Yes, you have seen this photograph many times before.  It is Billy the Kid, circa 1878. So, What’s the big deal?  Well, for a century everyone believed Billy the Kid was lefthanded. That’s because his ‘free’ hand in this photo … Continue reading →

There is a golden age of innovation, literature and art coming! How do I know? Because more and more people are USING the Internet as a TOOL rather than entertainment. A decade ago, you had to live in New York … Continue reading →

History is not the story of the past; it is the study of the future. 100 years ago, this month, the United States government began arresting and deporting ‘alien undesirables.’ (Sound familiar?)  Without trials, 249 were shipped off to Russia … Continue reading →

Ugly, eh? No, not her. The sculpture. As a matter of fact, it was so ugly it was removed from public view. Probably the only publically funded artwork in Alaska to be so infamous. Originally called “Juneau Green,” it was … Continue reading →

Snazzy home, right? Actually, it’s – or was – a microwave repeater.  As late as the 1960s, these were THE front line of defense against Russian ICBM missiles.  Remote radar stations across Alaska and Canada would pick up the incoming … Continue reading →

Whatever you do, there will be critics. And the further forward you think, the more ferocious the opposition. That’s life. But you should use that reality to your advantage. There is no skyrocket to success with the same old/same old.  … Continue reading →

Because banking was NOT in the United States Constitution, anyone could open a bank.  And a lot of anyones did. Like these men in Nome during the Alaska Gold Rush. Making money is easy; it’s keeping it that’s hard. Even … Continue reading →

Readers do not know how blessed they are.  In 1951, this WAS interlibrary loan in Alaska. It was such an innovation the GOVERNOR, third from the left, showed up for the inaugural. We have entered the Golden Age of Literature. … Continue reading →

My favorite quote from ALICE IN WONDERLAND has become my motto as an historian and writer: “It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.” Contrary to popular belief, we do not ‘move into the future.” Rather, we are … Continue reading →

At the end of the Second World War, most of Europe was in ruins. This included libraries. If you wanted to read, you had to search for a book.  It wasn’t easy and, as you can see here, there will … Continue reading →