Certainly, Christmas and Hanukkah are not the only well known holidays taking place in December. The month has been a time for celebration throughout history, as far back as the origins […]
Not Just Christmas and Hanukkah
History of the Library, Part II
A group of private citizens, headed by William Wyman and William Keyser, donated land that became the Homewood Campus in 1902, and the library moved into new quarters upon the […]
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 7th, 2017 marks the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. (See the 75th commemoration here.). Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base situated on the island of […]
History of the Library – Part I
Each year Hopkins welcomes new students and faculty who may not know the history behind one of the academic world’s most renowned libraries. So, sit back as we tell the […]
Hard-boiled and Noir Fiction and Film
Travelling through fetid alleyways in the pouring rain, through thronging cities like beating hearts, and darkened rooms echoing gunshots and last breaths, the fiction and film of the hard-boiled and […]
Egypt: The Birthplace of Flip Flops?
It’s summer and flip-flops are in full bloom! Over the centuries, shoe designers have added heels, blinged them out, and crafted them from a variety of materials. The obsession for […]
Library Tourism
At some point, we all travel and explore new places. While you’re globe-trotting, don’t forget to visit libraries! Seriously, some libraries are tourist attractions and well-worth a visit. Even the […]
Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Professor of Greek
Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Johns Hopkins’ first professor of Greek, was born in 1831 in Charleston, South Carolina, and was orphaned at a young age. Gildersleeve proved to be a precocious […]
Watership Down – Book, Film, and Music
“Do tell me how I can help you,” said the Chief Rabbit. “Well sir,’ said Hazel rather hesitantly, ‘it’s because of my brother — Fiver here. He can often tell […]
Season’s Readings, Guilty Pleasures (and Gift Ideas)
Why do I love these lists so much? Every December, I look forward to the various year-end lists of best books put out by newspapers and other periodicals. True, they […]