KT Lowe

KT Lowe

Harry Houdini: Fake news fighting pioneer

Harry Houdini: Fake news fighting pioneer

, , , Other
The immigrant born as Ehrich Weiss became more than a star.  Throughout his career, Harry Houdini continuously upended public perceptions of magic and reality with daring escapes, feats of mentalism and, toward the end of his life, debunking the claims of spiritualists.  As committed as he was to furthering magic, he was equally devoted to the pursuit of truth and spent much of his last years exposing fraudulent mediums, spirit photographers and others who claimed to communicate with the dead.  Spiritualism began as a religious awakening movement in 1848, when two sisters, Kate and Margaret Fox, stated that they had been able to contact the spirit of a deceased peddler, “Mr. Splitfoot”, and began to hold séances in their home … Continued
Your vote counts! Then and Now: a brief timeline of women’s suffrage

Your vote counts! Then and Now: a brief timeline of women’s suffrage

, , Research
On August 26, 1920, women in the U.S. secured the right to vote.  It was a victory 80 years in the making, opening voting rights on a national level to all women for the first time.  While the Constitution first extended voting privileges, it did so only for property-owning men.  Eventually, all men were allowed to vote, via a patchwork of state laws and the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted black men the right to vote.  But women were continuously denied the same privileges, under charges such as “wom(e)n would run into excesses”  or that they would abandon their “proper place” as homemakers, wives and mothers.  The fight for suffrage began in 1840, when abolitionists Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, … Continued
Go to the sources! Primary sources at IU East

Go to the sources! Primary sources at IU East

, Library Resources, Research
A primary source is an original “real thing.” It could be a song written in your favorite artist’s handwriting – maybe even on the back of an envelope.  Or Leonardo da Vinci’s sketch of one of his early paintings.  It could even be your family’s old Bible, with the names of your ancestors written, with dates of birth, marriage and other life events.  “Real things” come in a variety of forms, shapes, contexts and types. Through IU East, you have access to a number of these types of documents. Check out these highlights! African American Communities This database includes a variety of materials related to the African American experience, across multiple communities.  From documentation of segregation and racist activity against … Continued
Why voting matters

Why voting matters

, , outreach
While the right to vote has been part of the US Constitution since the founding of this country. it was originally limited to white male landowners – a wealthy elite in many cases.  The right to vote, considered a cornerstone in the popular conception of democracy, is a hard-won right earned through centuries of war, civic strife, protest and direct petitioning.  In honor of the struggles of those who have come before, and to preserve the liberties that this nation holds dear, it is worth understanding what voting means and why voting is such an important act. The first amendment to the Constitution related to voting came in 1870, almost 100 years from the date of its ratification.  The 15th … Continued
Resources to Support an Everyday Approach to Fighting Racism

Resources to Support an Everyday Approach to Fighting Racism

, , outreach, Programs
“When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”  This deeply racist phrase reentered the public conscience last week after a series of protests surrounding the tragic and brutal death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. The phrase dates to 1967, when Miami, FL police chief Walter Headley used it as part of a series of instructions to the police force in his city.  Its return is unwelcome, and yet understanding why it was said and what makes it racist can help all of us start a meaningful conversation on race and racism.  Here are a host of resources to help you learn about, cope with and combat the events of the past week. First, it is helpful to know that racism … Continued