Winter Break 2009

So the semester is over. It's been quite an amazing experience. First studying for exams, then passing not just all the written exams, but the oral as well. I am still in shock. But time to get out of the haze and start to focus on the last phase of this degree. So this winter break I have three objectives. 1) prepare for the spring semester, that's Genealogy & Local History but only in Kent this year. 2) review materials for the re-writing of my book on Disaster Response for ALA. It's due Dec 2010, so no fooling around. I really need to write a new book, but half a book will do. My goal is to research and write this spring. 3) start the research for my dissertation. I have to find primary sources; identify the type & scope of sources; question to answer; and the all important "why do we care" and "what does this add to the field". Not too much to do between now and the 19th of January.
Tomorrow - syllabus revision and some organizing of my stuff!
Pile the DR stuff in one box, Genealogy in another, RB is a third, Preservation in a 4th, history of libraries in a fifth and oh yes, all the rest in a 6th box. It's certain to be a mess but an organized mess.

Back to work :)

Research / dissertation ideas

Dec 11. I could write about the publishers I have been talking about. But why? who cares?
I have been mulling over the idea of tying the printers in Akron between 1870-1900 into the gilded age industrialists....

Maybe I could look at them the same way I looked at Robber Barons and Cultural Institutions.

Food for thought.

comprehensive exams

Today is Dec 11th. Since my last posting, I took and successfully completed all three written comprehensive exams. Yesterday at 2pm I took and passed my oral comprehensive exams. That was much harder, I was sooooo nervous. It took a while for my brain to get into gear and answer with what I know about each subject. Of course the Russian Empire questions were the 'worst' as I was asked materials I had no answer for. Ah well. It's done and now I am officially ABD.

Now I get to start research on my dissertation. Much to muddle over :)
But first a nap and some celebrating.