Thursday, December 31, 2009
Blue Moon
The term Blue Moon is believed to have originated in 1883 after the eruption of Krakatoa. The volcano put so much dust in the atmosphere that the Moon actually looked blue in color. This was so unusual that the term "once in a Blue Moon" was coined. However, Blue Moon was also used in much the same way we use the term "Harvest Moon".
There were twelve names for full moons, one for each month, and the name Blue Moon was used in years which had 13 full moons. It referred to the third full moon of the four occuring between an equinox and solstice in that year. A misinterpretation of this led to a Sky and Telescope Magazine "Star Quiz" in July 1943 followed by an article in March 1946 which stated that the second full moon in any calendar month was called a Blue Moon (attributed to the 1937 Maine Farmers' Almanac), and this definition has now become part of the language.
NASA Copyright Notification: Photographs are not protected by copyright unless noted. If not copyrighted, photographs may be reproduced and distributed without further permission from NASA. NASA makes every attempt to use media on our web pages (e.g., graphics, artwork, sounds), that is free for use or in the public domain.
Generally speaking, works created by U.S. Government employees are not eligible for copyright protection in the United States. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Jews praying on Williamsburg Bridge, New York City, on New Year's Day
Digital ID: cph 3b45966 Source: b&w film copy neg. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-99960 (b&w film copy neg.) Retrieve uncompressed archival TIFF version (1,703 kilobytes). Unedited JPG Version 47.08 KB TITLE: [Jews praying on Williamsburg Bridge, New York City, on New Year's Day], CALL NUMBER: LOT 10892 [P&P] REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-USZ62-99960 (b&w film copy neg.) RIGHTS INFORMATION: No known restrictions on publication. |
FORMAT: Photographic prints 1900-1910. DIGITAL ID: (b&w film copy neg.) cph 3b45966 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b45966. CONTROL #: 90709368
MARC Record Line 540. No known restrictions on publication.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
New Year's Eve
< | Digital ID: pga 02472 Source: digital file from original print, Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-pga-02472 (digital file from original print) , LC-USZ62-7109 (b&w film copy neg.) , LC-USZC2-1494 (color film copy slide) Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieve Un-edited JPEG version (155 kilobytes) |
TITLE: New Year's Eve, CALL NUMBER: PGA - Restein--New Year's Eve (D size) [P&P] REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-DIG-pga-02472 (digital file from original print) LC-USZ62-7109 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-USZC2-1494 (color film copy slide)
RIGHTS INFORMATION: No known restrictions on publication. MEDIUM: 1 print. CREATED, PUBLISHED: c1876.
NOTES: G14179 U.S. Copyright Office. This record contains unverified data from PGA shelflist card. Associated name on shelflist card: Restein.
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
DIGITAL ID: (digital file from original print) pga 02472 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pga.02472 (b&w film copy neg.) cph 3a09763 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a09763
(color film copy slide) cph 3b49394 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b49394, CONTROL #: 2003677747
MARC Record Line 540. No known restrictions on publication.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
January The book of Days
This image is in the public domain in the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.
and also in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case Robert Chambers (10 July 1802 – 17 March 1871) and that most commonly run for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year.
"Came old January wrapped well
In many weeds to keep the cold away
Yet did he quake and quiver like to quell,
And blowe his nayles to warm them if he may ;
For they were numbed with holding all the day
An hatchet keene, with which he felled wood,
And from the trees did lop the needlesse spray ;
Upon an huge great Earth-pot Steane he stood,
From whose wide mouth there flowed forth the Romane flood."
In many weeds to keep the cold away
Yet did he quake and quiver like to quell,
And blowe his nayles to warm them if he may ;
For they were numbed with holding all the day
An hatchet keene, with which he felled wood,
And from the trees did lop the needlesse spray ;
Upon an huge great Earth-pot Steane he stood,
From whose wide mouth there flowed forth the Romane flood."
