This year, Special Collections and Archives blog posts took us on journeys of discovery, empowerment, and joy. They touched on current events (and programs) while also embedding themselves in the power of the past to change the future. We found ourselves fascinated by those who have often been overlooked by the mainstream narrative of history. We hope these stories have opened your eyes as they have ours, or at least made a difficult year feel a little bit less difficult. In no particular order, here are some of our favorites from the past year.
JAZZ IN FIVE POINTS: A BRIEF HISTORY Part 1 and Part 2
You might be thinking that two posts don't exactly seem "brief," but there was so much to this story that there was a lot of condensing and clarifying. Luckily, Librarian Michelle distilled the context of Five Points' extensive history in this important American musical genre to give a sense of the period while leaving readers with avenues for further research.
CIVIC DUTY: COLORADO WOMEN AND THE JURY BOX
This is one of two Women's History Month posts that made our list. Touring through Colorado's history with female jurors offers a look at the fits and starts inherent in the struggle for women's rights, while a note on intersectionality says out loud the sad truths inherent in most discussions of such history.
'A BANK FOR ALL PEOPLE': REMEMBERING THE WOMEN'S BANK
Our second Women's History Month post also reflects the importance of seemingly mundane opportunities for women's empowerment. The establishment of a bank that gave consideration to women's finances and financial needs offered both freedom and empowerment in a step forward for banking equity.
FROM THE RARE BOOKS COLLECTION: THE MANY FIRST EDITIONS OF UNCLE TOM'S CABIN
One of our less-talked-about collections is our Rare Books Collection, a hodgepodge of books with historical significance usually for how and when they were published. In this post, Librarian Brian digs into the publishing history of Uncle Tom's Cabin and our five copies. Read it to learn a little about the book and even more about the wild years of 19th-century publication.
THE MAN WHO BOARDED A FLYING SAUCER (ALLEGEDLY)
This is the second in a series of blogs detailing the history of George Adamski by our resident UFO and hoax enthusiast, Materials Handling Assistant Chris, which is about all you need to know before reading. This tale is a rollercoaster and a wild, hilarious ride, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Complete the story with Parts 1 and 3
While not a "blog" in the most traditional sense, this new method of disseminating history has so much going for it. Add to that the relevance of Black liberation and leisure and the powerful voice of Librarian Stevie and prepare to have this one pop back into your head over and over and over.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine this year certainly led to an emotional urgency the world over. Luckily for us, it also lit the fire to start a series of blog posts on immigrant groups in Colorado. This is the first in that series and details the history of Colorado's Ukrainian community going back to the 19th century.
THE METRODPA SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM: DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR DENVER'S REDLINED RESIDENTS & THEIR DESCENDANTS and THE DISPLACED AURARIAN SCHOLARSHIP & WHERE TO GO FOR DOCUMENTATION
From a history sparked by current events, we transition to using history to empower current projects. We saved these posts for last because they represent how archives don't just preserve the past for history's sake, but to improve our present and future. Applicants to both the MetroDPA program and the Displaced Aurarian Scholarship utilize our materials to advance equity today in light of our less-than-equitable history.
Did your favorite 2022 blog make the list? Let us know in the comments below!
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