Nantucket Atheneum Podcast

“How Much Can You Change What You Are, To Preserve What You Have Been?”Sit back, open your mind, and get ready for ... Japan-Nantucket (Rashomon)In this season of the podcast, we will explore one aspect of the “Nantucket diaspora” by tracing three journeys:Islanders who built careers commanding Japanese-owned steamships and resided in Japan for decades. While they tried to maintain their former lives in western enclaves, their brief return visits to the Island revealed how different they had become. Three young Japanese girls making the reverse journey, from Japan to America. Not as immigrants, but students, mandated to return and help transform their once-closed nation into a modern industrial state. Like our Captains, the girls were changed by the experience and after their return struggled to remain  “Japanese” in a nation balance tradition against the existential need to become a global power.Americans who went to Japan not to make their fortune, but to acquire and preserve its material past before it was swept away by the modern age. They quickly discovered that the decision of what to acquire, and whose opinion to follow, altered the definition of what was  “authentic”. And their immersion in a culture they were just beginning to comprehend altered their sense of what was authentic in their own lives.Three books, will be our guideposts for these journeys:1.         Barons of the Sea, by Steven UIjifusa2.         Daughters of the Samurai, by Janice Namura3.         The Great Wave, by Steven BenfeyThis is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.      

In this final episode of Season 5, James picks up where we left off in Henry Clapp Jr.'s story. He begins holding court at Pfaff's Beer Hall where aspiring arts and writers vie for a seat at his table. This period is short lived, but it will become a huge part of Clapp's legacy.Sources and references:CLICK HERE to read Henry Clapp Jr.'s Obituary as printed in the Inquirer & Mirror on April 17, 1875Notes on Henry Clapp's epitaph written by his friends and colleagues: - The first lines are from a poem by William Winter- “Figaro” refers to Clapp's pen name.This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.It was hosted and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Reference Library Associate James Greider for his knowledge and research. If you have an idea for what we should talk about next, send us an email at jforest@nantucketatheneum.orgThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA. www.NantucketAtheneum.orgFacebook: @NantucketAtheneumInstagram: @NantucketAtheneum

In this episode, James picks up where we left off with Henry Clapp's return to Paris where experience a person transformation that turns  his world view on its head. With his new found lifestyle, he goes back to the use and eventually finds his way to New York City and rubs elbows with artists and actors and even advocates for the "free love" movement.Sources and references:CLICK HERE to read the full announcement for Clapp's “Paris As It Is” lecture series the Nantucket Weekly Mirror on March 25, 1854The episode image is by Frank Bellew is from the February 6, 1864 issue of Demorest's New York Illustrated News. This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.It was hosted and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Reference Library Associate James Greider for his knowledge and research. Newspaper announcement voiced by Andrew Cromartie. If you have an idea for what we should talk about next, send us an email at jforest@nantucketatheneum.orgThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA. www.NantucketAtheneum.orgFacebook: @NantucketAtheneumInstagram: @NantucketAtheneum 

The last three episodes of this season are dedicated to Henry Clapp, Jr., who was a writer, publisher and activists that moved in circles with William Loyd Garrison, Walt Whitman and other historical figure. He lived large and made a big splash wherever he went but has been mostly lost to history...Until now.In part one, James explains Clapp's early life and his foray into political activism where impressed some and angered others. Sources and references:CLICK HERE to read the full review of “The True Aim of Life”, Inquirer & Mirror, Dec. 18, 1841” CLICK HERE to see the map of Nantucket by William Coffin and published by Henry Clapp Sr. in 1834.This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.It was hosted and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Reference Library Associate James Greider for his knowledge and research. Newspaper announcement voiced by Andrew Cromartie. If you have an idea for what we should talk about next, send us an email at jforest@nantucketatheneum.orgThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA. www.NantucketAtheneum.orgFacebook: @NantucketAtheneumInstagram: @NantucketAtheneum 

In this episode, James describes the mid-19th century crazy of panoramas that tours the country and wowed audiences for a while before fading into the background, so to speak.Notes and References:Read the special notice for the Mammoth Panorama in the Inquired and Mirror on Monday, March 26, 1849 HERE.See photos and more information about the Gettysburg Cyclorama HERE.More on John Banvard from Atlas Obscura can be found HERE.In 1918, the New Bedford Whaling Museum acquired the Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage Round the World, created by artists Benjamin Russell and Caleb Purrington in 1848, and recently completed work on its preservation. Click here to watch a video of the panorama. This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.It was hosted and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Reference Library Associate James Greider for his knowledge and research. Newspaper announcement voiced by Andrew Cromartie. If you have an idea for what we should talk about next, send us an email at jforest@nantucketatheneum.orgThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA. www.NantucketAtheneum.orgFacebook: @NantucketAtheneumInstagram: @NantucketAtheneum 

