Transatlantic Destinies: Connections and Disconnections Across

Call for Papers
Northeast American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies
October 25-28, 2007
Dartmouth College, New Hampshire

The Theme for the 2007 NEASECS Conference at Dartmouth College memorializes the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the English slave trade. Transatlantic Destinies also acknowledges all aspects of the transformation of the transatlantic social sphere including the exchange of ideas, the resistance of European colonies to the motherlands, European exploration and native resistance, and the increasingly unified
circulation of culture and capital across the largest natural trade routes known up to this point.

As in any NEASECS conference, papers and panels are sought in all areas of eighteenth-century studies.

Please submit 1-page proposals for panels or papers and a brief c.v. by January 15, 2007 to:

Peter Cosgrove, Conference Chair
English Department
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755
Peter.W.Cosgrove@dartmouth.edu

Web Address: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~neasecs07/

PEM Recieves High Praises

Muzine reviewed the new Peabody Essex and gave it a great review and makes some good points for other maritime museums.

The Enduring Relevance of Maritime History

We've all been on a diet at one time or another. Many of us have also tried low carb diets.

Now Michael R. Eades,M.D. turns to maritime sources to illustrate the long established effects of an all meat diet. Dr. Eades cites the journal of Frederick G. Schwatka, aka Misc. Vol. 163 at the G. W. Blunt White Library of Mystic Seaport, which records an 1878-1880 search for Franklin during which the crew of the schooner Eothen switched to an all meat diet.

For the full story check out A critical look at nutritional science

Caught, Canned, and Eaten: The Story of San Pedro's Fishing and Canning Industries

According to the DailyBreeze.com the Los Angeles Maritime Museum will unveil a permanent exhibit on San Pedro's vibrant fishing industry and port-town culture.

The interactive exhibit will include murals, gear used by local fishermen, home movies from the Fishermen's Fiesta, classic television commercials ("Charlie the Tuna"), films of sardine and mackerel fishing and cannery equipment salvaged from Terminal Island.

According to the Museum website the exhibit opens today.

Congrats to Museum Director (and Compass editor) Marifrances Trivelli and her crew for putting together a news worthy exhibit on an overlooked aspect of local maritime history.

New Book Alert

Shipbuilders, Sea Captains, and Fishermen: The Story of the Schooner Wawona

Joe Follansbee, of MHN fame, has a new book out. While I haven't read it yet, it has been ordered and hopefully Joe will make an East Coast author's tour sometime and sign it!

Here's the blurb from the back cover: "Discover the history of the three-masted schooner Wawona and the quirky adventures of her captains and crews in the North Pacific. Shipbuilders, Sea Captains and Fishermen reveals the innovations of Wawona's builder, H.D. Bendixsen. Capt. Ralph E. "Matt" Peasley, "the big overgrown kid," became the most famous ship captain in America. Capt. Charles Foss called on the heavens for a breeze by wearing his wife's hats. And the crew caught hundreds of tons of cod in the stormy Bering Sea while secretly fermenting shipboard wine with canned fruit and sourdough starter. Complete with detailed illustrations, historical photographs, and great stories, Shipbuilders, Sea Captains and Fishermen recreates a world that ended with the last sailing ships."

It's the canned fruit and sourdough wine that really peaks my curiosity!

Position Announcement: Director of the Library

The Mariners' Museum is seeking a dynamic and innovative leader to direct the operations of the Museum's 78,000+ volume research library and archives. The director is a member of the senior leadership team and is expected to provide overall vision for the library in accordance with the Long Range Plan and mission of the Museum, act as a communicative mentor and effective leader for the library staff, identify and utilize opportunities for new technologies, be a spokesperson and advocate for the library-both internally and externally, and network with the library community. In addition, the director will be involved in planning and development of a new library as part of the whole Museum campus. Individual must have a Masters of Library Science from an ALA-accredited program and at least 5 years previous related experience in a research library with demonstrated increased responsibilities including supervisory experience, superior communication skills, and experience in community networking. Previous experience with a building program preferred. This position offers a salary commensurate with experience and an excellent benefits package.

Intrepid Update

The mud that held up the USS Intrepid move has been removed from beneath the aircraft carrier but plans to move her have not yet been announced.

The Intrepid, a legendary Pacific war campaigner that survived torpedoes and five kamikaze plane attacks, is overdue for rehabilitation after sitting idle for 24 years at the Hudson's city-owned Pier 86.

Full story.

Maritime Heritage Center Proposed for Bay City

An editorial in the Bay City Times promotes the planned development of a maritime museum.

