John Muir Correspondence: On Calisphere, OAC and Web 2.0
By Mary Elings, Archivist for Digital Collections at The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley and Sherri Berger, Digital Special Collections Program Coordinator, CDL
Muir Letters Online
CDL’s Digital Special Collections, The Bancroft Library, and The University of the Pacific Library are pleased to announce the availability on the OAC and Calisphere of over 6,500 letters from the correspondence of John Muir, 1838-1914.
One of the most important historical figures in California history, Muir was a renowned California naturalist, explorer, writer, and conservationist. Online access to his correspondence will provide users with new insight into Muir’s life, as well as topics such as California history, Yosemite National Park, the Sierra Club, and the American environmental conservation movement.
Previously, access to the thousands of letters written and received by Muir was limited to original copies scattered across the United States and a few microfilm versions in California. Now the digital collection is available to everyone online.
The Bancroft Library partnered with The University of the Pacific Library to digitize and publish these important historical documents, with technical support from CDL. The project was supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
Coming Soon: Follow Muir on Facebook and Twitter!
To celebrate the publication of the Muir letters and engage a broad audience with them, Digital Special Collections will be hosting a Web 2.0 “event” in early December, details forthcoming. For a week, Muir will “speak” to the public, quoting portions of his correspondence through a series of chronological installments on Calisphere’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Hear Muir in his own words as he explores Yosemite and works to protect the vast American West.
To participate in the event and stay updated on Calisphere news and developments, become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/calisphere) or follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/calisphere).