Jenny Bristol | The Liner Notes

The Liner Notes of Computer History #12: 10 Things I Didn’t Know

We've had a computer in the house for most of my life. My mom's programming job and the odd hand-me-down units from family members kept us in playthings pretty early on. But despite that, and my most-of-a-major in Computer Science, there is still naturally a lot that I don't know about the history of computers. Here are some things that I have recently learned.

Jul 27

The Liner Notes of Newspaper History #11: William Randolph Hearst

For those not in the newspaper industry, perhaps you haven't heard of William Randolph Hearst. He was a newspaperman extraordinaire. Newspapers as we know (knew?) them may be on their way out, but in the heyday of the daily newspaper, Hearst was a major player.

Jun 15

The Liner Notes of American History #10: Colonial Williamsburg

Imagine immersing yourself in a living history museum dedicated to life during the Colonial period of the United States. Long, long before the musical Hamilton came out, there was Colonial Williamsburg.

Jun 8

The Liner Notes of Art History #9: William Morris

William Morris was a bit of a Renaissance Man, in all things creative. Textiles, wall paper, design, illustration, furniture, and more. His style was distinctive and inspiring.

Jun 1

The Liner Notes of Newspaper History #8: The Genesis of American Newspapers

Learn a bit about the earliest days of American newspapers.

May 25

The Liner Notes of Art History #7: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Dancing girls. Prostitutes. Rich patrons. Dance clubs. The Moulin Rouge. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec drew, painted, and more.

May 18

The Liner Notes of Physics History #6: Richard Feynman

Today we celebrate the birthday of one of the most interesting physicists of all time, Richard Feynman. He was a curious character, equally serious about his science and his fun. He would have been 98 this year.

May 11

The Liner Notes of Archival History #5: The Library of Congress

The largest library in the world (the second-largest being the British Library), the U.S. Library of Congress is a sight to behold. The building is just gorgeous. The collections are unparalleled. The exhibits, inspiring.

May 4

The Liner Notes of Photographic History #4: Astrophotography

Taking pictures of the sky isn't new. The first photograph of the sun, a daguerrotype, was made in 1845 by French physicists Louis Fizeau and Lion Foucault, proving that from the earliest days of photography, people were turning their cameras to the skies.

Apr 27

The Liner Notes of Archival History #3: The National Archives

The National Archives of the United States is worth a trip in person, if you can. But if you can't, their website is a treasure trove of information, history, and jaw dropping resources.

Apr 20

The Liner Notes of Ancient History #2: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

When I was a kid, I heard about the Seven Wonders of the World on a semi-regular basis. But, other than the Great Pyramid at Giza (though I always thought the Pyramids were in Cairo proper because I knew nothing of Egyptian geography), I had no idea what the other six wonders were.

Apr 13

The Liner Notes of Government History #1: Postal Service General Delivery

What does General Delivery mean? How has it been used? Can you still use it today?

Apr 6