List Review Service #023, 'HISTORY' (MAY 25, 1993)
URL: ftp://ftp.lib.ncsu.edu/pub/stacks/lrs/lrs-023
LIST REVIEW SERVICE ISSN: 1060-8192
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Issue No. 23 25 MAY 1993
HISTORY: History Discussion Forum
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Published periodically by The University of Missouri, St. Louis
Libraries. Raleigh C. Muns (SRCMUNS@UMSLVMA.BITNET), editor.
CONTENTS: REVIEW (J.K. Stemmer) (62 lines)
SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITY (37 lines)
SUGGESTED USES (07 lines)
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION (14 lines)
ANNOUNCEMENTS (11 lines)
END MATERIAL (31 lines)
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REVIEW -
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This is a very lively list that lives up to its name. The discussion
ranges from the just plain fun and trivial to the serious and scholarly.
If you are interested in history, either as a professional or as an
avocation, this list is for you. One warning though, it is an extremely
busy list - either have plenty of time or be very willing to hit the
delete key! Much of it is on the light side. However, scholarly
discussion and questions are not uncommon. It is, as one member said, a
kind of electronic cocktail party; you can join in the conversation or
just sit and "watch."
Most of the list is made up of ongoing responses to a question from
someone seeking information. New topics appear all the time; basically,
whenever someone has suddenly acquired an interest in or idea about
something and wants more information on it. Postings to the list,
whether scholarly, trivial or in between, generally get prompt and
thoughtful responses. However, as are most discussion groups on the
Internet, this one is not immune from mudslinging and flame wars. Part
of this is academic politics as usual, e.g the proper use of the list
itself. But some of it comes from the controversial issues discussed,
e.g. the validity of the analogy between slavery and abortion. Recent
topics have been very wide ranging.
Examples of some more serious queries would be:
* What to expect when doing research in French archives.
* Placing Freedom of Information Act requests with the FBI.
* Guerrilla movements in the Baltic states after WWII.
* Teaching loads at universities.
Some of the lighter discussions have focused on:
* A request for movies on artists for a fund raiser.
* A request for book titles for summer reading.
* An effort to find a nation that has never been colonized.
(This last thread evolved into an amusing discussion about
the qualities of New Jersey and its agricultural products,
complete with interstate exit numbers.)
Not surprisingly for a list run by historians, the list is archived.
However, of the nine peer listservers that support the list, only 5
maintain archives. (See Location) In addition, the HISTORY List is
affiliated with the History Network. This is a collection of files and
guides to historically related information available on the Internet.
The History Network is, by itself, a very valuable resource for
anyone interested in history and well worth a look. (Telnet to
hnsource.cc.ukans.edu / login: history - no password required) One
last point, the list is international. There are members from more than
20 countries, from Estonia to Japan and Brazil to Norway. Whether you
are an undergraduate looking for advice, a scholar in need of assistance
or just a history buff, HISTORY is a valuable information source and an
enjoyable diversion at the same time.
John K. Stemmer (Stemmej@ucbeh.san.uc.edu)
Stemmer is the Evening Reference/ILL Librarian at Raymond Walters
College (University of Cincinnati)
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SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITY -
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Name of List Reviewed: HISTORY
Location: HISTORY@PSUVM.PSU.EDU (The largest of
the 9 peers making up the HISTORY List)
The others are: HISTORY@DGOGWDG1 (ARCHIVES)
HISTORY@IRLEARN (ARCHIVES)
HISTORY@RUTVM1 (ARCHIVES)
HIST-L@UKANVM (ARCHIVES)
HISTORY@UMRVMB (ARCHIVES)
HISTORY@UBV
HISTORY@MCGILL1
HISTORY@CSEARN
Listowner: Thomas Zielke (TZIELKE@DGOGWDG1)
No. of Listserv Subscribers: 480 in 20+ countries
Total Period Monitored: 21 APR 1993 - 17 MAY 1993
Statistics Monitoring Period: 21 APR 1993 - 27 APR 1993
No. Messages Period Monitored: 159 (445 for Total Period Monitored)
No. Queries Posted: 49 (31 % of total activity)
No. Non Queries Posted : 110 (69 % of total activity)
Lines Sent (est.): 6400 (app. 278 screens of 23 lines)
Msgs Posted During 1993: ???
Searchable Archives: Yes (see locations)
Avg # of msgs day/high/low: 16/45/0
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SUGGESTED USES FOR LIST -
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1) Valuable as a resource for advice, suggestions on
historically related research, reading, etc.
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SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION -
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To subscribe to HISTORY, send an e-mail message with blank subject line to:
LISTSERV@PSUVM (Bitnet address)
or
LISTSERV@PSUVM.PSU.EDU (Internet address)
Message should consist solely of:
SUBSCRIBE HISTORY your_name
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = END REVIEW = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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The LIST REVIEW SERVICE (LRS) is still seeking people to submit reviews
of their favorite (or not so favorite) lists. LRS is not peer-reviewed,
publishing in it (probably) won't get you tenure, but is does have a spiffy
ISSN number. Be an altruist and contribute to the common body of knowledge
on the Internet! Interested reviewers should send a request to the editor
for guidelines and a template.
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END MATERIAL
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To subscribe to the LIST REVIEW SERVICE, send an e-mail message
with blank subject line to:
LISTSERV@UMSLVMA (Bitnet)
or
LISTSERV@UMSLVMA.UMSL.EDU (Internet)
Message should consist solely of:
SUBSCRIBE LSTREV-L your_name
Copying is permitted for noncommercial use by computerized bulletin
board/conference systems, individual scholars, and libraries.
Libraries are authorized to add these reviews to their collections
at no cost. This message must appear on copied material. All
commercial use requires permission.
Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer and do not
represent the views of the University of Missouri, St. Louis.
Copyright 1993. Raleigh C. Muns (Reference Librarian)
Thomas Jefferson Library, University of Missouri, St. Louis
8001 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121 (ph:(314) 553-5059)
BITNET: SRCMUNS@UMSLVMA
Internet: SRCMUNS@UMSLVMA.UMSL.EDU