In this episode, James and Janet discuss the impresarios who performed in Atheneum Hall and introduced islanders to the world of magic and illusion.  Resources and additional information: Woodcut images from Yankee Hill's book Scenes from the Life of an Actor (1853). http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6q8FgL3eAA/RrsXpR3WdxI/AAAAAAAAAG8/9TaIPNb2UOg/s1600-h/hiramdodgeyankeepeddler.gifhttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6q8FgL3eAA/RrsXph3WdyI/AAAAAAAAAHE/_83I2-tJdxY/s1600-h/jedidiahhomebredgreenmountainboy.gifhttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6q8FgL3eAA/RrsXph3WdzI/AAAAAAAAAHM/u_f83eUs4jM/s1600-h/nathantuckerwifeforaday.gifWoodcut images of Dr. Valentine's Comic MetamorphosesClick here for photos.Portraits of Signor BlitzClick here for photos.Advertisement for Signor Blitz's performance at Atheneum Hall, which appeared in the April 14, 1840 issue of The Islander.Click here to see ad.Andrew MacAllister in his elaborate stage costumes.Click here for photos. This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.It was hosted and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Reference Library Associate James Greider for his knowledge and research. Newspaper announcement voiced by Andrew Cromartie.If you have an idea for what we should talk about next, send us an email at jforest@nantucketatheneum.orgThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA. www.NantucketAtheneum.orgFacebook: @NantucketAtheneumInstagram: @NantucketAtheneum 

James talks about the Lyceum Movement that started with local speakers and then evolved into a speaking circuit that includes great orators including Mark Twain, Frederick Douglass and Ralph Waldo Emerson.Notes and References:Announcement for the Lyceum in the Nantucket Weekly Mirror on Saturday, April 17, 1852This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.It was hosted and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Reference Library Associate James Greider for his knowledge and research. Newspaper announcement voiced by Andrew Cromartie. If you have an idea for what we should talk about next, send us an email at jforest@nantucketatheneum.orgThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA. www.NantucketAtheneum.orgFacebook: @NantucketAtheneumInstagram: @NantucketAtheneum  

James tells Janet about the family singing groups that dazzled the Atheneum audiences will their close harmonies and impressive musical talents. These 19th century "rock stars" toured the country sharing their music and their political messages. Find out what made them such an attraction and what were the values they were promoting through song.References and Resources:Videos of Harp Singing/Shape Singing"Sacred Harp Singing," the musical background for American music"The Old Granite State," anthem of the HutchinsonsPhoto of the Hutchinson Family Singers. c. 1845Announcement for the Aeolians Performance, which appears in the Inquirer and Mirror on June 24, 1843Billed as the “Cumbrian (Welsh) Infants,” an engraving from the September 18, 1841 edition of the Inquirer and Mirror shows the three younger siblings playing violin, concertina, and harp. Margaret and John Arthur are standing on tables, while their older brother David Edward stands in the center looking directly at the viewer. Hutchinson Family founds Hutchinson, MN:Judson, John, and Asa continued touring as a trio after their sister married, venturing into the midwestern states. In November 1855, the three brothers founded the town of Hutchinson, MN. It forbade liquor, bowling alleys, and gambling of all types, and granted that women “shall enjoy equal rights with men and shall have the privilege of voting in all matters not restricted by law.”In 1942, muralist Elsa Jemne completed an egg tempera on plaster mural, The Hutchinson Singers, in the town's post office. Still there, post office murals were a thing and part of the New Deal. (That's for another podcast…)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_post_office_murals This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.It was hosted and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Reference Library Associate James Greider for his knowledge and research. Newspaper announcement voiced by Andrew Cromartie. If you have an idea for what we should talk about next, send us an email at jforest@nantucketatheneum.orgThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA. www.NantucketAtheneum.orgFacebook: @NantucketAtheneumInstagram: @NantucketAtheneum 

The stage of the Great Hall has been a treasured feature of the Nantucket Atheneum since its founding nearly 200 years ago.In this season of the podcast, Reference Library Associate James Grieder introduces you to the lesser known performers, speakers and guests that took to the stage in "Atheneum Hall." Find out what drew them to the shores of Nantucket and how they were received by islanders.

