Be part of a conversation with Scott Mandrell as we focus on the evolving perceptions of the Lewis and Clark story and matters relating to the bicentennial. What were the expectations people had for the bicentennial? What outcomes were hoped for? Were they met? Did they come true? How will history be influenced by, and remember, the events of this National Bicentennial Commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition? Other guests join us from the Mercantile Library in St. Louis as we discuss the importance of primary source documents in historic research and see examples from the Library's extensive and varied collection.
Contents of the Broadcast:
1. Opening to 14:57--We begin with Introduction, welcome, information on today's location, and orientation to today's topic. Then we explore the importance of the journals as a primary source of the expedition. We see images of the original journals, discuss why they were kept, the kind of information found in them, why they are important, how they were sent back and archived, and also other artifacts of the expedition.
2. 14:57 to 21:36--We are joined by Charles Brown, Assistant Director of the St. Louis Mercantile Library. He discusses the history and purpose of the Library and its role in preserving documents dealing with America's westward expansion. We view video footage of the Libary and see examples of its art collection and rare books and documents storage. We discuss proper storage of historic artifacts.
3. 21:36 to 31:48--We continue our discussion of viewing history through artifacts by talking about the importance of primary sources. Topics include defining primary and secondary sources and why using primary sources is important to understanding history. Examples from the Library's collection are included. We discuss the role of curator with Greg Ames, Curator of the Barriger National Railroad Library collection at the Mercantile and look at letters and documents from that collection.
4. 31:48 to 43:11-Mr. Brown joins us again to discuss how librarians can help researchers with historic context infformation and the potential advantages of secondary sources. We look at letters written by a Civil War soldier and discuss how to go about looking for the right source for information. We also see more video footage of the Mercantile's collection including artifacts from the 1904 World's Fair, a cuneiform stone, and original copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.
5. 43:11 to 53:50--We discuss the value of photographs as a primary source as we look at a phot diary from the Gilded Age and the TWA film vault located at the Mercantile Library. Topics include how to access a Library like the Mercantile, how a primary source can give you information on a wide variety of topics, the importance of validating sources and confirming context, and how the view of history changes as new primary sources are "discovered."
6. 53:50 to 58:50--Scott Mandrell rejoins us to talk about his perspective on obligations a documentarian has to future generations.
7. 58:50 to End--We talk with Bette Gorden, Curator of the Herman T. Pott Inland Waterways Collection at the Mercantile and see examples of primary sources from that collection. We dicuss how one source can provide a wide variety of information and why the sources she shares today are especially important. We end the program with closing comments, topics of upcoming webcasts, thanks, and goodbye
