Historical research at a whole new level...

In Vannevar Bush's 1945 work, As We May Think, he anticipates what technologies the future will have access to, including a walnut sized camera, the potential to look at a picture as soon as it has been taken, fax machines, and talking typewriters. As citizens of the 21st century, we have seen these technologies come to fruition, and new things continue to be invented every day. What is next, time travel?


Time travel for a historian would be extremely useful, as primary sources like newspapers, journal and diary entries, photographs, and other records can only tell or show us so much. Select Connie Willis books explore this very idea. Set in the not too distant future, the 2050s, students from Oxford University travel back in time to witness a Medieval Christmas in Doomsday Book and prepare for the reconstruction of a cathedral but end up match-making in the Victoria era instead in To Say Nothing of the Dog.

Willis has done a good job incorporating the genres of history and sci-fi. Time travel rules are carefully established, the net (which is like a time machine) will not open in the past if an incongruity will be caused. For example, the net ensures that you will not be able to go back to kill Hitler. It will drop you in a location, physically or temporally, far enough away making it impossible. Also, physical objects cannot be brought back to the future, so forget about trying to pocket gold coins you stole off of a pirate in hopes that when you return to the present you can sell them for big bucks on eBay.

Each decade is also given a safety rating from 1-10, 10 being the most dangerous. Chances are, if a period has a high rating for your race, gender, and age, there is a slim chance you'll be given permission to take the trip. For example, an African American would not be sent back to the United States during the 1800s. Dangerous eras in history, like wars and plagues, are avoided if possible...

Just imagine how the study and practice would change with this technology. One would actually be able to go back in time to see if his or her theories were correct. So-called "facts" and other research could be double checked. Government, church, and other records could be verified. Histories could be written about those individuals who have been left out of history books because they did not have a strong written tradition or were ignored because they were deemed as unimportant at the time.

If I had the opportunity to travel back in time, I think I would go back to the 1920's, take in a vaudeville show and perhaps patronize a speakeasy. I would be reluctant to back in time too far, as I have developed a certain fondness for indoor plumbing and as a woman, some periods in history wouldn't be that much fun, depending on my social class.

Connie Willis has written other books, which I haven't read yet, but I highly recommend adding Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog to your summer reading list.

Photo: Doc and Marty McFly from Back to the Future (www.guardian.co.uk)

Lights, camera, action!

In case you could not tell from some of my previous posts, I am a huge movie fan. I like watching movies from all decades, genres, and countries. Most of my favourite films have touch of history, whether it takes place during the Civil War, the St. Louis World's Fair, or involves famous historical figures in unlikely situations. However, there are three movies/miniseries that sit at the top of my list.

Casablanca



A classic film with a unique take on World War II. Romance, danger, and intrigue, what more could you ask for?


Band of Brothers



Although not technically a movie, I first watched this in it's entirety during the first few weeks of September. Not being a WWII buff, I learned a lot about America's involvement in the war, and the experience of a soldier. What takes this miniseries to the next level is that most of the characters are based on real-life people. Interviews with the men were filmed and shown throughout the series.

The History Boys



I like this movie for several reasons. Cute boys with English accents aside, it makes me look at history in a different way (what makes something a "turning point"?) and question how it's taught in schools (think outside the box!). The class also has some heated historical debates, which I wish could happen in some of my tutorial sessions. This movie also features, in my opinion, the best definition of history.

Looking for somewhere to vacation?

Here is a good reason to visit the Smithsonian!