A New Cool App: Amazing Ocean

Granted, this new app from the Department of State and the Smithsonian isn't yet available in iTunes but if you are remotely interested in our oceans then you'll want to access is via the WebApp until it's released. Android users can begin discussing topics such as protecting our oceans, mysteries, and natural disasters.

50th Anniversary of John Glenn Orbiting the Earth

Today NASA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first American orbiting the earth. John Glenn was the astronaut circling the earth in the Mercury "Friendship 7" spacecraft.

The Super Bowl & Government Documents

Bet you didn't think of all the ways documents are involved with the Super Bowl!

• Game ball (Smithsonian)
• Security
• Department of Homeland Security image
• FBI podcast
• Food Safety (USDA)
• Score a Food Safety Touchdown at Your Super Bowl XLVI Party (FSIS)
• Safe Handling of Take-Out Foods (FSIS)
• Wings! Poultry: Basting, Brining, and Marinating (FSIS)
• 6 NASA technologies in play at the Super Bow (GCN)

Archives Myths

Here's an interesting post from the Smithsonian about myths.

Free Museum Day!

Need something to do this weekend? Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 is Free Museum Day! Visit the website to see which museums near you are participating & to obtain your free ticket. Note, this offer is for one person plus a guest. 

September 11: Remembering, Honoring

I've pulled together a collection of government sites that are remembering or honoring September 11th.

•  Remembering Sept. 11, 2011 10th Anniversary Honoring the Victims Department of Defense
• Ten Years Later: The Justice Department After 9/11
• Beyond "Where were you?"—let's talk about September 11 National Museum of American History
• 9/11 Tenth Anniversary includes commemorations USA.gov

Let's continue to remember and honor the event by teaching the details or virtually exploring the memorial.

• Teaching About September 11 Using Primary Sources from Library of Congress
• 9/11 Memorial app USA.gov

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is now the 395th National Park. Curious about how the memorial was created? Read Building the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial from Smithsonian.com. 

Virginia Earthquake

While I'm certain yesterday's earthquake had nothing to do with our Internet outage this morning, it did cause a lot of excitement. Here are some resources about the earthquake along with a way for you to let USGS know if you felt the quake:

• Magnitude 5.8 - VIRGINIA
• What to Do After an Earthquake
• Did You Feel It? — Tell Us !
• Earthquake in Washington, D.C.

Here are some interesting earthquake facts:

• US Earthquake Information by State 
• FAQs - Earthquake Myths 

Have a Question for an Archivist?

June 9, 2011 is Ask Archivist Day. Archivists from all over the world, including the Smithsonian, will be available to answer your questions.

Update - A summary of the questions has been added to The Bigger Picture blog.

Civil War 150 Years

Here's a list of agencies/departments that are commemorating the 150th anniversary of the civil war: 

Census History: Civil War Sesquicentennial 

How We’ve Commemorated the Civil War 

The List: What You Didn’t Know About the Smithsonian in the Civil War

 The Civil War: 150 Years

Latest Volcano Activity

Get the latest volcano activity from the Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcano Activity Report.

Saturday Delivery

Curious about the implications of stopping mail delivery on Saturdays? The GAO has released U.S. Postal Service: Ending Saturday Delivery Would Reduce Costs, but Comprehensive Restructuring Is Also Needed that might answer some of our questions.


On a slightly different note, did you know that Amelia Earhart raised funds by delivering Air Mail?

Documents of the Month: Women's History

Join us in celebrating Women's History Month by visiting our display.

• National Women's History Museum Act of 2009
• National Women's History Museum Act of 2003
• The Women's Army Corps 1945-1978
• Workers and Allies: female participation in the American trade union movement, 1824-1976
• Women in Congress 1917-1990
• Women in Congress 1917-2000
• Women's Rights
• Women's Rights National History Trail Feasibility Study
• Milestones: the women's bureau celebrates 65 years of women's labor history
• Breaking Codes Breaking Barriers: the WACs of the signal security agency world war II
• Free a Marine to Fight: women marines in world war II
• Women in the Army Policy Review
• Equal Pay: a thirty-five year perspective
• Facts on Working Women
• Benefits to Employers Who Hire Women Veterans
• Women with Work Disabilities
• Women Who Maintain Families
• 20 Facts on Women Workers
• Young Women and Employment: what we know and need to know about the school-to-work transition
• Women's History is Everywhere: 10 ideas for celebrating in communities
• United States Women in Aviation 1940-1985
• American Women Today & Tomorrow
• International Interdependence
• United States Government Documents on Women, 1800-1990
• The Women's Army Corps: a commemoration of world war II service
• March is Women's History Month (Random Samplings)
• Women in Development (USAID)
• Women in America: indicators of social and economic well-being (White House)

Halloween Fun (& Safety) Information

Have you decided which day you'll be trick-or-treating? Be prepared for anything by reading Halloween Fun and Safety Information (USA.gov). Need more food safety tips? See Be Food Safe (USDA). Need a pumpkin carving idea? See Pumpkin Carving Ideas From Around the Smithsonian (Smithsonian). Enjoy trivia? See Facts for features: Halloween (Census Bureau).

Have fun & be safe!

Documents of the Week: Smithsonian Institution

I imagine will have to visit the Smithsonian Institution again and again. The following documents are just from ONE shelf and we have many more for me to find treasures for display.

• Pottery from the index of American design
• General information and list of paintings & sculpture, 1941
• Venetian painting
• Family guide: The winter holidays
• American portrait drawings
• "In the minds and hearts of the people" Five American patriots and the road to revolution
• Fifty American faces
• Islamic metalwork
• From concept to context: Approaches to Asian and Islamic Calligraphy
• Prelude to the space age: The rocket societies 1924-1940
• Adventurous pursuits: Americans and the China trade 1784-1844

Enjoy!