Celebrating Martin Luther King Day

Today marks the birthday of one of America's greatest native sons, Martin Luther King, Jr.  Ripon College has a series of events this week designed to honor him and further the causes closest to his heart and we hope everyone on campus will attend at least one of these events (see below for events).

Although there will be memorials across all media and on campus, we recommend (as we always do) that you check out some primary documents to learn more about King as he was known during his own lifetime.

We've found a few wonderful sites online for you to take a peek at.  The archive at The King Center has an amazing digital collection full of his personal documents and other primary sources that illustrate all aspects of his life and works, as well as documents that illustrate race relations and the fight for civil rights in America before, during, and after his lifetime.

A piece of the American historical literary cannon, his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is his 1963 response to other clergymen's assertions that civil rights should be fought for in courts and not in the streets.  The quote "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." is from this landmark letter.  Stanford has a very useful annotated reprint of the letter that gives a full explanation of his references.  Available here.


Everyone has seen clips of his "I Have a Dream" speech, but have you ever watched it in its entirety?  Almost fifty years later his historic speech still brings chills to the viewer:

For some non-electronic sources, Lane Library has many, many volumes about King's life and work.  I have posted just a few here, but recommend you check the catalog to see all of them.

                              

We hope to see you at the events on campus this week (for more details, check out the college blog)

Inauguration Oath Screening
10:30 a.m., Monday, January 21,The Pub, Harwood Memorial Union.

MLK Week Brunch
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, Great Hall, Harwood Memorial Union.
The brunch will celebrate the Ripon community and community leaders who emulate the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr.

Keynote Address by Tim Wise
Tim Wise, anti-racist essayist, author, and educator, will present the keynote address from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Great Hall.

“5 Issues, 5 Leaders, 5 Minutes” 
5 p.m., Dahm Heritage Room, Pickard Commons
An interactive workshop featuring five prominent Ripon leaders condensing their most thought-provoking and critical perspectives into five intense minutes on issues within one of five topics: media, arts, education, economy and activism. 

“Continuing the Legacy: What’s Next?”
2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, in the MLK Lounge of Harwood Memorial Union.
A 20-minute interactive workshop led by Pieper Chair of Servant Leadership David William Scott, in remembrance of Martin Luther King and continuing his dream. 

Giving Back Community Service: Guest House Homeless Shelter
9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, meet in Pickard Commons
Volunteers will spend time at this homeless shelter which serves meals to at least 85 homeless people daily. Food donations will be accepted in the Student Activities Office through Jan. 25. 

3 fantastic databases of London crime, poverty, and social policy, 1674-1913

Ever wanted to know what the trial of a pirate would be like? Or exactly what crime do you have to commit to be drawn and quartered as punishment in the 17th century? Wonder no more! Old Bailey Online is, "a fully searchable edition of the largest body of texts detailing the lives of non-elite people ever published, containing 197,745 criminal trials held at London's central criminal court." An incredible resource that allows you to search by criteria such as: offence, verdict, sex and age of defendant and/or victim, punishment, and more! Gather statistics, read trial notes, and learn about adjudicating London's seedy underbelly!

A sister publication of the Old Bailey is the Ordinary of Newgate's Accounts and contains biographies of people executed at Tyburn. I know, it sounds pretty macabre, but it is "a valuable source of information about both elite attitudes towards criminality and the lives, attitudes, and dying behaviour of executed convicts. "

Need more biographical, primary documents? London Lives provides access to historical records containing over 3.35 million names from a wide range of primary sources about eighteenth-century London with a particular focus on plebeian Londoners. This resource includes over 240,000 manuscript and printed pages from eight London archives.

Have fun!

-Kate