In this Bonus Episode, Jim and Janet take closer look on the themes that run through the story of the Bonds and the Mitchells and dive a little deeper into topics that were just touched upon in the regular season, such as the history of solar noon and why longitude was such a tough nut to crack.Credits:This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. Written, edited and narrated by Janet Forest Special thanks to the Atheneum's Reference Library Associate Jim BorzilleriMore about EraosthenesTwo centuries after Aristotle, an Egyptian mathematician and astronomer, named Eraosthenes, (Aira-Tass-Ta-Knees), became head of the Library of Alexandra. This was a winning combination of skills: besides having access to the scientific works in the library, his training enabled him to identify key information as new material arrived. One day he received a letter from a colleague in Syene, a city directly to the south, and whose distance from Alexandria had been measured. The letter said that on a certain day of the year, at solar noon the sun not only on the east-west meridian, but also north-south meridian. It was directly overhead, and the shadows had no angle. (Mathematically the angle of the shadows was 0 degrees) On the same date the following year, at solar noon, Eraosthenes measured the angle of the shadows cast at Alexandra and, using trigonometry and the information from the letter, calculated the earth's circumstance. Even though some of his information was inaccurate, the calculation was only off by 15 per cent.With the size of the earth established, if you measured the angle of the sun at your location at solar noon, and you also knew the latitude where the sun was on the north-south meridian that day, you could determine your latitude even at sea. Experienced sailors had long done this to estimate their position on familiar routes, but now it could be precisely calculated in unfamiliar waters. Eraosthenes is also credited with inventing a coordinate system – forerunner of the today's latitude and longitude – to create a map of the known world, again using the Library's resources, that was said to show the location of over 400 cities. Over the centuries his techniques and coordinate systems were refined by many others, slowly increasing their precision. Latitude coordinates were eventually fixed, with the equator set to zero degrees, reaching to ninety degrees at the North and South poles. Mathematicians and astronomers computed table of the sun's latitude for every day of the year. Similar tables were computed for other celestial bodies. After completing the necessary angular observations, mariners used these tables to determine their latitude (knowledge of geometry and trig was also very helpful).

In this final episode of Season 4, we conclude our story with Maria Mitchell and Sarah Bond and how they navigated and overcame the expectations of their time. Jascin and Jim talk about the lasting impact their careers had and contemplate what has changed and what has not.Credits:This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. Written, edited and narrated by Janet Forest Special thanks to the Atheneum's Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri and Historian and Deputy Director of the Maria Mitchell Association Jascin Leonardo Finger for their research and insights. The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA.You can visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

Following the furious writing campaign, Maria Mitchell is finally awarded the Gold Medal from the King of Denmark for discovering a comet. Now with the help of President Edward Everett of Harvard College and Alexander Dallas Bache of the US Coast Survey, the whole world is about to learn Maria's name. In this episode, Jascin and Jim discuss what doors the comet discovery opens for Maria and the people she would meet along the way. Credits:This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. Written, edited and narrated by Janet Forest Special thanks to the Atheneum's Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri and Historian and Deputy Director of the Maria Mitchell Association Jascin Leonardo Finger for their research and insights.Resources and additional information:• Maria Mitchell traveled to Europe twice. First in 1857 and again in 1873. She remained in contact through letters with the people she met even if she never saw them in person again.• When the Nautical Almanac was proposed, Alexander Dallas Bache, Charles Henry Davis, and their colleagues wanted to use an American Prime Meridian in the calculations, but once again ran into resistance against a “National Observatory”.  The issue was escalated to Congress, and the House Committee on Naval Affairs, and the “compromise” was that Washington D.C. would be used as the Prime Meridian for astronomy and geography, while Greenwich (The Royal Observatory) was used as the Prime Meridian for navigation. • To learn more about the Marvelous Miss Harriet Martineau (the original influencer!), check out Season 2, Episode 6. • Find more about Harriet Hosmer and her work here:https://nmwa.org/art/artists/harriet-goodhue-hosmer/https://americanart.si.edu/artist/harriet-hosmer-2314 The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA.You can visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

This week we revisit Season 2, Episode 7 featuring  Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri and Historian and Librarian Betsy Tyler, where they discuss the amazing feat of creating the 1900 card catalogue with a cutting edge device called a typewriter and the newly publish method called the Dewey Decimal System. They also discuss Maria Mitchell's and Sarah Bond's involvement in the library's collection.References and more information:Check out Betsy's book The Nantucket Atheneum: A History,  and her latest book A Thousand Leagues of Blue.The Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri. Voice of Clara Parker by Sammy Aguiar.The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

