Research and Education
http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/newton/index.jsp
To merely say that Isaac Newton was a good scientist and brilliant thinker would be a bit like saying that Rachmaninov’s manipulation of the pianoforte was merely pleasing. Newton’s legacy in the annals of science is the mark of a genius, and there are literally hundreds of his manuscripts that have not yet fully been interpreted, described, or annotated. With support from the National Science Foundation, Indiana University’s Digital Library program has produced this fine website which will eventually contain a complete scholarly online edition of Newton’s alchemical manuscripts, along with new research on Newton’s ‘chymistry’. This ‘chymistry’ was the term used in 17th century England to describe the science of alchemy. So far, approximately 250 pages of these laboratory notebooks are available online, with another 1500 scheduled for digitization in the future. The site contains a number of reference tools, such as a symbol guide, and an introductory essay. [KMG]
http://www.sc.edu/library/digital/collections/sanborn.html
As with many interesting products of material culture, Sanborn Fire Insurance maps found themselves a new life as generations of historians, architects, and planners have rediscovered them over the years. The maps were originally created for insurance underwriters in the middle of the nineteenth century, and by World War II, the company had surveyed over 13,000 towns in the United States. This particular collection comes from the Digital Collections division of the University of South Carolina Libraries and includes some 580 maps of various cities in the state. Using the search engine, visitors can look for maps by city, year of publication, or county. One particular interesting wrinkle of the collection is that there are 232 previously unpublished maps included in this digital collection. [KMG]
http://www.rbm.who.int/cgi-bin/rbm/rbmportal/custom/rbm/home.do
With all the attention paid to a wide range of diseases that affect various populations around the world, some may still be surprised to learn that relatively little money is spent researching malaria. Bill Gates recently gave $258 million to help research this disease, and in doing so, his efforts will complement the fine work being done through the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM), which is an initiative of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the World Bank. The site is divided into four primary areas, including a publications section and information about events sponsored by the initiative. Visitors unfamiliar with the disease may want to peruse the FAQ section, as it answers some basic queries, such as “How is it transmitted?” and “How can Malaria be controlled?”. One key document that has recently been released to the site is the Roll Back Malaria Global Strategic Plan, which is available in English and French. Finally, the site also has an audio and video archive which includes a number of public service announcements and video clips that detail some of the RBM’s primary activities. [KMG]
http://cip.cornell.edu/DPubS/UI/1.0/JourNav?authority=psu.ph&type=home
Many states have official historical journals that publish important works that explore the nooks and crannies of their respective locales. One such journal is Pennsylvania History, which serves as the official journal of the Pennsylvania Historical Association (PHA). The journal does not limit itself to exploring the Commonwealth’s history; it also features articles that focus on the broader region. Recently, the Pennsylvania State University Libraries and Press cooperated with the PHA to bring back issues of the journal online. Here visitors can browse through the journals from the year 1934 (the first year of publication) all the way to the year 2000. Some of the selections offered here include articles on the Pennsylvania anthracite industry and social life in Philadelphia during the American Revolution. It should be noted that there are some years that are not available on the archive, including between 1964 and 1970. The site is still quite interesting, and will be of use to scholars with an interest in the region or those seeking eminently readable material on the Keystone State and environs. [KMG]
With a substantial donation from William Dart of Mason, Michigan, the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma started its work at Michigan State University, and has grown significantly over the past decade and a half. Currently located at the University of Washington, the Center is a “global network of journalists, journalism educators and health professionals dedicated to improving media coverage of trauma, conflict and tragedy.” On their site, visitors can learn about fellowship opportunities, read fact sheets about trauma research, and peruse their in-house blog. Journalists will appreciate the “Quick Tips” section on the homepage, as it covers a broad range of subjects, such as how to cover disasters, murder, suicide, and domestic violence in a sensitive manner. The site also has a rather impressive series of case studies on reporting on such events as the Columbine massacre and the genocide in Rwanda. [KMG]
Amid the successes of new residential housing developments throughout the United States, there are many policy analysts and community activists who remain concern about the general lack of affordable housing in some parts of the country. One such group is the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which is primarily focused on the creation and maintenance of housing for persons in the lowest income brackets. The site itself is quite rich in materials, including the Advocate’s Guide which contains short chapters describing more than 60 housing-related programs, proposals, and issues. Another very useful set of documents are the “Out of Reach” annual reports, which offer statistical data and summaries of the affordability (or lack of affordability) of housing options in different regions of the country. [KMG]