Spenser
Friday, December 25, 2009
Happy Holidays
Image Credit: NASA/JPL, NASA Copyright Notification: Photographs are not protected by copyright unless noted. If not copyrighted, photographs may be reproduced and distributed without further permission from NASA.NASA makes every attempt to use media on our web pages (e.g., graphics, artwork, sounds), that is free for use or in the public domain.
Generally speaking, works created by U.S. Government employees are not eligible for copyright protection in the United States. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
William Tecumseh Sherman
Sherman as a major general in May 1865. The black ribbon of mourning on his left arm is for President Lincoln. Portrait by Mathew B. Brady. (1822 – January 15, 1896) Download High Resolution PDF Access Restriction(s): Unrestricted, Use Restriction(s): Unrestricted |
This This image (or other media file) is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) in this case Mathew B. Brady. (1822 – January 15, 1896), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year.
Creator(s): War Department. Office of the Chief Signal Officer. (08/01/1866 - 09/18/1947) Type(s) of Archival Materials: Photographs and other Graphic Materials
Contact(s):
Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001. PHONE: 301-837-3530; FAX: 301-837-3621; EMAIL: stillpixorder@nara.gov.
Coverage Dates: ca. 1860 - ca. 1865, Part Of: Series: Mathew Brady Photographs of Civil War-Era Personalities and Scenes, compiled 1921 - 1940, documenting the period 1860 - 1865
General Note(s): Use War and Conflict Number 125 when ordering a reproduction or requesting information about this image. Variant Control Number(s): NAIL Control Number: NWDNS-111-B-1769
Index Terms:
* Subjects Represented in the Archival Material:
o American Civil War, 1861-1865
* Contributors to Authorship and/or Production of the Archival Materials:
o Brady National Photographic Art Gallery (Washington, D.C.) (1858 - ?), Photographer.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Adoration of the Magi
Title: The Nativity play, or, Christmas cantata, Author: Gabriel A. Healy, Publisher: D. & J. Sadlier & Company, 1885, Original from: Harvard University. Digitized: Nov 5, 2008. Length 84 pages |
This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.
THE MAGI ARRIVE AT THE CRIB.
FIRST KING.
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts, we travel afar,
Moor and mountain, field and fountain,
Following yonder star.
SECOND KING.
Oh ! star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
FIRST KING.
Gold I bring to crown Thee king,
King forever, ceasing never, o'er us all to reign.
SECOND KING.
Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a deity nigh,
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.
THIRD KING.
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom,
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
FIRST KING.
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts, we travel afar,
Moor and mountain, field and fountain,
Following yonder star.
SECOND KING.
Oh ! star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
FIRST KING.
Gold I bring to crown Thee king,
King forever, ceasing never, o'er us all to reign.
SECOND KING.
Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a deity nigh,
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.
THIRD KING.
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom,
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Star of Bethlehem
This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.
This inage is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet 28 August 1833 – 17 June 1898), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Menorah (Hanukkah)
The Hanukkah menorah (Hebrew: מנורה menorah) (also Hebrew: חַנֻכִּיָּה hanukiah, or chanukkiyah, pl. hanukiyot/chanukkiyot, or Yiddish: חנוכּה לאמפּ khanike lomp, lit.: Hanukkah lamp) is, strictly speaking, a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah, as opposed to the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple or as a symbol. The ninth holder, called the shamash ("helper or servant"), is for a candle used to light all other candles. Image License: I, (sookietex) the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In case this is not legally possible, I grant any entity the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law. |
Text: Menorah (Hanukkah) is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah
Lighting of the World's Largest Hanukkah Menorah. 32-foot-tall, two tons. The nightly lighting ceremonies is accompanied by folk dancing and sufganiyot (holiday jelly doughnuts). Grand Lighting Ceremony is Friday, December 11, 2009 at about 4PM. The celebration continues at the same time each night of Hanukkah. Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan, Fifth Avenue at 59th Street. Image License: I, (sookietex) the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In case this is not legally possible, I grant any entity the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law. |
Monday, December 14, 2009
Jesus bearing his cross
Digital ID: cph 3b50566 Source: color film copy slide Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-2692 (color film copy slide) Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA . Retrieve uncompressed archival TIFF version (4 megabytes). Unedited JPG Version 68.87 KB (70520 bytes) TITLE: Jesus bearing his cross / Jesus carregado da cruz. CALL NUMBER: PGA - Currier & Ives--Jesus bearing his cross /... (A size) [P&P]. REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-USZC2-2692 (color film copy slide) |
CREATOR: N. Currier (Firm). NOTES: Currier & Ives : a catalogue raisonné / compiled by Gale Research. Detroit, MI : Gale Research, c1983, no. 3472
REPOSITORY: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. DIGITAL ID: (color film copy slide) cph 3b50566 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b50566. CONTROL #: 2002707660
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The spirit of Christmas Angel
Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.