The Mitchells and the Bonds are following a parallel track of discovery and success, but in the late 1850s, their fortunes diverge. As the Mitchells experience success and longevity, the Bonds face one upset after another. The term “Black Swan” refers to an event which was unexpected, previously unimaginable, and had lasting consequences. The Bonds would face three black swans inside a decade on top of a series of tragedies that were just a matter of life in the 1800s. The greatness of the challenge is matched and surpassed by their resilience and focus. This is a dark episode but stick around until the end to find out how it all turns out.  Credits:This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. Written, edited and narrated by Janet Forest Special thanks to the Atheneum's Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri for his research and insights.Resources and additional information:•Two letters from George Bond to Richard and Sarah indicating Sarah's mechanical and mathematical abilities.George to Richard – October 14, 1864George to Sarah (Sally) – October 30, 1864 • The unabridged letter Sarah Bond sent to the Third Women's Conference in 1875, which was presided over by Maria Mitchell."Potential Employments Open to Women" by S. A. C. Bond• Listen to Episode 7 of Season 2 "How Dewey Catalogue These Books" to learn more about what it took for Sarah Bond to re-catalogue the collection according to the new Dewey Decimal System. The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA.You can visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org  

If you do a Google image search for Maria Mitchell, one of the top results will be a portrait of her elegantly dressed, seated, and looking though a telescope. This image romanticizes and perpetuates the story of Maria as a lone astronomer on a distant island discovering a comet and being the first woman awarded the gold medal from the King of Denmark. But like most success stories, it's not nearly that simple.Credits:This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. Written, edited and narrated by Janet Forest Special thanks to the Atheneum's Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri and Historian and Deputy Director of the Maria Mitchell Association Jascin Leonardo Finger for their research and insights.Voice of Alexander Dallas Bache performed by Andrew Cromartie.Resources and additional information:•Click HERE for an image of the Bonds' American Method Device. Source: Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, Department of the History of Science, Harvard University• More on the fraying of the relationship between the Bonds and the US Coast Survey (USCS)The 1851 Exhibition marked a turning point in Bache's relationship with the Bonds. Bache had previously considered the Bonds as overly compliant towards Airy and the Liverpool Observatory during their longitude work for the USCS, and now he quietly began looking for an alternative to the Harvard College Observatory (HCO).  The situation worsened when George Bond got into a scientific fight with several of Bache's allies around 1854; a few had Harvard and USCS/Nautical Almanac connections, and almost all were part of the "Lazzaroni" group headed by Prof. Agassiz at Harvard.  When the Lazzaroni pushed the creation of the National Academy of Sciences in early 1863, George Bond was conspicuously excluded.That said, most of Bache's attempts to cut out the Bonds ended in failure. HCO and Bond & Sons kept innovating and improving their products, and the HCO continued to be a significant "default" latitude point for North America.   It was only ten years later, with the start of the Civil War, that Bache finally succeeded. Matthew Maury, the head of the US Naval Observatory joined the Confederacy, and a Bache ally took over the USNO. The Nautical Almanac moved to Washington, and coastal survey work ended, leaving the HCO isolated and underfunded. Most of the HCO's assistants enlisted for the Union, and George Bond, now widowed and working almost alone, gave up coffee and newspapers to help cut costs. The HCO was still doing important work and was critical to the success of Bond & Sons, but the center of gravity had shifted to the latter, now run by Richard Bond and John Clinch. The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA.You can visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org 

William Mitchell and William Bond were both part of a network of scientific minds, where they shared discoveries and innovation. For both men, this was a family endeavor. Both were teaching and training their children and bringing them into their astronomical and mechanical pursuits. In this episode, we hear about their remarkable children coming into their own on the world stage. Credits:This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. Written, edited and narrated by Janet Forest Special thanks to the Atheneum's Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri and Historian and Deputy Director of the Maria Mitchell Association Jascin Leonardo Finger for their research and insights.Resources and additional information:• The US Coast Survey was first established in 1807 at direction of President Thomas Jefferson, but it would find its stride under the leadership of Superintendent Alexander Dallas Bache. https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/about/history-of-coast-survey.html The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA.You can visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

