Looking Backward
Latest Post
The first card catalog?
In 1812, William Croswell, an “early nineteenth century eccentric“ – otherwise known for writing little-read, obscure books about astronomy, creating a well-received map of the stars (the first American star-map), and incurring debts to friends – was hired by Harvard to produce a new printed catalog for the library. The library contained about 20,000 books, … Continue reading
Older Posts
Photo via the Boston Public Library Flickr stream. A narrow alley, only six feet wide: hardly the sort of careful, modern road we’d lay downtown today. Once more, we take you back to the environs of Quincy Market, where you can walk the last traces of the city’s original street grid. The ‘Blackstone Block’ is … Continue reading
The Wakefield, MA Howard Johnson’s franchise opened June 14, 1936, at the head of Lake Quannapowitt. Photo via Digital Commonwealth. This holiday weekend, at the side of the road, you’ll find one McDonalds after another, Boston favorite Dunkin Donuts, that newfangled McCafe, but back at the dawn of the interstate, the dependable, ubiquitous chain restaurant … Continue reading
Photo: Deborah Parks, via US National Archives. Happy Flag Day! A classroom of second grade students pledge allegiance to the American flag at the Rockport Elementary School in the seaside town of Rockport, Massachusetts, adorably. More adorable. This photo was taken in Feburary of 1973 as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 1970s Documerica project. … Continue reading
