Matt Dilworth

Matt Dilworth

The Sinking of Saint Mary

The Sinking of Saint Mary

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
In 1453, Christian-controlled Constantinople (now called Istanbul) fell to the Ottoman Empire, and the major trade routes to India and China were closed to Europe.  Demand for Eastern goods like silk and spices did not decrease, though, and explorers looked for alternate routes.  In 1492, one of those explorers, Christopher Columbus, convinced the government of Spain to sponsor his attempt to find a Western route, across the Atlantic Ocean.  Instead, on October 12th, he encountered the Caribbean, mistaking it for the East Indies, and met the indigenous Taíno people. Columbus initially traded for gold, spices, and slaves (called ‘naborías’ by the Taíno); but found no silks or any other expected Chinese or Indian luxury goods.  His first voyage concluded towards … Continued
The Peoples of the First Thanksgiving

The Peoples of the First Thanksgiving

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, Uncategorized
Thanksgiving commemorates one of the most durable early alliances crafted between indigenous American tribes and European settlers.  Intertribal Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag (Pokanoket) and Governor William Bradford of the Plymouth settlers adopted this historic peace treaty in 1621.  By 1620, Massasoit’s confederation was imperiled by the larger and stronger Narragansett tribe; and had suffered significant losses from an unknown disease (almost certainly Smallpox).  At the same time, the Plymouth colony had lost half of their members due to starvation and new diseases, as well.  Both consulted their religious advisors, interpreting the deaths as a supernatural punishment, but neither saw clear spiritual signs as to a course of action. Massasoit sent Samoset to feel out the intentions of the pilgrims, … Continued
Look, Up In the Sky

Look, Up In the Sky

, , Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
This year, eclipses are major news.  On October 14th there will be an annular eclipse (that is, one where the moon is too far away to completely block out the sun, and you can still see the outer ring of it). On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be happening. For about four minutes, the sun will be completely blotted out of the sky, and only the solar corona will be visible. Many events are being planned locally around the eclipses, and special filtered glasses that allow people to look directly at them without damaging their eyes will be available from several organizations in our region, including IU East and the Morrisson-Reeves Public Library. Eclipses are academically important … Continued
Firsthand Information

Firsthand Information

, Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
In research, it is always a good idea to examine the primary sources, and not trust another author to act as an intermediary.  Firsthand, contemporaneous accounts of anything that happens – a historic event, a scientific experiment, the minutia of day-to-day life – are irreplaceable for historians decades or even centuries later.  Their existence allows later researchers to strip away the layers of exaggeration, dimming memory, hagiography, or demonization that can build up on stories told and retold over time.  Primary sources are those created by the participants in the events that are described.  These can be diaries and journals, letters and legal contracts, even blogs and emails. The library offers numerous databases focused on primary source material from a … Continued
Slavery Still in the Shadows

Slavery Still in the Shadows

, , , Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, outreach
Juneteenth is a momentous day, commemorating American slave emancipation in 1865.  It was made a national holiday in 2021, although many states observed it before that.  As a ‘second Independence day’, Juneteenth is often celebrated with food and festivals, rodeos and reenactments, and voter registration drives. In the century and a half since the first Juneteenth, slavery has become illegal in every country of the world.  Many countries are part of international treaties dedicated to criminalizing and ferreting out slavery wherever it appears.  But despite all that, it still happens in the shadows.  Estimates vary widely, but there are tens of millions of people enslaved around the globe today. Modern slavery can take many forms, and is not always about … Continued