Francis Cabot Lowell, a young partner in a
Boston trading firm, was feeling the stress
of his job. It was the early 1800s. Britain
and France, two of America's trading
partners, were at war, and merchant ships
dealing with either country risked attack.
Fed up with the conditions, the U.S.
Congress embargoed foreign trade in
1807. This hurt American business. The
1812 war with Britain created further
disruptions — imported cotton, for
example, grew scarce and expensive. (Read more...)
Most of us have encountered Lauren Hruska in her role as GSLIS
admissions assistant, handling all front-line communications for the
Office of Admission. Hruska is the friendly person on the other end of
the phone or computer who patiently walks prospective students
through deadlines and application requirements. She also coordinates
admissions events, gives tours, and is in charge of the new GSLIS blog
at http://gslis.simmons.edu/blogs/admissions/. Many of us don't
know, however, that Hruska is a crafter extraordinaire. She knits,
sews, welds, blacksmiths, draws, writes, and makes books. This
month, for our craft issue, Hruska talks with us about her creative
pursuits, outside of work and in it. (Read more...)
GSLIS students Nicole Fonsh and Emmalia Harrington attended
the Rally for Libraries at the State House on November 4 with
Assistant Em Claire Dean Knowles. Emmalia came up with a
chant for the crowd of over 250, "Save the Library! Save the
World!" (Read more...)