In this season of the podcast, we are going to take a closer look at two families, the Bonds and the Mitchells, and the immeasurable impact they had on our world today. We'll dive into their personal struggles, the politics and controversies that hindered and helped their work, and we'll even do a bit of 19th century name dropping. But before we get into the juicy details, we need to rewind the clock back to the early 1800s when time was relative and relatively irrelevant.We're going to get a bit technical in this episode, but bear with us. It's important to understand the technology that was available at the time, so you can appreciate the colossal advancements the Bonds and the Mitchells made. Credits:This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. Written, edited and narrated by Janet Forest Special thanks to the Atheneum's Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri and Historian and Deputy Director of the Maria Mitchell Association Jascin Leonardo Finger for their research and insights.Resources and additional information:• Jim refers to 360 degree of longitude. While this is mathematically true, most folks think of Longitude as split 180 degrees East/West at Greenwich.  Before Greenwich was officially recognized as 0 degrees Long, the split could be at any arbitrary point.• John Harrison developed and perfected the chronometer, but it took a long time for him to receive recognition. Read more here: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/harrisons-clocks-longitude-problem• More about the founding of the US Coast Survey: https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/about/history-of-coast-survey.html The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, MA.You can visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

In season four of the Nantucket Atheneum Podcast, we take a closer look at two families that had immeasurable influence on how we understand the world around us. But to tell their story, we have to go way back to a time when the question "What time is it?" had a whole different meaning. It was a brief time when the door of opportunity was thrown open to women in science.In this limited series, Jim Borzillari Reference Library Associate at the Nantucket Atheneum and Jascin Finger Deputy Director of the Maria Mitchell Association peel back the layers of these two extraordinary families and the impact and influence they had then and now.

In celebration of the 15-year milestone, I spoke with Artistic Director Tyler Angle about what it is like to adapt world-class performance for a smaller more intimate stage, and how the festival has evolved during his tenure and how this week-long event has woven itself into the fabric of our island community.In this episode, Tyler shares what to expect at this year's festival.This is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written narrated and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Tyler Angle for bringing the Dance Festival to Nantucket year after year.The Nantucket Dance Festival will run from July 18 to July 23, and many events are free and open to the public. You can find all the details and where to buy tickets at nantuketatheneum.org.

In celebration of the 15-year milestone, I spoke with Artistic Director Tyler Angle about what to expect at this year's festival, what it is like to adapt world-class performance for a smaller more intimate stage, and how the festival has evolved during his tenure.In this episode, Tyler talks about the different ways in which this week-long event has woven itself into the fabric of our island community.This is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written narrated and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Tyler Angle for bringing the Dance Festival to Nantucket year after year.The Nantucket Dance Festival will run from July 18 to July 23, and many events are free and open to the public. You can find all the details and where to buy tickets at nantuketatheneum.org.

This July, The Nantucket Atheneum will present its 15th Annual Nantucket Dance Festival, which brings world-class dancers and performers to the island and supports our mission to provide free year-round services and programs to our community.Artistic Director Tyler Angle took over as Artistic Director of the Dance Festival in 2013, and in this episode, he shares how the Festival has evolved during his tenure.This is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written narrated and edited by Janet Forest. Special Thanks to Tyler Angle for bringing the Dance Festival to Nantucket year after year.The Nantucket Dance Festival will run from July 18 to July 23, and many events are free and open to the public. You can find all the details and where to buy tickets at nantuketatheneum.org.

This July, The Nantucket Atheneum will present its 15th Annual Nantucket Dance Festival, which brings world-class dancers and performers to the island and supports our mission to provide free year-round services and programs to our community.Artistic Director Tyler Angle talks about what it is like for the dancers to make the transition from large prestigious venues to our comparatively small stage at Nantucket High School.This is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written narrated and edited by Janet Forest. Special Thanks to Tyler Angle for bringing the Dance Festival to Nantucket year after year.The Nantucket Dance Festival will run from July 18 to July 23, and many events are free and open to the public. You can find all the details and where to buy tickets at nantuketatheneum.org.

In this final episode of season two, Jim and Janet take a look at two authors, who were prolific writers and trail blazers for other women, but, like so many of their peers, have been all but lost of history. Sarah Woolsey and Helen Hunt Jackson moved in the same circles as Jane Austin and Emily Dickenson, and yet somehow they have been completely lost to popular memory? References and Resources:Read more about Sarah Chauncey Woolsey's life and career.Read more about Helen Hunt Jackson's life and career.The Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It is written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri. The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

In this episode, Janet and Jim flip through a book that documented the California Gold Rush in real time and was one of nearly 1000 books included in Frederick Sanford's personal library, which was gifted to the Atheneum after his death.They also peruse a 19th century “beach read” by Edward Bellamy set on Nantucket that you may or may not want to add to your summer reading list.References and Resources:Watch Jim Borzilleri's virtual presentation on Frederick SanfordCheck out a photo of Edward Bellamy's handlebar mustacheRead an unabridged version of Six to One by Edward BellamyThe Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It is written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri. The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

