http://www.uib.no/herrmann/

Born in New York in 1911, Bernard Herrmann became of the most well-known and respected composers of film music of the 20th century, and many of his scores (including those for Citizen Kane and Psycho) have become regularly performed in concert halls across the world. In 2000, the Bernard Herrmann Society was founded by Gunther Kogebehn and Kurt George Gjerde with the aim of widening appreciation and knowledge of his music, whether it be his film scores or his other classical works. Those who may be unacquainted with Herrmann's work will want to read several helpful essays that provide an introduction to his life, both of which are available in the "Who's Herrmann?" area of the site. Visitors can also peruse articles from "Echoes", which is the Bernard Herrmann Society Journal. Here they will find interviews of those who worked with him, along with photographic tours of places that were an integral part of his life, such as London and New York City. One piece that is worth taking a look at is an essay on Charles Ives written by Herrmann in 1932. [KMG]

The Smithsonian Institution presents this online exhibition, tracing the dramatic changes in the character of Iraqi ceramics during the 9th century, caused at least in part by the influence of imported luxury Chinese goods, carried by Arab and Persian merchants over an ocean route from the Persian Gulf to the South China Sea. The luminous white and blue glazes of imported Chinese porcelain were much admired in Iraq. Although Iraqi ceramic artists did not have equal raw materials or firing technology to their Chinese counterparts, they cleverly created their own versions using yellow clay, and glazes that turned opaque after firing, creating ceramics that were described as "pearl cups like the moon." The online exhibition is small, showcasing about a dozen examples of Iraqi blue & white and luster pottery from the period, along with several Chinese pieces for comparison. The Smithsonian exhibit designers have also used their tools cleverly, so visitors can watch as decorative details of the ceramics fill in as if by magic before their eyes. [DS]

http://www.nixonfoundation.org/

Located in Yorba Linda, Calif., the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace opened in 1990 with a cadre of visitors and guests that included former Presidents Bush, Reagan, Ford, and of course, Nixon. Actually, the museum tour of the site is not a bad place to start, as visitors are taken around both his childhood home, the permanent galleries, and upcoming exhibits. The childhood home feature includes a nice audio clip of President Nixon describing his early life in Yorba Linda. Of course there are helpful research materials here for students and the general public located within the research center area of the site. Here visitors can learn about the life of the President and First Lady Patricia Nixon and examine several bibliographies of recommended works. Visitors to the site may also want to read "In the National Interest", which is the Nixon Center's weekly online magazine covering foreign policy affairs. Of course, researchers will want to take a look at the information about visiting and using the archives, although it should be noted that the Presidential papers of Richard Nixon are still in the custody of the National Archives. Finally, some visitors may want to join the online Nixon Forum, where they may discuss all things Nixon 24 hours a day, seven days a week. [KMG]

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~th15/home.html

During the height of the McCarthy era, a wide range of persons was brought before the House Un-American Activities Committee to answer charges that they were (or had been) involved in Communist activities. One of the most well-known individuals called before the Committee was Alger Hiss, who was serving as the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace when he was called to answer these charges in 1948. Despite the fact that Hiss denied the charges, he was convicted in a second trial and served 44 months before being released in 1954. With that bit of background, visitors will no doubt want to visit this fine site, which is designed to be a well-developed portal for access to primary information about Alger Hiss, the Hiss case, and the early Cold War years. Visitors can start by reading an introductory essay about Hiss and his life, then continue on to the virtual courtroom, where they may learn about the case in its full historical context, then move on to examine various pieces of evidence from the case. Another helpful resource here is a "cast listing" of all the participants and persons involved with the case, which will also be quite helpful as users peruse the many documents and essays. Overall, this is a very well done site, and one that will be of great interest to persons with a keen eye for legal and Cold War history. [KMG]

http://www.usip.org/

While it took close to 200 years, an official U.S. peace office was finally created in 1984 when President Ronald Reagan signed the United States of Institute Peace Act. The official mandate of the United States Institute of Peace is "to support the development, transmission, and use of knowledge to promote peace and curb violent international conflict." From the homepage, visitors can learn about the Institute's public outreach programs, such as the National Peace Essay Contest, the Peace Scholar Dissertation Fellowships, and the in-house magazine, PeaceWatch, which is published five times a year. A particularly helpful resource for persons interested in peace and conflict research is the Jeannette Rankin Library homepage, which is also available here. Visitors can learn about online collections that include a number of helpful annotated weblinks for such timely topics as Iraq, terrorism, and U.S. human rights policy. [KMG]

http://vilda.alaska.edu/

Many states have begun elaborate and well-funded digital archive projects in order to increase the accessibility of compelling historical materials from their area, and Alaska's very worthwhile effort is the latest to reach us here at the Scout Report. The project is being directed through the leadership of the Rasmuson Library at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Consortium Library at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the Alaska State Library in Juneau. Currently there are close to 3,000 objects for consideration within their archive, all of which may be browsed by thumbnail image, bibliographic record, or title. Some of the documents include photographs of the "Aleutian Five" musical band which performed during World War II and "Happy Jack", the noted ivory carver. The archive can also be searched using an advanced search engine, and visitors may also create a selection of their favorite documents as well. [KMG]

http://www.fema.gov/

Created during the presidency of Jimmy Carter, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has its distant roots in the Congressional Act of 1803, which itself provided assistance to a New Hampshire town following a dramatic fire. Currently, FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security and continues to respond, plan for, and mitigate against disasters. The website itself is quite full of useful materials for the general public, as it features important information about current weather warnings around the United States and various guidebooks about preparing for when disasters strike. The homepage also has an interactive map of the U.S. that lets visitors know which counties have been designated for assistance in the wake of recent disaster and emergency declarations. The site also provides ample information about FEMA's current strategic plan and the organization's history and hierarchy. [KMG]