According to the editorial Bay City officials, Dow Corning Corp., the Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Bay Future propose to build a Maritime Heritage Center on 8.5 acres of the 48-acre Uptown at RiversEdge property, just south of downtown Bay City.

A proposal to fund an initial study comes before the City Commissioners this week.

Quick News Item:

Smuggling, Iron and Sugar: Millersville University Students in Atlantic Project with Bermuda Maritime Museum

MILLERSVILLE, Pa., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- History and archeology students from Millersville University of Pennsylvania plan to spend next summer at the Bermuda Maritime Museum to research smuggling, iron and sugar during the 18th century....link to full article.

Position Announcement: Executive Director Michigan Maritime Museum

The Board of Directors for the Michigan Maritime Museum is seeking a skilled Executive Director who will lead the Museum forward as it builds on its strengths and charts its future direction. The successful candidate will demonstrate skills and expertise in leading an organization through thoughtful change; managing day-to-day operations; effectively communicating with the staff and public; employing creative marketing strategies; administering the budget and financial records; encouraging volunteers; conducting fruitful fundraising activities; and promoting exceptional customer service.

For more information see complete description

CFP: 28th Annual Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival Symposium

Mystic Seaport is seeking proposals for papers in History, Folklore, Literature, Ethnomusicology, or other appropriate disciplines that address any aspect of music or verse of the sea or inland waters from the Age of Sail through the present day.
Topics of interest have included: Shipboard work songs, songs of maritime or other occupational trades, seafaring cultures and cultural change, ethnicity and ethnic influences, cultural exchanges, ballad and broadside traditions, technology, regional interests, and popular culture.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE is March 10, 2007. Audiovisually illustrated presentations are welcome. Papers selected must be submitted in final form by May 7th.

Graduate students encouraged to submit a proposal.

Speakers will receive lodging and meals and free admission to the festival weekend.
PLEASE SUBMIT PROPOSALS and a brief curriculum vita or resume to:

Dr. Glenn Gordinier
attn: Symposium Williams-Mystic Program Mystic Seaport
75 Greenmanville Ave.
Mystic, CT 06355-0990
glenn.gordinier@mysticseaport.org

Online Exhibit - Ladies Who Launch

Press Release:

Independence Seaport Museum is pleased to announce their first online exhibit: Ladies Who Launch: Ship Christening Photographs from Delaware Valley Shipyards, which can be viewed at http://www.phillyseaport.org/LWL

In portraits and candid shots selected from the Library’s collections, these images show the scale of the members of the launching parties in relation to the enormity of the ships, the effervescent crash of champagne bottles, and the fabulous fashions from the first half of the 20th Century.

The online presentation is an expanded version of the exhibit now on display in the Museum. Ladies Who Launch is presented in conjunction with Women & the Sea, a comprehensive exhibit that explores the contributions of women mariners; open now through Labor Day 2007. For more information about exhibits and related programming please see: http://www.phillyseaport.org/New_Exhibits.shtml

The photo included here happens to be one of my favorite from the exhibit. It is interesting to note that in all the women and the sea studies I've heard about - this involvement of women and the sea has rarely been mentioned. Great job!

Salem Crew List Database Online

Between 1799 and 1879 over 7900 voyages to foreign ports sailed from Salem, Massachusetts. Prior to sailing the shipmaster, or captain of each vessel was required to file a crew list containing information about the vessel's destination and its crew. This website provides an index to those crewlists. Containing over 75,770 names, it also provides access to crew members based upon age, complexion, birthplace and residence place.

Search the database!

New Book: So Others May Live

Joe has recommended So Others May Live: Coast Guard's Rescue Swimmers: Saving Lives, Defying Death.

Reading the reviews both at Amazon and in the seattlepi.com report has me thinking this is a must read.

Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum's Newest Addition

The Little Rock City council approved spending $395,000 to tow the World War II-era fireboat USS Hoga from California to its maritime museum on the Arkansas River.

The Hoga survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor and will join the USS Razorback which was present for the Japanese surrender.

The Hoga is presently moored near San Francisco.

If Only I Were British

Position Announcement:
Head of Digital Projects

Organisation: NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM
Location: East London
Salary: £35,000 - £45,000 plus benefits
Date posted: 29 Oct 2006
Closing date: 13 Nov 2006

If you have experience of delivering large, complex new media projects on time and on budget, this varied role with the world's leading maritime museum could be your ideal next move.

It's our aim to illustrate to a wide range of audiences the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people. The Museum's collections are extremely diverse, featuring stories about everything from seafaring history to trade, empire, slavery and astronomy.

