University of Nebraska Press

This Week in History: August 11-15, 2008

The Summer Olympics are officially in fully swing and excitement doesn’t seem to be in short supply. The United States is off to a great start; only China has won more gold medals at this point, but the U.S. isn’t behind by much. Another competition that is heating up is the presidential election. The race seems to be getting more and more media coverage everyday; it has become such a media frenzy that even Paris Hilton is using the election as a way to get publicity! The race to the White House couldn’t be between more different people; it will be interesting to see who will emerge victorious. Well, enough about politics and the Olympics, let’s look back and see what was happening this week in history.

August 11, 1900: Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about the presidential nomination of William Jennings Bryan.
William Jennings Bryan is one of the most famous men to have come from Nebraska; he was a very successful man who accomplished a lot throughout his life, although he never did make it to the White House despite running for the office three different times. For those of you interested in Nebraska and its people, The Plain Sense of Things by Pamela Carter Joern would be a great book for you. Although the book is fiction, it is very representative of how real life was for families that lived in Nebraska when the state was still a wild frontier. 

August 12, 30 BC: Cleopatra commits suicide after her lover Mark Antony's defeat at the battle of Actium.
The story of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is one of the most famous love stories of all time. For all you romantics out there, Valentines, by former poet laureate Ted Kooser, should be able to help feed your need for love. Kooser started writing poems to the women in his life back in 1986, and his Valentine’s Day tradition persisted for over twenty-one years! Valentines is the collection of the valentines/poems he sent, and the collection is sure to put butterflies in your stomach.

August 13, 1918: Women enlist in the United States Marine Corps for the first time. Opha Mae Johnson is the first woman to enlist.
Women have come a long way since 1918.  If you think about it, women weren’t even allowed to vote in 1918! Well, women have made a lot of progress; nevertheless, women are still doing a lot of firsts, even today. In Pacific Lady, Sharon Sites Adams with the help of Karen J. Coates shares her experience of being the first woman to sail solo from mainland United States to Hawaii in 1965. This is a great book for anyone who loves reading about adventure!

August 14, 1901: The first claimed powered flight, by Gustave Whitehead in his Number 21.
This supposed flight by Gustave Whitehead happened two years before the Wright brothers made their place in history by flying. Many people, however, doubt Whitehead’s reliability and contest if the flight actually even happened. Regardless, Whitehead and several witnesses claimed his plane, Number 21, flew off the ground for 200 feet or so on this day. Today aviation is a part of our everyday lives, but flying can still be dangerous business. In his book, Hard Air, W. Scott Olsen explores extraordinary flying, and gives readers an inside look into extreme flying situations such as flying into a hurricane. Check this book out if you want to see into a world that usually only a few will ever know.

August 15, 1769: Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the France is born.
Napoleon Bonaparte is probably one of the most famous military leaders of all time. Many people don’t realize that Native Americans had many great military leaders too that were just as brilliant and brave as some of the European leaders. One of the most famous Native American leaders was Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux. Author Mari Sandoz explores the life and legacy of this great leader in her book Crazy Horse. It is a must for those interested in Native American studies and military endeavors.

This Week in History: August 4-8, 2008

This Week in History: August 4 - 8, 2008
Well, August is officially here, and let me tell you we are sure feeling the heat here in Nebraska!  Hopefully the weather in China is a little milder because this week the summer Olympics officially begin in Beijing where over 10,000 athletes from around the world will be competing. It seems like the Olympics get bigger and bigger all the time! Did you know that even though the Olympics can be traced back to ancient Greece the modern Olympics didn’t begin until 1859? Just a little fun fact I thought I’d share. Here are some more fun facts about what was happening this week in history.

August 4, 1693: Date traditionally ascribed to Dom Perignon's invention of champagne.
Nothing symbolizes celebration quite the way a bottle of champagne does!  However, it is unlikely that champagne will ever be able to compare to the popularity of its ancient counter-part: wine. If you are a self-proclaimed wino or just like learning about wine, you should be on the lookout for Corkscrewed where author Robert V. Camuto takes his readers on an incredible journey through France’s wine country. 

   
August 5, 1962: American actress Marilyn Monroe is found dead at the age of 36 from a drug overdose in her Hollywood home. As most of us know one of Monroe’s claims to fame was her marriage to legendary baseball player Joe DiMaggio. Their marriage was highly publicized and quite dramatic.  For those of you wanting to dig into a little more baseball drama check out Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball. 

August 6, 1965: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law.  The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was made to help eliminate discriminatory voting practices that were being used towards blacks and other minorities in an effort to discourage them from casting their votes; the Act is seen as a landmark in the Civil Rights Movement. Pieces from Life’s Crazy Quilt is a riveting novel/memoir that retells of a time when racial turbulence was still a major part of life for African Americans in this country.

