Hello. And a very warm welcome to National Book festival prevents the library of congress. My name is marie. Author and im also the literary director of the library of congress. Much of my own writing has been about the history and the people of latin america and the purpose of this conversation is to share a little bit of that history and talk about how it compares with and connects to the pandemic that were living through right now, right here in april 2020. So many of us are at home, or living at home and sheltering in place. As science takes on the covid19 virus. Unfortunate habit truly skilled and knowledgeable holly joining me today, a scholar who wears many hats spanning history, science, archaeology and geography. John hessler is the director of the kids like election at the library of congress and a specialist on early america. He is author of the book recently a final library of congress all collecting for a new world. John is also a distinguished curator in the librarys youn
They dont build airplanes like this anymore. This is a piece of history. I like to think about the lives that have been influenced and the careers this airplane might have changed. Over the last 18 years, the airplane has been the centerpiece of our museum, but it has been a static centerpiece. So one of my first goals for the , museum was to figure out how could how we could bring new life back into the museum, to get these antique historic airplanes into the air, where they belong. Along came the 75th anniversary of the dday invasion. What a unique opportunity to join in a major part of history that these airplanes were built for and to partake in the 75th anniversary of the dday invasion. Our museum is known as the museum of mountain flying. It is dedicated to the Pioneering Spirit of a gentleman named bob johnson, who helped firefightingl programs here. I knew, to start a project like this, we have had this historic c47 airplane here for 18 years, and it has become a gathering for
Miller center here at the university of virginia, who president says is broad, long term in perspective, balanced, and of course expressed in words, the written word. The other culture is represented in this room in one sense by the presence of pat oliphant. So please breeds path oliphant. I applause even more so by the work of them path oliphant, which you see displayed on the screen. The culture he represents is not broad, it had a specific daily perspective over the course of more than 60 years as a cartoonist, producing more than 10,000 individual cartoons five days a week. In the denver post for several years. Washington star for several years. Along the way, pat oliphant became the first 21st cartoonist to be featured in newspapers all across the country, he was indicated in newspapers for the country. Far from being balanced, they were opinionated. That was part of their virtue. Obviously, not so much inwards, though there are words, especially in pictures, and the work of pot o
Artists and creative writers for nine months. Of sustained work at the library the peerless collections of this library while they make their own work. Giving me the freedom to read nothing or nothing immediately clear to me. To deal with what i thought i was doing. A history in 19th century paris. The next i tried of old maps of berlin. I kept reading. The third floor you will find made at ny pl which shows the products of 34 writers who read wildly here over the last century and more. Most of them, half of them are Common Center fellows and you will see the new and lasting books that they made through their research. The words are displayed alongside some of the Collection Items that inspired and informed them including the 2016 novel alongside a 1960s arab berlin tourist map that is in our archives. The show is free and it will stay up until june of next year. We welcome you on the occasion, my goodness, the new collection busted in new york. In which we follow his roving and orthod
This stage who are scholars associated with the Miller Center at the university of virginia and to study the presidency who as broad, longterm in perspective and expressed in written word. The other culture in this room is the presence of pat oliphant. Please greet pat oliphant. In this neighborhood or might be a lot open yeah like meeting like restaurant wiser just like i know the privilege open but even more so by the work of i bet yet pat, which you will see but i i bet you some of the Grocery Stores around like the smaller ones on that gentleman displayed on this screen. The probably this culture he represents is not sort of broad gauge and long but highly specific. Daily prospective over the course of more than 60 years as a cartoonist producing more than 10,000 individual cartoons five days a week for the denver post for several years, for the washington star for several years, and then along the way, pat oliphant the first 20thcentury cartoonist to work independently. Thates how