August 30, 2010
The Haitian Ark: Archiving to Recover Haiti
As the rest world offered a collaborative supply of financial aid, basic necessities, and man-power in efforts to reconstruct Haiti after the fatal earthquake in January 2010, three organizations invested into a less popular but equally important area of recovery; archiving. The Ministry of Culture of Haiti, the International Blue Shield Committee, and the Haitian National Committee of the Blue Shield are aware of the significance in archiving important documents when rebuilding a community. The leaders of these organizations understand that the foundation of a stable nation is built of libraries, recorded documents, history, and culture. With this consciousness in the forefront of their minds, on June 23rd 2010, the leaders of the Ministry of Culture of Haiti, the International Blue Shield Committee, and the Haitian National Committee of the Blue Shield signed an agreement to move forward with the “Ark” project; a rescue center for documents damaged by the earthquake.
The Ark’s processing center will run for approximately 2 years by foreign volunteers. The Ark will establish an archive to collect and maintain Haitian material, documents, and books in hopes to preserve the culture and heritage of Haiti. Haiti’s Ark project will provide the frame work and foundation for the Haitian society to build upon in the process of recovery.
The signage of the Ark agreement is an example of the importance in acknowledging all the various dynamics when trying to recover a nation. Haiti will never develop into its full potential, or even the country it once was, without preserving its history. Just as the biblical Noah built his Ark to preserve and better his nation, the Ark project will allow the country of Haiti to do the same.
Written by guest blogger- Enchanta Jackson
Tags: Blue Shield, Caribbean History, Haiti, Libraries, Preservation
Posted in Diaspora, History | No Comments »
April 5, 2010

Congressman Robert Smalls
April 5, 1839 -February 23, 1915
Upcoming and Recent Exhibitions
Penn Center - South Carolina
Museum of African American History - Boston, MA
Brooklyn Public Library - New York
Any take a sneak peek into his home, a historic landmark, in Beaufort
(from 2008)
Tags: African American history, Black Congressman, Black History, Civil War, Congressional History, Famous people, Robert Smalls, South Carolina
Posted in History, People, Robert Smalls | No Comments »
January 27, 2010
On Tuesday, February 9th (10:30am), Congressman Robert Smalls will be posthumously inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. It is free and open to the public. His portrait will hang in the gallery in the convention center lobby where the S.C. Hall of Fame is located.
The Confederation of S.C. Local Historical Societies selected Congressman Smalls for this honor. For the first time, the public was also allowed to place nominations.
Tags: Civil War, Congressman, Famous people, Hall of Fame, Robert Smalls, South Carolina
Posted in Awards, History, People, Robert Smalls | No Comments »
January 5, 2010
Michel Martin talks abt Eunice Johnson, Ebony Magazine
From NPR: Ebony Fashion Fair Producer and Director Eunice W. Johnson died this past weekend. She was 93. Johnson, the widow of Johnson Publishing Company founder John H. Johnson, gave Ebony magazine its name. She was also the driving force behind the creation of the Fashion Fair makeup line, one of the first makeup lines for women of color. Host Michel Martin speaks with Washington Post Fashion Editor Robin Givhan for more on Johnson’s legacy
Posted in History, People | 1 Comment »
November 11, 2009
Support your local libraries - they provide excellent resources for you and your neighbors. If they don’t hear from you through your local representatives, they will close.
Reading is fundamental - DC Public Library
Image from Flickr
Posted in Contemporary, Miscellaneous | No Comments »