August 7, 1945: President Harry Truman announces the bombing of Hiroshima with an atomic bomb while returning from the Potsdam Conference aboard the heavy cruiser USS Augusta (CA-31) in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.The dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan can (unofficially) be seen as the beginning of the Cold War, one of the most panicked times in American history.  In his book, Wildfire and Americans, Roger Kennedy brilliantly explores the “untold history” of the Cold War, and for you political history buffs out there, this one is a must! 

August 8, 1794: Joseph Whidbey and George Vancouver lead an expedition to search for the Northwest Passage near Juneau, Alaska.
Even today, Alaska seems to be a place shrouded in mystery.  It’s so extraordinary that people were exploring this northern wilderness in 1794!  Authentic Alaska is a great way to start exploring this isolated land for yourself while in the comfort of your own home. This book is an amazing way to learn about America’s last frontier and its people. 

This Week in History: July 28 - August 1

This Week in History: July 28-August 1, 2008

This week we say farewell to the month of July.  How does time go by so fast?  Before you know it we will be rushing around trying to get ready for Christmas again!  Well, the good news is that football season is only a month away and we still have some time to enjoy the extreme heat before the extreme cold sets in. But, before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s look back at what was happening this week in history.

July 28, 1994: Baseball pitcher Kenny Rogers of the Texas Rangers throws a perfect game.
As all baseball fans know, throwing a perfect game is no small feat, especially at the professional level. Maybe a few of you out there were lucky enough to watch as Rogers in his moment of glory. That’s why television is so great; it allows us to witness great moments such as Rogers.   Where would baseball be without television?  If you’ve ever pondered this question yourself, you should check out Center Field Shot by James R. Walker and Robert V. Bellamy Jr. which explores television’s impact on the game.

July 29 1958: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Space travel is an extraordinary subject and for those of you interested in learning more about outer space and humanity’s struggle to get there, should check out Chris Gainor’s To a Distant Day or David Hitt, Owen Garriott, and Joe Kerwin’s Homesteading Space.  Explore what it really took for us to reach the final frontier.

July 30, 1930: In Montevideo, Uruguay wins the first World Cup.
Although soccer isn’t huge in the United States, the sports impact around the world can’t be denied.  To help you better understand the way soccer has influenced the world, be on the lookout for The Global Game (which will be coming soon).  This fantastic book is a collection of numerous works written by authors from around the world about this popular sport.  The Global Game editors are John Turnbull, Thom Satterlee, and Alon Raab.

July 31, 1498: On his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to discover the island of Trinidad.
Exploration has long been a fascination of human beings because we are always trying to discover the unknown. Unfortunately, for most of us living today, exploration into the unknown is limited to the deep sea and space.  However, even if you can’t be a deep sea diver or an astronaut, you can still explore, and a place that might be of interest to you is Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail which is an old railroad turned tourist destination.  Luckily, if you ever want to venture on this trail Keith Terry has written a user’s guide appropriately titled Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail. 

August 1, 1936: Olympic Games: Summer Olympic Games - The Games of the XI Olympiad open in Berlin.
With the Olympics just around the corner, this seemed like a good event to include in this week’s history.  I don’t know about any of you, but one of my favorite events in the summer Olympics is field and track even though I myself am not an avid runner.  If any of you want to learn more about runners and their passion, be on the look out for Personal Record by Rachel Toor, where Toor gives us a inside look into the world of running.   

This Week in History: July 21-25, 2008

Well bloggers, it’s been awhile. You try and try, but sometimes life (or in this case summer classes) just gets in the way.  What’s important though, is that we’re together again and that even though we haven’t seen each other, history has prevailed. This week we’ve got everything from Jesse James to Praibha Patil, and a little Italian fascism just for fun.  Ready to pick up where we left off?

July 21, 1873: Jesse James and the James-Younger gang attempted and succeeded in pulling off the first successful train robbery in the American West.

Well I think it’s safe to say that Jesse James was a rebel of sorts (rebel, robber, murderer…you know) but if you’re interested in another kind of “bad boy” then please check out REBEL: The Life and Times of John Singleton Mosby by Kevin H. Siepel, which chronicles the life of this bipartisan Commander.

July 22, 1882: American Painter Edward Hopper was born today.
If you fancy yourself an art connoisseur   then please take a look at Beyond Madness: The Art of Ralph Blakelock by Norman A. Geske.

