Online Archive of California

The Online Archive of California recently launched a redesigned Website, enhancing access to stuff like this:


In and around my hometown, 1852-1936.

New York Yacht Club vs. Brooklyn Yacht Club

I won't even bother to caption these - I think you can tell which is which.



These (and many more in both series) via Life. Which club would you rather join?

It pays to plan

I'm now taking action on vacation plans I've been obsessing over for...18 months?! Somewhat stunned at being asked to fax in payment authorizations and booking forms, in this day and age.

Gewgaws and gimcracks

Astonishing (and beautifully photographed) whatsits from the Wellcome Collection's permanent exhibit "Medicine Man."

Go-to-hell pants

When Nantucket red is not enough:



All via SI Vault.

Egyptian and Assyrian jewelry

From the W. Struse Collection at Old Book Art.

Julius Shulman, 1910-2009

Not shorts

Things to wear in summer that aren't shorts.




All photos by Nina Leen for Life.

Clara Rockmore

Theremin virtuoso (Lithuanian-American, 1911-1998)

High Noon in the Soviet Bloc

Stunning posters from Central and Eastern Europe, 1989-1991.



A few hundred more available online via the V&A's Designing Democracy: Posters and the Political Transformation of Europe, 1989-1991.

Cuban curlers, 1963-1964

From Deena Stryker Photographs, Duke University Libraries.

The Vera Company blog

Most women I know like scarves, but are confused by them. Including me. But really, we aren't French, and we don't come from money, so it's unreasonable to expect we'd have any inborn ability to understand The Scarf.

For this reason, I need to give a shout-out to The Vera Company's blog. Posting is somewhat irregular, but does include detailed instructions for imaginative scarf usage.

The Vera Company is a revival of the original textiles/fashions/housewares concern founded by Vera Neumann in 1947. Fuzzylizzie put together a nice history of Vera, too.

Vintage Vera scarves are available at many thrift stores for less than bus fare. That means you can hold out for a good silk one with a representative print of bugs and/or flowers. You can also get one eBay or etsy if you're impatient:

Shorts

I have a confession to make. I went shopping the other day and tried on shorts. I issued a fatwa on shorts around 1998 (So Ugly American! So infantile! So unflattering to the female form!) . I wore skirts in summer, and never once considered going back. But here's the thing: They make really cute shorts now. Shorts that make you think like this:


Top to bottom: Angie Dickinson, C.Z. Guest, Sophia Loren.

So, I find myself walking back on the shorts issue to allow that they're fine to wear while Vacationing or Relaxing at Home, which is clearly what these ladies are supposed to be doing.

Festival Pattern Group

The Festival of Britain was held in 1951 to celebrate the country's emergence in the fields of science and technology. Britain's Council of Industrial Design drew on scientists, manufacturers and designers to form the Festival Pattern Group. The group created decorative designs for furnishings and displays, based on the structures of crystals, atoms and molecules.




All via the Wellcome Collection exhibit From Atoms to Patterns.

One of many delightful discoveries via Ancient Industries.

Ellis Island photographs

NYPL Digital Gallery selections from the collection of William Williams, Commissioner of Immigration, 1902-1913.