This inage may however not be in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case Spencer Baird Nichols 1875-1950), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year. If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.
This inage may however not be in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case Spencer Baird Nichols 1875-1950), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year. If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve. Title{ Holly and mistletoe. Author: Rosalie Koch. Translated by: Trauermantel (pseud.) Publisher: Croeby and Nichols, 1859. Original from: Harvard University. Digitized: Jan 29, 2009. Length: 249 pages. This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain. |
The sun had set, and the buyers were hastening home to arrange tho Christmas-tree for their little ones ; here and there a poor mother would be bargaining for a wooden doll or some candy figures for her child, and obtain them at half price merely because tho ground, in spite of the freezing cold, burned beneath tho feet of the seller, who was also longing to return to her humble dwelling, whore so many little preparations and tender cares awaited her.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
A Christmas Carol Gob Cratchit and Tiny Tim
Bob's voice was tremulous when he told them this, and trembled more when he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong and hearty.
His active little crutch was heard upon the floor, and back came Tiny Tim before another word was spoken, escorted by his brother and sister to his stool beside the fire; and while Bob, turning up his cuffs—as if, poor fellow, they were capable .of being made more shabby — compounded some hot mixture in a jug with gin and lemons, and stirred it round and round, and put it on the hob to simmer, Master Peter and the two ubiquitous young Cratchits went to fetch the goose, with which they soon returned in high procession.
Such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all birds; a feather phenomenon, to which a black swan was a matter of course and, in truth, it was something very like it in that house. Mrs. Cratchit made the gravy (ready beforehand in a little saucepan) hissing hot; Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour; Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple sauce; Martha dusted the hot plates; Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table, the two young Cratchits set chairs for everybody, not forgetting themselves, and, mounting guard upon their posts, crammed spoons into their mouths, lest they should shriek for goose before their turn came to be helped.
At last the dishes were set on, and grace was said. It was succeeded by a breathless pause, as Mrs. Cratchit, looking slowly all along the carving-knife, prepared to plunge it in the breast; but when she did, and when the long-expected gush of stuffing issued forth, one murmur of delight arose all round the board, and even Tiny Tim, excited by the two young Cratchits, beat on the table with the handle of his knife and feebly cried Hurrah!
Title: A Christmas carol in prose: being a ghost story of Christmas. Author: Charles Dickens. Publisher: Little, Brown, 1920. Original from: the University of Virginia. Digitized: Jul 7, 2009. Length: 166 pages, Art by: John Leech (29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864 in London) was an English caricaturist and illustrator and Frederick Barnard (1846 London - September 1896).
This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.
This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case John Leech 29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864) and Frederick Barnard 1846 London - September 1896, and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
sookietex) the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In case this is not legally possible, I grant any entity the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.
If This image is subject to copyright in your jurisdiction, i (sookietex) the copyright holder have irrevocably released all rights to it, allowing it to be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited in any way by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, with or without attribution of the author, as if in the public domain.
