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Digitizers’ Blog
Here for a Good Time, and a Long Time: Ephemera in Open Collections
Ephemera, by its very definition, was never meant to stick around. Defined as items that have been preserved despite the fact that they were not intended to be at their time of production, the term is used to describe commonplace paper objects like flyers, menus, event tickets, postcards, and more. Valentine’s card (1919) from the […]
“You Got to Speak Your Mind”: The 1960s Berkeley Protests
In the 1960s, tensions around free speech, civil rights, and the Vietnam War were growing at the University of California, Berkeley. Students were organizing politically and becoming increasingly emboldened in their expressions of outrage through civil disobedience. The 1960s Berkeley protests represented the largest organized student demonstrations to date, drawing unprecedented numbers, producing tangible results, […]
The Klondike Gold Rush: Stories Behind the Search for Gold
In August 1896, on the banks of a quiet creek in the remote Yukon territory, the promise of unimaginable fortune shimmered beneath the surface. Skookum Jim (Keish), Tagish Charlie (K̲áa Goox̱), and George Carmack discovered gold in Bonanza Creek. Their find set into motion one of the most legendary gold rushes in North American history: […]
Nüshu: China’s Secret Language of Women in Our Open Collection
In the rich tapestry of cultural expressions, few narratives are as quietly impactful as that of Nüshu (女書, meaning “women’s writing” in Chinese). Nüshu is a syllabic script that was primarily used by Yao women in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China. For generations, this unique writing system allowed women to express their thoughts, emotions, and […]
Introducing the Phil Lind Klondike Gold Rush Collection!
We are excited to announce the launch of a long-awaited addition to our Open Collection: the Phil Lind Klondike Gold Rush Collection! Donated to the UBC Library in 2020 by UBC alumnus Philip B. Lind, the collection is an extraordinary collection of photographs, maps, books, artifacts, and other unique materials that document the events and […]
Exploring Tang Quatrains, Part 2: Poetry on History and Myths
What can poetry reveal about history, mythology, and cultural memory? In the Tang dynasty, poets not only expressed personal emotions but also engaged with historical events, folklore, and timeless legends. In our previous blog post, we explored themes of frontier life, parting, and nostalgia in Tang quatrains (read Part 1 here). This week, we continue […]
Exploring Tang Quatrains, Part 1: Frontier, Farewell, and Nostalgia
The Tang dynasty (618–907 CE) is often regarded as the golden age of classical Chinese poetry, celebrated for its exceptional cultural and literary achievements. Tang poetry remains a cornerstone of Chinese literature, attracting both scholars and enthusiasts for centuries. Among the many poetic forms of the era, the Chinese quatrain holds a special place for […]
The Negatives 5396 Larch Photo Album: Family Life in Early 20th-Century Vancouver
The Negatives 5396 Larch Photo Album offers a warm and intimate look into family life in the early 20th century, capturing moments from a family residing at 5396 Larch St., Vancouver, B.C. At this time, the city’s communities were evolving amid social and economic changes, marking an era of growth and adaptation. As part of […]