July 23, 1929: Fascist Italy bans the use of foreign words.
In the wake of a burgeoning bilingual culture, Americans are well versed in the foreign word controversy. If you find that you’re an advocate of words, regardless of their origin, then you may enjoy the book of poetry Modern Archaist by Osip Mandelstam.

July 24, 1783: Simon Bolivar, the South American liberator is born today.
There is so much to South American culture, the politics, literature, food, entertainment and sports. If the latter is what really appeals to you the please take a look at Venezualen Bust Baseball Boom: Andres Reiner scouting on the New Frontier by Milton H. Jamil.

July 25, 2007: Pratihba Patil is sworn in as the first women president in India.
The position of women in politics has risen considerably in the past 50 years. For a look at Lincolns first female mayor please take a look at Mayor Helen Boosalis: My Mother’s Life in Politics by Beth Boosalis Davis.

Ok, bloggers that’s enough history for today check out the UNP website for more titles.  Join us next week for a little Trivia and a few Links!

This Week in History: June 23-27, 2008

Well bloggers, it’s about that time again. Yep, it’s This Week in History! We’ve got the Battle of Okinawa, the Angora Fire, and Veronica Guerin.  Care to stick around?  I think we’ve got quite a week in front of us…..

June 23, 1945: The Battle of Okinawa ends when the Imperial Japanese Army forces fall apart on Mabuni.
The Battle of Okinawa was significant to WWII, as it was just weeks before the atomic bombings.

If you’re interested in this region of the world, wars aside, than please check out Genealogies of Orientalism: History, Theory, Politics, by Edmund Burke III for a close look.

June 24, 2007: Angora Fire starts near South Lake Tahoe, California destroying over two hundred buildings in the first two days alone.

Wildfire and Americans, by Roger G. Kennedy, is an appeal on behalf of the author to begin looking at natural disasters as possessing more of a human origination. How do we contribute as humans to the new face of wildfire?

June 25, 1966: Congolese basketball star, Dikembe Mutombo is born.

Mutombo won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award four times, and when he was 40 he was the oldest player in the league. To get a closer look on the modern African American basketball player please take a look at Young, Black, Rich, and Famous, by Todd Boyd.

June 26, 1996: Irish Journalist, Veronica Guerin, is shot in her car by drug dealers.

Guerin’s tireless fight against drug dealers in Ireland, ended up in her death, but left a significant mark on the Irish Parliament’s determent and punishment of criminals.  For another book about significant women in history please take a look at Give Me Eighty Men, by Shannon D. Smith

June 27, 1962: Paul Viding, Estonian poet dies today.

Viding was a significant writer who’s work had known influences of T.S. Eliot in it. If poetry is your thing, than you may be interested in Modern Archaist: Selected Poems by Osip Mandelstam  written by Osip Mandelstam.

Ok bloggers, you can find all these books and more at the University of Nebraska Press website. Please join us Tuesday for some more Trivia!

This Week in History: June 2-6, 2008

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY:  June 2-6, 2008

Ok, bloggers this is a big week. First off it’s “This Week in History” (requisite applause here…),  second as of yesterday Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination making him the first Black nominee, and thirdly it’s…. the first week of June? Well, I may have peaked at Obama, but all the same this could end up being a great week, lets go ahead and see….

June 2, 1692: Bridget Bishop is the first person to go to trial in the Salem Witch Trials in Salem Massachusetts.  She is found guilty and was then hanged on June 10.

Atrocities on Trial, by Patricia Heberer and Jurgen Matthaus  is a great new book taking a sharp look at criminal trials throughout history, including the infamous Nuremberg trials. Any person with an interest in the history of law and what constitutes a war crime should check it out.

June 3, 2008: President Barack Obama officially accepted the nomination for the Democratic Party. This makes him the first African American to do so, and regardless of political party I think this is something we can all celebrate.

For another book on  progressive movements in the political arena, please check out Mayor Helen Boosalis, by Beth Boosalis Davis. This inspiring story is about the first woman to become Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska.

June 4, 1919: Congress approves the 19th amendment which guarantees suffrage to women everywhere.

Women may have been granted suffrage, but the plight of young girls is still in the works.
To see how this is playing out in some native communities and what is being done first hand; check out Empowerment of North American Indian Girls by Carol A. Markstrom.

June 5, 1851: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic Uncle Toms Cabin, starts its 10 month run in the National Era, an abolitionist newspaper.

For a first hand look at how this amazing struggle would continue, please read Marvin V. Arnett's book,  Pieces from Life’s Crazy Quilt, about growing up in Detroit during the heart  of the civil rights movement.

June 6, 1986: A 52 year old man in Auburn Washington dies after taking an Excedrin laced with cyanide.

