applause good evening. Good evening. And welcome to the library of congress. It is our pleasure to have everyone here for a very special night, as we open the libraries newest exhibition, rosa parks, in her own words. It is my honor to welcome members of congress, including members of the congressional black caucus, members of the rosa parks family who have come to washington for this special celebration. Can you give them a hand . applause we would also like to welcome the rosen and Raymond Parks institute for self development, led by miss elaine steel. That is another round of applause. applause and photographer, donna tour, whose photo of missed parts is prominently displayed and a vital part of the exhibition. And all the leaders and staff of the different cultural institutions across washington including secretary of the smithsonian, dr. Lonnie bunch. applause and the archivist of the united states, mr. David fairy on. And our guests and staff and our viewers on live, this is bein
With, and connects to, the pandemic we are living through right now, right here, in april 2020. So many of us arent home, working at home, living at home, and sheltering in place as science takes on the covid19 virus. I am so fortunate to have a truly skilled and knowledgeable colleague joining me today scholar who wears many hats suspending histories archaeology, and geography. John hessler is the director of the collection at the library of congress. In a specialist on early america. He is the author of a book recently copublished by the library of congress, called collecting for a new world. John is also a distinguished curator in the libraries geography and map division and an expert and mapping in general. Now how does mapping fit in with all this . He is an advisor to a number of leading edge institutions in this country as they tech this bread of covid19 and understand how mostly populations and time. John, welcome. Thank you marie great to be here. Thank you for joining me. Let
We know from early historians how devastating this variety of smallpox was, 90 of all indigenous deaths were attributable to smallpox, tell us about that. There was a point of scholarly discussion. One of the sources we have, most of the media is a chronicler, spanish chronicler arrived in spain, he wrote a diary or memoir, talks about the actual mortality rate, keeps talking in terms of 50 but some of the other sources we have, people like cortez himself cortez writes and cant stand, and in europes time. From 1522 january 15, 21 is one of smallpox was introduced, theres a very early source, talks about him and writes a letter to charles v in 1520 and this is the first mention of smallpox in the new world from a spanish source. He was surprised when he arrived, there were very few people there and he attributed to dying of smallpox, he heads off and finds immediately upon arrival of the expedition, the native people began dying of smallpox fairly rapidly, very rapid phase but a number
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
Newest exhibition, rosa parks, in her own words. It is my honor to welcome members of congress, including members of the congressional black caucus, members of the rosa parks family who have come to washington for this special celebration. Can we give them a hand. [ applause ] wed also like to welcome the rosa and Raymond Parks institute for Self Development led by miss Elaine Steele, and thats another round of applause. [ applause ] and photographer donna toric whose photo of miss parks is displayed in a vital part of the exhibition. All the leaders and staff of the different cultural institutions across washington, including secretary of the smithsonian dr. Lonnie bunch. [ applause ] and the archivist of the united states, mr. David fariel. [ applause ] and our library guests and staff and our viewers on live. This is being live streamed right now. And i have to tell you, we are radiating with joy and pride tonight because it is our pleasure to open this beautiful and compelling new