Singing the praises of digitized ballads.

Previous stories on this blog have considered a number of digitization projects. The English Broadside Ballad Archive at the University of California-Santa Barbara has to rate amongst the very best which I have seen. The most innovative feature is the 'Facsimile Transcriptions' option, whereby transcribed roman text is superimposed over the original black letter, rendering the whole thing highly readable, but preserving the original layout and contextual illustrations. No wonder it won the British Society for Eighteenth Century Studies Digital Eighteenth Century Prize for 2009. Whilst it may be a bit of a mouthful, it is certainly earned. Do visit it, so you can see the most famous diarist's ballad collection.

Your name on a bus!

Urban historical web master Stephanie sent me this rather funky text web page. Ever wanted to see your name on a bus? Now is your chance! Not all that historical, but rather good fun all the same.

New Cake Lab: part one of many: NHL Saucepan Cake!

Who needs Nigella when we have our very own Ann? Her delicious New History Lab Saucepan Cake has been a great hit. I reckon the brazil nuts are the master stroke as walnuts can be rather bitter. This is the first in what I hope will be a rather long and delicious series, with further instalments including one from that other domestic goddess, Rob, and his delicious lemon cake. Thanks, Ann!

Ingredients

12 oz well crushed digestive biscuits
3 oz butter
3 tbs golden syrup
7 oz chocolate
1 orange
1.5 oz glace cherries
1.5 oz finely chopped nuts (I use brazils)
1.5 oz sultanas

Method

Melt chocolate, butter and golden syrup in a saucepan.
Add juice of half an orange.
Stir in all the rest.
Divide mixture between two Victoria sandwich tins lined with non stick paper.
Flatten down with the other half of the orange.
Chill for 1 hour.
Divide each into twelve sections (but keep in tin)
Chill until fully set.
Enjoy!!!

Sex education films in the British Film Institute

The BBC website has an interesting article about the style and role of sex education films, including a video of 'WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH' (1917) which it describes as 'a bit more Shakespeare than sex education'. This article suggests a fascinating area of research for those with an interest in the role of visual resources for educational purposes, or indeed perceptions of sex.

More info at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7892257.stm

'H seeks A. B, no other Rex'

Love letters and Henry VIII, are two words which one would be forgiven for not automatically linking together. However, a recently dicovered letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn about to be exhibited in the British Library may make you think twice. Phrases such as 'my heart will be dedicated to you alone' and signed 'H seeks A. B, no other Rex' shines another light on the the history textbook tale which ends in the swift execution of Anne.

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7887826.stm for more details.