In this episode, Jim Borzilleri and I invite back Betsy Tyler author of The Nantucket Atheneum: A History to talk about the Atheneum Museum. What was in it, where the items came from, and where they are now. References and Resources:The Nantucket Atheneum: A History by Betsy Tyler"Online Conversation: Nantucket Native Frederick Coleman Sanford" with Jim BorzilleriThe Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It is written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri. Special thanks to Betsy Tyler for contributing her research and insights.The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

This week Former Atheneum Librarian Betsy Tyler joins Janet and Jim to talk about the amazing feat of creating the 1900 card catalogue with a cutting edge device called a typewriter and the newly publish method called the Dewey Decimal System.References and more information:Check out Betsy's book The Nantucket Atheneum: A History,  and her latest book A Thousand Leagues of Blue.The Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri. Voice of Clara Parker by Sammy Aguiar.The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

While reviewing the hundreds of books in the Atheneum's library catalogue from 1900, Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri notice 19 volumes by a writer by the name of Harriet Martineau. In some cases, there was a record of more than one copy, indicating that her books must have been very popular among patrons at the time. Jim was surprised he had never heard of her before. So he went looking for more and discovered the extraordinary life of a woman that has all but been forgotten except by academics and historians.So who is this mysterious Miss Martineau?References and more information:Harriet Martineau's 9-page Wikipedia article:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_MartineauWriters/thought leaders who influenced Miss Martineau:David RicardoAdam SmithJames Mill. Thomas MalthusJeremy Bentham. Miss Martineau's  works that popularized the ideas and theory of great thinkers:Illustrations of Political Economy, 9 volumes, published by Charles Fox, 1832-4Illustrations of Taxation, 5 volumes, published by Charles Fox, 1832-4Poor Laws and Paupers Illustrated (1833-4)source: https://victorianweb.org/authors/martineau/diniejko.htmlThe Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri.The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

In this episode, Janet and Jim transition from the 1841 catalogue to the 1900 catalogue, but before they diving into what books were on the shelves, Jim points out some of the major events and transition the Gray Lady experiences in those formative 60 years and how they impacts the story of the Nantucket Atheneum.References and more information:The Nantucket Historical Associate recently acquired a painting by Rebecca Coffin, who was born in Brooklyn but moved to Nantucket later in life.  Read more HERE.Check out the presentation Jim did on Frederick Sanford, who owned several whale ships, he made a fortune in the California Gold Rush and foreign trade. He left his book collection to the Atheneum. Watch the presentation HERE.The Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri.The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

In this week's episode, Adult Programs Coordinator Janet Forest picks two volumes from the 1841 catalogue because of their curious titles and Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri dives into what these books are about and who are the people that wrote them. They discuss The History of Chivalry by George Payne Rainsford James published in 1833, and Dissertation on the Prophecies that have been fulfilled, are now fulfilling, or will hereafter be fulfilled, relative to the Great Period of 1260 years; the Papal and Mohammedan Apostacies; the tyrannical reign of Anti-Christ or the Infidel Power; and the Restoration of the Jews (Say that three times fast) by George Stanley Faber published in 1808.Janet and Jim also speculate on why book titles used to be so gosh darn long.This Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri.Click here to read The History of Chivalry.You can find other volumes by George Payne Rainsford James on Hoopla, which is free to use with your library card.The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

In this episode, Janet and Jim take a closer look at the voyages of Captain James Cook, Sir Frederick William Beechey and Baptist Minister Howard Malcolm and why the travels of these men would be of interest to the Atheneum patrons in 1841.Jim talks about why islanders at the time were keeping up with discoveries far beyond the shores of Nantucket and how it served them. This Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri. References and Resources: To learn more about the early ferry service to Nantucket check out this article from Yesterday's Island. The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

Janet and Jim return to the 1841 catalogue and peruse the “health & science” section. You'll learn about the field of Phenology and why you probably have never heard of the field of Phrenology. Jim puts a few volumes and the authors in their historical context and draws parallels to the present day. This Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.  It was written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri.  More on Phrenology courtesy of Jim Borzilleri·  One concept Phrenology basically got right was the localization of function in the brain. However, they went overboard in their assignment of specific traits and behaviors to a specific region, let alone its mapping on the outer skull.·  Johann Gaspar Spurzheim was a student of Franz Josef Gall.  Gall tended to focus on the negative traits, while Spurzheim's work tended to focus on the “good” behaviors, possibly to make it more appealing to a reform-minded 19th century audience.Here is more information on Phrenology and images of the Phrenology Bust.https://artsci.case.edu/dittrick/2015/06/18/one-lump-or-two-phrenology-diagnosed-by-the-bump/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/facing-a-bumpy-history-144497373/https://nha.org/research/nantucket-history/history-topics/what-was-phrenology-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-nantucket-history/ The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