If This image is subject to copyright in your jurisdiction, i (sookietex) the copyright holder have irrevocably released all rights to it, allowing it to be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited in any way by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, with or without attribution of the author, as if in the public domain.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Christmas Lights New York City
Christmas Lights brighten the street on Manhattan's Upper Westside, Cafe Lalo, 201 West 83rd St. (btw. Amsterdam and Broadway) New York, NY 10024. November 2009. |
If This image is subject to copyright in your jurisdiction, i (sookietex) the copyright holder have irrevocably released all rights to it, allowing it to be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, used, modified, built upon, or otherwise exploited in any way by anyone for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, with or without attribution of the author, as if in the public domain.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
A Christmas Carol 'Old Fezziwig'
But if they had been twice as many—ah ! four times—old Fezziwig would have been a match for them, and so would Mrs. Fezziwig. As to her, she was worthy to be his partner in every sense of the term. If that's not high praise, tell me higher, and I '11 use it. A positive light appeared to issue from Fezziwig's calves. They shone in every part of the dance like moons. You couldn't have predicted, at any given time, what would become of them next. And when old Fezziwig and Mrs. Fezziwig had gone all through the dance; advance and retire, both hands to your partner, bow and curtsy, cork-screw, thread-the-needle, and back again to your place ; Fezziwig ' cut'—cut so deftly, that he appeared to wink with his legs, and came upon his feet again without a stagger.
When the clock struck eleven, this domestic ball broke up. Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig took their stations, one on either side the door, and, shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas. When everybody had retired but the two 'prentices, they did the same to them ; and thus the cheerful voices died away, and the lads were left to their beds; which were under a counter in the backshop.
Title: A Christmas carol in prose: being a ghost story of Christmas. Author: Charles Dickens. Publisher: Little, Brown, 1920. Original from: the University of Virginia. Digitized: Jul 7, 2009. Length: 166 pages, Art by: John Leech (29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864 in London) was an English caricaturist and illustrator.
This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.
This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case John Leech 29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
A Christmas Carol Marley's Ghost
Again the spectre raised a cry, and shook its chain, and wrung its shadowy hands.
" You are fettered," said Scrooge, trembling. " Tell me why V
'' I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. " I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you f"
Scrooge trembled more and more.
" Or would you know," pursued the Ghost, " the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself ? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it, since. It is a ponderous chain !"
Scrooge glanced about him on the floor, in the expectation of finding himself surrounded by some fifty or sixty fathoms of iron cable : but he could see nothing.
" Jacob," he said, imploringly. " Old Jacob Marley, tell me more. Speak comfort to me, Jacob."
" I have none to give," -the Ghost replied. " It comes from other regions, Ebenczer Scrooge, and is conveyed by other ministers, to other kinds of men. Nor can I tell you what I would. A very little more, is all permitted to mc. I cannot rest, I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere. My spirit never walked beyond our counting-house—mark me!—in life my spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing hole and weary journeys lie before me!"
Title: A Christmas carol in prose: being a ghost story of Christmas. Author: Charles Dickens. Publisher: Little, Brown, 1920. Original from: the University of Virginia. Digitized: Jul 7, 2009. Length: 166 pages, Art by: John Leech (29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864 in London) was an English caricaturist and illustrator.
This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
A Christmas Carol the Ghost of Christmas Present
Title: A Christmas carol in prose: being a ghost story of Christmas. Author: Charles Dickens. Publisher: Little, Brown, 1920. Original from: the University of Virginia. Digitized: Jul 7, 2009. Length: 166 pages, Art by: John Leech (29 August 1817 – 29 October 1864 in London) was an English caricaturist and illustrator. This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1924 are now in the public domain. |
"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. " Look upon me!"
Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple deep green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free: free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust.
" You have never seen the like of me before!" exclaimed the Spirit.
" Never," Scrooge made answer to it.
" Have never walked forth with the younger members of my family; meaning (for I am vt^y young) my elder brothers born in these later years ?" pursued the Phantom.
" I don't think I have," said Scrooge. " X am afraid I have not. Have you had many brothers, Spirit?"
'' More than eighteen hundred," said the Ghost.
" A tremendous family to provide for!" muttered Scrooge.