Yeah, what a dump. Right? Right?This month, I've been learning about immigration history in a seminar at the Library of Congress. The building, as you can see, is a marble freakout. Seriously, even the loos are made of huge panels of white marble.
I'm learning a lot, not least the arcane and labyrinthine search methods devised by LoC catalogers. For example, did you know that if you search for "Moonshining" you'll get nothing? If you want to know about moonshine, you'll need to search "Distilling - illicit."
Obviously, this is a method to ensure full employment for librarians. Another example? Sure. Search for "Bay of Pigs" and you get nothing. The words you need are "Cuba - history - invasion - 1961." I'm not kidding.
This all assumes that one can find the Reading Room, of course. Given the maze of subterranean tunnels, the hallways to nowhere, and the tendency of academics to think while walking (instead of paying attention), it's a miracle any of us made it out of the lobby. But, somehow, we have. And tomorrow I resume my work for the last week of frantic lectures, reading, syllabus-writing, and general larnin'.
Wish me luck.
4 comments:
YOu want to know about making moonshine? There's a possibility someone in my family could tell you about making whiskey...in the cellar of the potato house...and there was that time Grandaddy had to hide in the attic when the revenuers came looking for Uncle Meryl's still. Making and selling whiskey saved the family farm during the depression. Check out a book by Gene Logsdon on Demon Alcohol.
Anonymous
Luck luck luck.
Kill me, please?
Grandmother, I believe we have that book because your lovely daughter gave it to Charles as a gift.
Can you believe those search terms, though? Seriously.
@El Aguila: there's no rest for the wicked, dude.
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