Ransom Center Magazine

Research

Interview with Matthew Weiner, creator, executive producer, writer, and director of the series Mad Men

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The archive for the acclaimed drama Mad Men, one of television’s most honored series in history, has been donated to the Harry Ransom Center. The donation was made by Matthew Weiner, the series creator, executive producer, writer and director; and Lionsgate, which produced the critically acclaimed series.

To mark this news, Weiner shares his thoughts on the value of archives, the show’s influence, and the storylines that got away. [Read more…] about Interview with Matthew Weiner, creator, executive producer, writer, and director of the series Mad Men

Houdini speaks to the living

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The trick is to bring Houdini back. Show him to us. Let us hear him speak, watch him make his magic, feel his presence among us, let Houdini live again! [Read more…] about Houdini speaks to the living

“Life on Mars?”: That is the question for David Bowie, H. G. Wells, and NASA

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Responding to news of the singer’s passing in January 2016, the official NASA twitter account tweeted “Rest in peace, David Bowie. ‘And the stars look very different today.’” For Bowie, one of humankind’s hitherto unanswered questions was [Read more…] about “Life on Mars?”: That is the question for David Bowie, H. G. Wells, and NASA

Commitment to collecting

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Going back to the origins of research libraries, there is a long history of scholars building collections to suit personal interests, constructing around themselves an athenaeum of books that supported their individual research goals. [Read more…] about Commitment to collecting

Coleccionismo comprometido

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Cuando se busca en tiempo atrás los orígenes de las bibliotecas de investigación, damos con una larga historia de académicos dedicados a recabar colecciones de acuerdo a su interés personal, construyendo en torno suyo ateneos de libros que documentaran sus muy particulares metas de investigación. Y muchas veces, cuando dicho académico proseguía su carrera –en otro trabajo o en otro contexto intelectual- la colección emprendida se marchitaba, sin la mente directriz inicial que siguiera contando su historia. [Read more…] about Coleccionismo comprometido