service sites also closed, losing 7 million visitors and around $14.2 million per day in tourism revenue.
• 20,000-30,000 foreign visa applications per day went unprocessed, as did an estimated total of 200,000 U.S. passport applications.

For More information see Sarah Svoboda's article at PBS Newshour

Today in History....180th Anniversary of the French Foreign Legion

Women's History Month Display

March marks the annual observation of Women's History Month, where we celebrate women's contributions to society, culture and history. The United States has observed Women's History Month since 1987, with this year's theme being "Our History is Our Strength." Click on the image below for the Women's History digital collection at the Library of Congress:



March 8th, 2011 also marks the centennial celebration of International Women's Day! From the website:

"International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday."

Stop by the library to see our display full of resources on influential women, the history of Women's Rights, and women throughout history! Click here to visit Gale's Women's History page and see a timeline of women throughout history (highly recommended!), landmark court cases, and take the quiz to test your knowledge!

Light Up Your Interest in Chemistry

Pictured is a scientist showing the "hazards of flamable powders" in a video on Wired Science: Top 10 Amazing Chemistry Videos. The Web Page demonstrates that Chemistry can be both fun and exciting.

Books representing a variety of approaches to chemistry can be found on display in the library near the circulation desk. The books on display are only a few of the hundreds of books about chemistry that are available in print or online through the SWOSU Al Harris Library.

Chemistry, according to the Oxford English Dictionary is "The branch of science concerned with the substances of which matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances; (in early use also) alchemy."

All things within the physical universe can be explored using chemistry. Such exploration can satisfy one's curiosity about about how things are in the world as they are. Chemistry can lead to the discovery of new drugs or products that save lives or improve the quality of our lives. Or, Chemistry can simply be interesting and fun.

It is time to get those hands dirty!

There are as many reasons to garden as there are gardeners. Again this spring, millions of gardeners will be picking up the shovel and heading to that special piece of dirt to start another season of gardening. Reasons for gardening can range from bragging rights of the first ripe tomato in your neighborhood, reducing your grocery bill, or just the enjoyment of playing in the dirt. Gardening is a favorite among all ages. If you are new to gardening or an expert, we have numerous landscaping/gardening/insect books and more available here at the SWOSU Al Harris Library ready for checkout! Speaking of checkout, checkout the display case near the front entrance of the library, get some inspiration, and then get those hands dirty! Happy Gardening!

Celebrate Black History Month: Oral History Interviews

The History Makers Digital Archive of 310 African American video oral history interviews is available online for the first time on a test basis to registered users. This archive includes 14060 stories from nearly 700 hours of video.The History Makers organization and the Carnegie Mellon University Informedia Project have come together to bring a trove of 310 African American video oral history interviews to the general public. The HistoryMakers group started their oral history interviews in 1999, and over the next six years they interviewed Marian Wright Edelman, Julian Bond, and other prominent individuals in the African American community.