A handful of new books landed on my desk in the past few weeks: –Ballroom, Boogie, Shimmy Sham, Shake: A Social and Popular Dance Reader edited by Julie Malnig (November […]
Lincoln scholar on WGN’s Extension 720
Douglas Wilson, co-author of the new book The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The Lincoln Studies Center Edition, will appear on WGN Radio’s Extension 720 on November 7 at 9:00 PM to discuss […]
Illinois Place Name of the Day – November 3, 2008
The official publication date of Edward Callary’s Place Names of Illinois has arrived. I conclude our month-long feature with the derivation of our state’s name. Illinois. State. The name is […]
Studs Terkel
I was out of town for the weekend, and so did not see the news that Studs Terkel died until this morning. About five years ago I saw him engaged […]
Happy Halloween from the University of Illinois Press
[…]
David Zalaznik book launch in Peoria
The launch celebration for David Zalaznik‘s new book of photography, Life along the Illinois River, will take place November 7, 4:00-7:00 PM, at the Peoria Art Guild. Today’s edition of the Peoria Journal […]
Please do not mail any books for consideration
An announcement received today from the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association reads: “The Herbert Hoover Book Award has been discontinued due to a restructuring of priorities. Please do not mail any […]
Time to go
Professor “John Smith” expresses frustration with today’s college students in Inside Higher Ed: “After too many years at this job (I am in my mid-40s), I have grown to question […]
Stephane Dunn on NPR’s News & Notes
Stephane Dunn, author of ‘Baad Bitches’ and Sassy Supermamas: Black Power Action Films, will be a guest on NPR’s News & Notes today at 12:40PM Central Time. Stephane will discuss blacks in horror […]
Illinois Place Name of the Day – October 31, 2008
West Point. Hancock. Village (1893) eleven miles south of Carthage. Formerly known as Pumpkinville and then as Wigletown, named for early settler David Wigle. Renamed in 1856 for their former […]
Illinois Place Name of the Day – Oct. 30, 2008
Sneak Out. Franklin. Former community. Supposedly named for the otherwise respectable citizens who would sneak out of their houses, get drunk, and sneak back home. According to Sneed (Ghost Towns […]
Music Tomes interviews Loyal Jones
Loyal Jones, author of the new book Country Music Humorists and Comedians, is featured in an interview on the Music Tomes site. “MT: During a time when there was great […]