December 2008
This month marks the last edition of the Cubberley & Shaw Maritime Museum News. We hope that you will continue the journey at our Web site: www.cubshaw.com as we explore the area’s rich maritime heritage and look at new ways to share that adventure with others.
We also suggest that you consider subscribing online to the many email newsletters from New England’s maritime museums:
The Custom House at New London has an excellent newsletter at:
nlmaritimedirector@gmail.com
Sign up for the Mystic Seaport Newsletter at:
http://mystic.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=Enewsletter_Signup
The Atlantic Challenge in Rockland Maine has a newsletter at:
http://www.atlanticchallenge.com/newsletter.shtm
The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath Maine has a newsletter. Sign up at:
http://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org/about/e_newsletters/
The Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk Maine publishes an on line newsletter. Check at:
http://www.brickstoremuseum.org/index.shtml
November 2008
This month we focus on a new maritime journal.
“Coriolis: the Interdisciplinary Journal of Maritime Studies is seeking English language scholarly manuscripts for publication in a new on-line, fully indexed journal published in conjunction with the National Maritime Digital Library, hosted at Mystic Seaport with support from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.
Named after the physical forces that drive global ocean currents and human activities on the seas, Coriolis welcomes studies in history, literature, art, music, archaeology, and environmental studies from researchers all over the world. Papers that explore interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged. Submitted manuscripts will be fully peer-reviewed by university faculty and researchers active in the manuscript's relevant field.”
Coriolis will launch in February of 2009 and can be found at: http://ijms.nmdl.org
For more information, contact Paul O'Pecko (paul.opecko@mysticseaport.org) or Andrew German, (andy.german@mysticseaport.org), Editors.
October 2008
This month we focus on the current offerings of the National Register of Historic Places and the other Federal databases that project our “American Memory” of maritime history. Pulling together all the different agencies and entities ranging from the Smithsonian to the Library of Congress, to the National Park Service is a daunting task. Keeping the information updated and accessible is a challenge. A good place to start is the NPS site:
http://www.nps.gov/history/
September 2008
This month we focus on the work of an important New England journalist and historian. Jon B. Johanson was born in New Bedford but settled on the coast of Maine. He has written extensively in area publications including Downeast Magazine, Maine Life, and Soundings. He is currently the publisher of the Maine Coastal News:
http://www.mainescoast.com/mcn/index.shtml
Johanson is also hard at work promoting another endeavor of import to maritime history. He wants to create the International Maritime Library that brings a wide variety of resources, current and historical, to the Web. To learn more about this effort go to:
http://www.internationalmaritimelibrary.org
August 2008
This month we focus on a new feature from the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. They have extended the following invitation to everyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating field.
“As part of our mission to share ethical underwater archaeological research with the general public we have created a group page on Facebook. We hope to reach a new audience through this medium by reaching out to groups who perhaps know little about what we do. Why are we telling you since you're already visiting the MUA?
Our Facebook group allows visitors to upload their own videos, photos, and links, discuss topics, and ask questions. So if you'd like to let people know about you and your work without doing a formal web post this could be a great option for you. An additional benefit is that through issuing invitations to your Facebook "friends" you can help spread the word about preserving submerged cultural resources.
To join our Facebook group you will need your own Facebook account. It's free and easy to join. Once you've done that just search groups for "Museum of Underwater Archaeology (MUA)" and click to join.
You'll be surprised by just how many folks you know who have already joined:”
http://www.facebook.com
July 2008
This month we focus on the premier site for lighthouse related information. Jeremy D'Entremont is perhaps the most know-ledgeable person on the history of lighthouses in New England. He is a talented photo-grapher. He is the editor/updater of the re-issued works of Edward Rowe Snow. He is an ardent supporter of maritime preservation. And he has a Web site!
“New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide” is the very best place to learn about the history, the stories, current affairs, and lighthouse events.
To begin your virtual tour just click on:
June 2008
This month we focus on the Steamship Historical Society of America web site. The SSHSA is dedicated “To Record, Preserve, and Disseminate the History of Engine Powered Vessels.” Headquartered in East Providence RI, the Society has chapters all across the country.
Of special note, “This year is very special as SSHSA launches its ‘Image Porthole’ containing an initial 40,000 or so pictures of ships, ports, and people that have been preserved and digitized. SSHSA Members will have the ability to interact with the database and help us identify these nearly lost and forgotten images.”
Please note, however, the Image Porthole is a work in progress. Most of images are provided without caption or comment. The SSHA is looking to its members to login and help identify the subjects of this large library.
To get a glimpse at the SSHSA scrapbook click on:
To learn more about the Steamship Historical Society of America go to:
April 2008
This month we focus on one of the basic tools for anyone interested in maritime history on the Web. Robert H. Smith’s revised link list is a great starting point for exploration of the real and virtual maritime museums in North America and beyond.
Bob has included two kinds of locator tools; a pull-down list of locales and a roll-over map. There is also a Bookstore section where you can order the printed “Maritime Museums of North America” and Smith’s fascinating monograph “Clinton’s Ditch: The Erie Canal – 1825.” The “About Us” page provides a brief biographical sketch of Smith and his work.
To save bookmarking hundreds of sites, just point to:
http://www.maritimemuseums.net/
March 2008
This month we revisit a Web site that we haven't seen in several years. We first encountered the Institute for Maritime History when it was based in Biddeford Maine. They were engaged in underwater exploration of the nineteenth century coastal schooner Annabella that went down off Cape Neddick on the Maine coast. Since then the organization has greatly expanded its scope of operations and relocated to Maryland.
The Web site offers a good overview of the Institute and its current projects as well as information about past efforts. Newsletters and reports are available for download as .PDF documents. To learn more visit:
http://www.maritimehistory.org/
February 2008
This month we focus on the Harvard Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments Web site. Three features in particular caught our attention.
The first item was the online availability of their Gallery guide as a .pdf document. Visitors planning a trip to the Gallery can scope out the items on display and the general themes of the exhibit area. Short essays by members of the Department for the History of Science provide an excellent introduction and a way for visitors think about and understand the items on view.
The second item is a built-in map of the entire campus and surrounding area. This map is specifically designed to help visitors get around and it avoids some of the “pitfalls” of general-purpose way-finding software.
The third item of interest is the introduction of “Waywiser,” an online searchable database of objects from the Collection. Although the entire Collection is not yet accessible online, the items that are viewable are quite impressive. Each object includes basic information about the provenance, use and physical characteristics. Visitors can even assemble a personal “collection” of items that they store for later retrieval and study.
To make your virtual trip to Harvard just click on:
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hsdept/chsi.html