Speaking of poison…..A Strange and Formidable Weapon, by Marion Girard, is about the advent of poison gas during World War I. The use of this gas would have affects on all aspects of British society, those foreseen and unforeseen.

Well, bloggers thanks for joining us for another installment of TWIH, see you again Tuesday for a little trivia!

This Week in History: May 26-30, 2008

Well bloggers, it’s about that time again, yep, This Week in History! Children’s stories, the holocaust, and we’ll catch back up with our favorite womanizer King Henry VIII. And now for the events…..

May 26, 1830: The Indian Removal Act is passes by Congress.

The Indian Removal Act suggested (strongly) that many Native Americans surrender their land. For a closer, more autobiographical look at the Native community today, please check out American Indian Autobiography by H. David Brumble III.

May 27, 1933: Walt Disney releases the Three Little Pigs, featuring the hit song “Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Wolf”

If kiddie tales is your idea of quality literature (and to all those with young children, then I understand that it may be…) then please check out the best UNP has to offer with Twinkle Tales by L. Frank Baum, renowned author of The Wizard of Oz.

May 28, 1952: The women of Greece are given the right to vote.

The independence of women has long been a hot issue, and reading Eight Women, Two Model T’s, and the American West, by Joanne Wilke is a perfect way to celebrate it.

May 29, 1940: The first prisoners arrive at a new concentration camp called Auschwitz.

The Holocaust is an appalling time in our history, yet there were moments of true goodness going on amidst it. Good Neighbors, Bad Times by Mimi Schwartz, chronicling the good deeds done by one village, may shed some light on this dark story.

May 30, 1536: King Henry VIII marries Jane Seymour preceding this execution of Anne Boleyn.

Oh, will his antics never end! King Henry VIII may be famous for falling in love (also for being crazy, ruthless, and violent), but having 8 wives and executing two of them has never made for an ideal man. If romance happens to be up your alley, then may I introduce Mr. Ted Kooser and his book of poetry, Valentines. Read it, and even a King won’t be able to hold a candle to him.

Well, bloggers thanks for checking us out! See you next week for Tuesday Trivia.

This Week in History: May 19-22, 2008

    From the death of Anne Boleyn, notorious throne chaser, to the  death of Clyde Barrow, notorious gangster, this has been quite a week in our history.  Have you seen the new movie The Other Boleyn girl? If so, then maybe you’ll agree that it makes you wonder what was going on behind the scenes in our histories biggest moments. Unfortunately for us This Week in History only provides the dates, but we can at least start there….

May 19, 1536: Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England is beheaded for adultery.
If high crime gets you going, then check out Atrocities on Trial, by Patricia Heberer and Jurgen Matthaus and see what constitutes a war crime, and how modern day courts deal with them.

May 20, 1932: Amelia Earhart takes off at Newfoundland to be the first woman ever to make a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
There is nothing like flying, is there? Well, for me there are plenty of other things to occupy my interest, but I’m not much of a thrill seeker. If you happen to be, then please check out Hard Air by W. Scott Olsen and see what flying adventures really look like!

May 21, 1951: Today the famous  9th Street Art Exhibition in New York opened, paving the way for artists everywhere to realize the legitimacy of their endeavors.
If art interests you, then you’ve come to the right spot. Just check out the entirety of the University of Nebraska Press website and see all we have to offer!

May 22, 2004: The entire city of Hallam, Nebraska was wiped out by a F4 tornado 2.5 miles wide.
This tragedy only reinforces the danger nature can inflict. If, despite this you still happen to be a fan then check out either Bicycling beyond the Divide by Daryl Farmer or Kayaking Alone by Mike Barenti to satisfy your craving.

May 23, 1951: Notorious Gangster Clyde Barrow was born today.
If you happen to be a fan of the name Barrow (and why wouldn’t you be, it just rolls right off the tongue) then check out another famous Barrow with Ed Barrow: The Bulldog who built the yankee’s First Dynasty by Daniel R. Levitt.

That’s it for this installment of This Week in History, join us next week for Tuesday Trivia. Have a great weekend bloggers!

This Week in History: May 12-16, 2008

Space, and Cowboys and, pioneers, Oh my! This weeks installment of TWIH is guaranteed to make you smile, laugh, cringe a bit (Ooh,  the Donner party) and perhaps make you cry as we remember the Virginia Tech shooting done this week, last year. Yet we all know the cathartic power of emotional upheaval, so if you’re ready to start this sentimental soirée we can begin…

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY:

April 12, 1961: Yuri Gagarin was the first human to travel into outer space in the Vostok 3JA-2.
Are you a space enthusiast?  I’m more of a stare at the big dipper kind of girl, but even I was swept away by the tales of mankind’s attempts to leave earth behind.  If this interests you at all, check out To a Distant Day: The Rocket Pioneers by Chris Gainor. 