In the first episode of The Shelves of Yore, Adult Programs Coordinator Janet Forest and Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri take you back to the year 1841 when the Nantucket Atheneum was a members-only institution and the island was prospering at the height of the whaling industry. Jim explains the significance of the 1841 library catalogue created by the first head librarian Maria Mitchell, and Janet asks Jim about one of the items in the catalogue: Democracy in America by Alexis De Tocqueville.This Shelves of Yore is a production of the Nantucket Atheneum. It was written, narrated, and edited by Janet Forest and researched by Jim Borzilleri  References and Resources:The Nantucket Atheneum: A History by Betsy Tyler.  Available to borrow at the library.What is a panopticon? And what does it have to do with Alexis De Tocqueville?The panopticon was the brainchild of English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham in the 18th century. It is a building design that allows a single prison guard to see and control all the inmates, while all the inmates cannot see each other or the security guard. The theory was that if criminals were isolated and left alone with their thoughts and knowing they are under constant surveillance, they will reform their bad behavior.Alexis De Tocqueville and his colleague Gustave de Beaumont were sent to United States by the French crown observe and report back on the American penitentiary system. Among other places they visited the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philidelphia that was built in 1829 by the Quakers and had many of the characteristics of Bentham's vision of panopticon.Click here for an image of Jeremy Bentham's panopticon. For more information about how the panopticon still influences our prison system, check out Ted Conover's Vanity Fair 2015 article “Guantanamo Bay Solitary Confinement”The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts.Visit us online at www.nantucketatheneum.org

Adult Programs Coordinator Janet Forest sits down with Reference Library Associate Jim Borzilleri to take a deep dive into Atheneum library catalogues from 1841 and 1900.The 1841 catalogue reflects the prosperity of the whaling industry and the affluent members privy to the Atheneum's collection, and it is one of the few records of what was lost in the Great Fire of 1846. The 1900 catalogue what created just as the Atheneum was transitioning into a public library.Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to The Atheneum Podcast to help others find out program!

Janet interviews Amy Jenness, who has been Head of Adult Programing for 16 years. Amy talks about how she fell into her position and what she has learned about what makes a great programs. She share funny stories and memories, and she and Janet talk about what it was like to transition to virtual programming during the pandemic.Behind the Shelves is a production The Nantucket Atheneum.It was written, edited and narrated by Janet ForestSpecial thanks to Amy Jenness.The Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts. We'd love for you to come by and say hello.

In this episode, Janet asks her colleagues what makes the Atheneum so special to the community. Is it the collections or the building or the staff or the patrons? A little bit of everything? Or something greater than the sum of its parts? You'll also find out the staff's favorite spots in the library and what it was like reopen the building to the public have being closed for more than a year.Behind the Shelves is a production The Nantucket Atheneum.It was written, edited and narrated by Janet ForestSpecial thanks to the Atheneum Staff featured in this episode:(In order of appearance.)Jim Borzilleri — Reference Library AssociateLaura Pless Freedman — Adult Circulation Library AssociateLeslie Malcom — Head of the Children's DepartmentLincoln Thurber — Head of the Reference DepartmentElizabeth Kelly — Head of Adult CirculationJessi Dearborn — Children's Library AssociateKaty Deheart — Children's Library AssociateGillian Lewis — Adult Circulation Library AssociatePamela McGrady — Adult Circulation Library AssociateDaniel Griffin — Adult Circulation Library AssociateAnn Scott - Executive Director/Head LibrarianThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts. We'd love for you to come by and say hello.

What's the difference between a librarian and someone who works at the library? What does it take to get a Masters in Library Science? In this episode, Janet asks Ann, Leslie, Lincoln and Liz about what it was like to study libraries science. She also interviews the rest of the staff about what role they play and what special gifts and talents they bring to the Atheneum Behind the Shelves is a production The Nantucket Atheneum.It was written, edited and narrated by Janet ForestSpecial thanks to the Atheneum Staff featured in this episode:(In order of appearance.)Ann Scott -- Head Librarian and Executive DirectorLincoln Thurber -- Head of ReferenceElizabeth Kelly -- Head of CirculationLeslie Malcolm -- Head of Children'sPamela McGrady -- AcquisitionsGillian Lewis -- Library AssociateLaura Pless Freedman -- Library AssociateJessi Dearborn -- Children's Library AssociateEllen Young -- Young Adult Library AssociateDaniel Griffin -- Library AssociateJim Borzilleri -- Reference Library AssociateKaty Dehart -- Children's Library AssociateThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts. We'd love for you to come by and say hello.