Already attracting some 8.7 million visitors, our award-winning website is now poised to enter an exciting new phase in its development with a landmark project that will bring some of these fascinating stories to life. Managing a dynamic team and networking internally as well as with external bodies, your brief will be to create the digital elements of this remarkable initiative.

It's a unique challenge that spells involvement in everything from our online collections and gallery interactives to e-commerce and online marketing. To meet it, you'll be an excellent planner and collaborator with an impressive track record of creating innovative content for large, segmented audiences - probably in the arts, education, media or broadcasting sectors. A passion for user experience is a must, along with an understanding of the potential of a wide range of interactive technologies.

Quoting reference G/HDP

We regret that we are unable to reply to every applicant. If you do not hear from us within three weeks, please assume you have not been shortlisted.

The Museum upholds equal opportunities for all staff and has a no smoking policy.

ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH

- POSITIVE ABOUT DISABLED PEOPLE

INVESTOR IN PEOPLE

Book Reviews from H-Maritime

Heather Hernandez just posted on the Book Discussion list about the following book reviews available through H-Maritime.

The Barbary Wars

Sea of Gray

X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy

Industrializing American Shipbuilding

Position Announcement: Collections Access and Research Associate

Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea is currently seeking a Collections Access and Research Associate to work in the Collections and Research Department. The successful applicant will serve as part of the Access Team providing intellectual, physical and electronic access to the Collections of Mystic Seaport. This is an entry-level position.

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:
• Oversee circulation function of Collection materials to staff, students and volunteers
• Respond to reference requests, including onsite, written, commercial and personal, related to the Collections using all available Collections Access Systems.
• Master the various means of Collections access, including but not limited to Endeavors’s Voyager system, XG, websites, visual files, card files and databases.
• Advise patrons and clients on research and derivative fees when applicable and initiate production orders for Production Team.
• Staff the Collections Reference and Research Room on a regular basis. Duties include reshelving of retrieved Collections materials, circulation of books, answering phones, overseeing reading room, etc.
• Improve and increase public Web resources related to the collections, proofing web pages and databases products.
• Assist in the hosting and developing of digital resources that improve Collections Access.
• Maintain and update Collections Web site.

Requirements include:
• General knowledge of maritime history and terminology
• Desire to learn and work with ever-changing software applications.
• Ability to participate, lead and thrive in a team setting
• Bachelors Degree
• Knowledge of search strategies and information retrieval practices
• Strong foundation and belief in providing superior customer service
• Ability to work with and continuously learn common computer applications
• General computer experience with museum and collections management software preferred.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Access, or SQL
• Detail-oriented and able to handle fragile objects according to collections management standards.

This is a full time (35 hrs./wk) position . Mystic Seaport is an AA/EOE employer.

If you wish to apply for an advertised job opening, you can download an Employment Application (Adobe Acrobat Required) or call 860.572.5346 for an application or e-mail Human Resources. We can only accept applications, accompanied by a resume if you wish, for positions for which we currently have an advertised opening. Applications must be filled out completely on both sides, be signed as well as dated, before they can be accepted for review.

Position Announcement: Collection Management Technician

Mystic Seaport's Collection and Research Department is seeking a Collection Management Technician: Full time (35 hrs./wk.) position assists with care and preservation of Museum’s Collections in storage, in transit and on exhibit. Maintains collections’ records, provides basic conservation and other duties as applicable. Requirements include Bachelor’s degree, ability to lift 50 lbs., general computer skills and valid driver’s license. Background check required. Mystic Seaport is an AA/EOE employer.

If you wish to apply for an advertised job opening, you can download an Employment Application (Adobe Acrobat Required) or call 860.572.5346 for an application or e-mail Human Resources. We can only accept applications, accompanied by a resume if you wish, for positions for which we currently have an advertised opening. Applications must be filled out completely on both sides, be signed as well as dated, before they can be accepted for review.

Christmas List

It's never too early to start thinking about my favorite holiday and a recent article in the Maine Antique Digest certainly got the idea's flowing. I know more than a few people who would appreciate receiving some of the items auctioned off at Christie's July 27th maritime sale.

For those more interested in steamship memorabilia check out the June 1 auction where "A painted cast bronze house flag and name board from a lifeboat aboard the R.M.S. Titanic of the White Star Line realized $72,000." Maine Antique Digest

According to the article items for the Steamship Auction came from "came from the collections of Jan J. Loeff, Ted Marcollo, the Steamship Society of America, dealer Kenneth C. Schultz, and from various other properties."