An exploration of a wide array of articles and posts that dive into history, historical materials, research, access, engagement, and other topics that relate to Advantage Archives’ mission of building strong community-based partnerships that allow users to explore, discover, learn from, connect with, and share local histories.

This Week in History: February 23rd – March 1st

History builds on itself, every event a product of the moments in time before it. This week, we will take a look back on some historical events that happened in the past, but had large impacts on what followed. Join me as we explore the context and consequences of moments in time with the help […]

This Week in History: February 16th Through 22nd

I, like many, have been enjoying watching the Winter Olympics this month, and it got me thinking about past Olympic Games. That’s why I decided this week to focus on past Winter Olympic Games! A little background for you: the first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in France, and were held every four years […]

This Week in History: February 9th Through 15th

Roses are red,  violets are blue, Advantage has a new This Week in History for you! Today I want to share with you some Valentines Day themed articles from the Community History Archives! Between menu, gift, and card ideas, these articles have everything you need to be prepared for February 14th! Let’s get things started […]

This Week in History: February 2nd through February 8th

Super Bowl celebrations, FBI sting operations, and musical mania are the stars of This Week in History. Join me as we explore the days of this week in years past, from constitutional amendments to the New England Patriots Super Bowl comeback. As always, I’ll share some facts about these events as well as newspaper clips […]

This Week in History- January 26th through February 1st

History is being made every day, and the week of January 26th has historically been extra significant. From huge moments in pop culture history to the start of massive civil rights movements, these day-to-day events became something much bigger. Using the resources available in the Community History Archives, we can experience the events of this […]

This Week in History- January 5th through January 11th

From Ziggy Stardust to rumblings of civil war, this week in history has plenty of interesting stories from the past that took place on these days. Join me as we explore historical events through the Community History Archives and place them within their broader historical contexts to paint a more complete picture.  David Bowie was […]

This Week in History- December 15th through December 21st

Each year, kids eagerly write to old Saint Nick to tell him what they hope to see under their Christmas tree, a tradition that has spanned generations. Around this time last year, I shared a handful of old letters to Santa I found in our partner’s archives. I had such a blast doing this last […]

This Week in History- December 8 through December 14

First, we have some reflections of Christmas memories from The Akron Hometowner, published in Akron, Iowa, on December 14th, 2016. Three women, one of whom was 97, shared their favorite Christmas memories with the paper. Sybil Campbell remembers playing with her cousins, going to midnight mass, and helping her mother cook dinner during the holidays. […]

How Microfilm Digitization Aligns With the Library’s Mission

How Microfilm Digitization Aligns With the Library’s Mission Why digitization is not just modernization — it’s mission fulfillment Libraries have always been more than buildings filled with books. They are trusted partners in community life, and their purpose is both clear and enduring. However they are worded, most library mission statements circle back to the […]

This Week in History- November 10 through November 16

On November 13th, 2015, a group of terrorists carried out a series of attacks in Paris. Suicide bombers detonated vests outside the Stade de France, where a soccer match was being played. A second group opened fire on crowds of Parisians at restaurants and cafes. A third, final group attacked a concert happening at the […]

This Week in History- October 27th – November 2nd

On a cool October day in 2003, excitement was growing among fans of the NBA as the rookie Lebron James prepared for his first game in the professional league. An extremely talented player, Lebron was drafted straight from high school as a first-round draft pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Going pro straight out of high […]

This Week in History- October 20th through October 26th

Starting off we have some Halloween-themed treat recipes from Fort Stockton, Texas. These recipes were published in the Fort Stockton Pioneer on October 20, 2011. The article briefly describes the origins of Halloween– it was originally a Celtic festival called Samhain– and compares the similarities between the festival and modern traditions. The author’s personal favorite […]

Building a Sustainable Digitization Program: Budgets, Partnerships, and Phases

Building a Sustainable Digitization Program: Budgets, Partnerships, and Phases Turning shared responsibility into lasting preservation and public access Newspaper Digitization gives new life to your important, historical content. Libraries, archives, and cultural institutions all share a common challenge — balancing stewardship of history with modern expectations for access. Microfilm digitization is rarely a solo effort; […]

This Week in History- October 13 through October 19

The first comic I pulled out is an edition of ‘Baby Blues’ from The Quincy Herald Whig, published on October 16th, 2011. Baby Blues first appeared in papers in 1990, and has been published in the Sunday comics all over the country since then. The comic strip is centered on the Macpherson family as they […]

This Week in History- September 29th through October 5th

On October 1st, 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum made history. Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City, was sworn into office that day, becoming the first female president in Mexican history. Not only was she the first female president of Mexico, but she was also the first Jewish descent president. The journey to becoming president was full […]

This Week in History- September 22nd – September 28th

Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on September 26th, 2024. The category four hurricane was the second major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season. With 252 fatalities, Helene was the deadliest hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Fears lingering from Katrina and other […]

This Week in History- September 15th – September 21st

Occupy Wall Street was a protest that began on September 17, 2011, but lasted far beyond a single day. The protest was a result of the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis. Many Americans found themselves in bad financial situations, and grew angry as the income gap between the upper and middle classes began to […]

This Week in History- September 1st – September 7th

Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, caused a controversy that grew beyond the scope of football. Kaepernick had been sitting on the bench during the national anthem for the 2016 pre-season games. His actions were a form of peaceful protest sparked by the killings of multiple black men that summer, joining a […]

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