In this episode, Janet tracks down Lincoln Thurber and Jim Borzilleri to find out what they are up to in the reference department and what goes on in the Great Hall on a daily basis. Plus she peaks inside the Atheneum's Vault and finds how the reference department decides what to keep and what to let go of.Here are links to a couple things that Janet references in the episode:Recordings of Technology Classes with Janie Hobson Dupont:Click here to visit the video library.More about the Nantucket/Tuckernuck Yoho from the Nantucket Historical Association:Click here for the Facebook post.Atheneum staff share their favorite items from the Vault:Click here to watch the program on our Youtube page.Behind the Shelves is a production The Nantucket Atheneum.It was written, edited and narrated by Janet ForestSpecial thanks to the Atheneum Staff featured in this episode:(In order of appearance.)Jim Borzilleri -- Reference Library AssociateLincoln Thurber -- Head of ReferenceElizabeth Kelly -- Head of CirculatiomLaura Pless Freedman -- Library AssociateThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts. We'd love for you to come by and say hello.You can visit our website at www.nantucketatheneum.org

The Weezie Library for Children has the vision to make every child a library user. In this episode, Janet talks to Head of the Children's Department Leslie Malcolm and her team to find out what they do to support children from the their very first library card to their development into teen and adult material. She also explains her approach for reluctant readers.Behind the Shelves is a production The Nantucket Atheneum.It was written, edited and narrated by Janet ForestSpecial thanks to the Atheneum Staff featured in this episode:(In order of appearance.)Laura Pless Freedman -- Library AssociateJim Borzilleri -- Reference Library AssociateElizabeth Kelly -- Head of CirculatiomLeslie Malcom -- Head of Children'sJessi Dearborn -- Children's Library AssociateKaty Dehart --Children's Library AssociateLincoln Thurber -- Head of ReferenceEllen Young -- Young Adult Library AssociateThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts. We'd love for you to come by and say hello.You can visit our website at nantucketatheneum.org

In this episode of Behind the Shelves,  the Atheneum staff talk about the lengths libraries go to in order to protect your privacy. They explain why it's important for public libraries to be a place where people feel safe to seek what every information or materials they need.Behind the Shelves is a production The Nantucket Atheneum. It was written, edited and narrated by Janet Forest.Special thanks to the Atheneum Staff featured in this episode:(In order of appearance.)Katy Dehart --Children's Library AssociatePamela McGrady -- Library Associate in Charge of AcquisitionsAnn Scott -- Executive DirectorElizabeth Kelly -- Head of CirculationLaura Pless Freedman -- Library AssociateLincoln Thurber -- Head of ReferenceJim Borzilleri -- Reference Library AssociateEllen Young -- Young Adult Library AssociateLeslie Malcom -- Head of Children'sThe Nantucket Atheneum is located at 1 India Street in Nantucket, Massachusetts. We'd love for you to come by and say hello.

In this episode, Janet and her colleagues address the misperceptions people have about libraries and librarians. They discuss how libraries have evolved from quiet sanctuaries to community hubs. They put to rest the fears people have about overdue books, late fees and shooshing librarians.Behind the Shelves is a production of The Nantucket Atheneum.It is written, edited and narrated by Janet Forest, Adult Programs Coordinator.Special thanks to the Atheneum Staff featured in this episode:(In order of appearance)Ann Scott -- Executive DirectorElizabeth Kelly -- Head of CirculationJessi Dearborn -- Children's Library AssociateLeslie Malcom -- Head of Children'sKaty Dehart --Children's Library AssociateLincoln Thurber -- Head of ReferenceJim Borzilleri -- Reference Library AssociateLaura Pless Freedman -- Library AssociatePamela McGrady -- Library Associate in Charge of AcquisitionsEllen Young -- Young Adult Library Associatewww.nantucketatheneum.org

Janet Forest, Adult Programs Coordinator at the Nantucket Atheneum interviews her colleagues and takes you on a behind the scenes tour of the island's only public library. Each episode tackles a different topic from misperceptions people have about libraries to understanding what it takes to be a "real" librarian.