Category Archives: Feature of the Week

American History in Video Trial

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Until the end of May you can try free streaming video from the American History in Video database.

From the database site:

American History in Video provides the largest and richest collection of video available online for the study of American history, with 2,000 hours and more than 5,000 titles on completion. The collection allows students and researchers to analyze historical events, and their presentation over time, through commercial and governmental newsreels, archival footage, public affairs footage, and important documentaries. This release now provides 4,163 titles, with videos from new partner Media Rich Learning, and much more, equaling approximately 1,027 hours.

American History in Video has just been named a Library Journal 2009 Best Reference, in addition to being named earlier as Booklist Editors’ Choice: Reference Sources 2009 winner. The collection received a starred review in the November 15, 2009, issue of Booklist, which called it “highly recommended for any library that serves students of American history.” Library Journal also gave the collection a rave review in the August 15, 2009, issue, calling it a full 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 with a rating of “resoundingly recommended.”

Website for Database:  http://ahivfree.alexanderstreet.com/

1905 Film Trip Down Market Street Before the Great Earthquake

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“You are there” for a cable car ride in San Francisco.  This film was “lost” for many years. It was taken by a camera mounted on the front of a cable car.  The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero wharf is still there.

Great historical film!  Watch the scampering as Joe Public races away from autos, horses, cable cars and bicycles and the willy-nilly traffic pattern of visible autos, trucks, horse drawn carriages and bikes on Market Street .

This film originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot.  From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!).

It was filmed only four days before the Great California Earthquake of April 18th 1906 and shipped by train to NY for processing.

From Prelinger Collection, Internet Archives

Feature of the Week – Children of Congo

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Children_of_the_Congo

Children of  Congo: from war to witches produced, directed, written, edited by Dan Balluff.

Documents the plight of thousands of street children living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and confirms the widespread accusations of child witchcraft, torture, and child prostitution.

Call Number: HV887.C75 C45 2008

Subject Headings:

Street children — Congo (Democratic Republic)
Children — Congo (Democratic Republic) — Social conditions — 21st century
Congo (Democratic Republic) — Social conditions — 21st century
Congo (Democratic Republic) — Economic conditions — 21st century
Congo (Democratic Republic) — Economic conditions — 21st century