April 13, 1866: American Outlaw Butch Cassidy was born.
There is no greater American hero than the cowboy. Good or bad, history has immortalized them in film and fiction. Curious as to what a modern day cowboy is busy doing? If so, than check out the Nebraska Cowboy Trail by Keith Terry and see if you have what it takes to well….. not follow in the footsteps of Butch Cassidy.  Maybe try The Lone Ranger?

April 14, 1846: The Donner Party of pioneers departs from Springfield, Illinois for California on their infamous year long journey.
Sustainable agriculture has been a huge issue in our modern day. The decline of family farms, rural communities and even the onslaught of Global Warming have resulted in adverse poverty all over the world. So by taking a look at the Donner Party, and their unfortunate demise, let’s see how we can avoid all manners of desperate acts by checking out Crisis and Opportunity by John E. Ikerd.

April 15, 1912: “God himself couldn’t sink this ship.”  Or could he….The RMS Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg.
Read about another tragic arctic experience with Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition to Antarctic. The journey that ended with the death of him and his entire crew has many similar themes as the Titanic; such as unfortunate circumstance, or faulty planning? Find out more when you check out  Pilgrims on the Ice, by T.H. Baughman

April 16, 2007: Last year Seung- Hui Cho killed 32 people in deadliest shooting by a single gunman in all of U.S. History.
There is no link to the University of Nebraska Press for this event, all that we ask is a simple recognition for the lives lost, and the lives changed. To read a transcript of Professor Nikki Giovanni moving speech “We are Virginia Tech” then click here.

That’s it for today bloggers, we’ll see you next week for reviews, a little Tuesday Trivia, some Linking in Lincoln, and another escape into the past with This Week in History!!

This Week in History: April 13-18, 2008

Tax season is officially behind us and we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Did you know that the United States began taxing income in 1862 to help support the Civil War effort? However, it wasn’t made a permanent part of our tax system until 1913 when Congress passed the 16th Amendment. Hungry for more historical morsels? If so, you visited our blog on the right day of the week because it’s time for another installment of…

This Week in History

April 13, 1954: Hank Aaron made his major league debut with the Milwaukee Braves.
Attention all baseball enthusiasts! Don’t miss Center Field Shot: A History of Baseball on Television by James R. Walker and Robert V. Bellamy. This blend of baseball history and media studies examines the sometimes contentious but mutually beneficial relationship between baseball and television, from the first televised game in 1939 to the new era of Internet broadcasts, satellite radio, and high-definition TV.

April 14, 2002: Just two days after being removed from office and arrested by the Venezuelan military, Hugo Chavez returned to office as president.
Those interested in Venezuelan history and culture will want to pick up a copy of Venezuelan Bust, Baseball Boom: Andrés Reiner and Scouting on the New Frontier by Milton H. Jamail. Though Venezuela is sandwiched between two soccer-mad countries—Brazil and Colombia—baseball is its national pastime and passion. Yet until the late 1980s few professional teams actively scouted and developed players there. This book is about the man who changed all that and brought Venezuela into Major League Baseball in a major way.

April 15, 1980: Jean-Paul Sartre, the famed existentialist philosopher, died in Paris, France.
Philosophy fanatics—have you perused the fine selection of University of Nebraska Press philosophy titles? You haven’t???  I Kant believe it! Click here for the full list.

April 16, 1912: Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across the English Channel.
For stories of other aeronautical adventurers, check out W. Scott Olsen’s Hard Air: Adventures from the Edge of Flying.

April 17, 1951: Mickey Mantle made his major league debut with the New York Yankees.
Yes, more baseball. But, hey, it’s that time of year! Yankees fans who haven’t snagged a copy of Ed Barrow: The Bulldog Who Built the Yankees’ First Dynasty by Daniel R. Levitt will definitely want to check out this intriguing baseball biography about the Yankees general manager who transformed the team from a pennant-less enterprise into the winning organization we know today.

April 18, 2004: Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain, withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq.
Interested in Spain? How about Spanish history and art? If so, you’ll find ample intellectual fodder in Spain in the Age of Exploration, 1492-1819, edited and with an introduction by Chiyo Ishikawa. This publication accompanies an exhibition of approximately 120 works of art and science loaned mostly from the Royal Collection of Spain (Patrimonio Nacional) to the Seattle Art Museum.

That’s enough history for one week. Be sure to join us again on Monday for reviews and other news!