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Banjo Tablatures
This comprehensive site covers many aspects of bluegrass banjo music. It includes bluegrass news, information, history, trivia, and multimedia. Also includes lesson plans for banjo, sample tablatures, bibliographies, workshops, and...
Tennessee History For Kids
Tennessee History for Kids: Bessie Smith
Often known as the "Empress of the Blues," Bessie Smith influenced entire generations of blues, jazz, and rock musicians and was the highest-paid black entertainer of her time. This website will provide more information about Smith's...
US Department of Energy
Natural Gas: Fueling the Blue Flame
Natural gas is a colorless and odorless fossil fuel that is used in almost half the homes for heat. Learn more about this non-renewable energy resource.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: History and Archaeology: Indigo
Discussion of how production of the blue dye, indigo, helped boost the economy of Georgia and South Carolina in the seventeenth and eighteenth century until the Revolutionary War when England stopped buying it and production collapsed.
Computer History Museum
Computer History Museum: Mastering the Game: A History of Computer Chess
Exhibit documenting the important advances in hardware and software that made computer chess a reality.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 2: Langston Hughes and the Blues
Explore relationship between music and poetry in this African-American history lesson on Langston Hughes, the Harlem Renaissance, and other artists such as Bessie Smith, John Hammond, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon State Archives: The Oregon Blue Book
The Oregon Blue Book, the official state directory and fact book, provides a wealth of information about Oregon. "FACTS," contains almanac references, economy information, scenic images, capital city information, and state buildings;...
Other
Saudi Aramco World: Muslim Roots, u.s. Blues
This site explores the link between Muslim traditions and American blues music. Using audio content, pictures, text, and the song ?Levee Camp Holler,? this site examines African Muslim history tied to the history of U.S. Blues.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Influenza 1918: Rupert Blue
Describes the role that Rupert Blue, Surgeon General of the United States in 1918, played in combating and containing the influenza epidemic of 1918.
Ohio History Central
Ohio History Central: Harmar's Defeat
A history of the defeat of an American Army led by General Josiah Harmar in 1790 against the Delaware, Miami and Shawnee Indians near Fort Wayne in Indiana. Involved were men, both white and Indian, who fought in the Northwest struggles.
Smithsonian Institution
Encyclopedia Smithsonian: The Hope Diamond
Detailed description and history of the Hope Diamond, a large deep-blue diamond housed in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
The Washington Post
The Washington Post: "The History of Jazz," Chapter 1
This site offers the first chapter of Ted Gioia's book, "The History of Jazz." This chapter focuses on the prehistory of jazz, including the Africanization of American music, country blues and classic blues, and Scott Joplin and Ragtime.
Other
Icga: Aquamarine, Gem of the Sea
A brief description of the physical properties of the aquamarine gemstone, along with a perspective on its history and metaphysical properties.
University of Florida
Florida Museum of Natural History: Blue Shark
The Florida Museum of Natural History presents an in-depth look at the blue shark, named for its distinctive blue color. Learn about the taxonomy, common names, geographical distribution, conservation, habitat, food habits, reproduction,...
Other
The Bluegrass Guitar Homepage
Source of information about the acoustic flat-top guitar and the playing styles used in bluegrass music. Recommendations for instructional materials to learn to play; history of Doc Watson, discussion areas, links.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Blues Music: Overview
Overview and definition of blues music that developed in the southern United States in the early nineteenth century. Performers from Georgia include Ray Charles, Ma Rainey, Little Richard, and the Allman Brothers.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: America Rocks and Rolls
Read a brief history of rock and roll and its roots. See why this form of music shook the establishment and shattered the idea of conformity.
Northern Arizona University
People and Land Use on the Colorado Plateau
Description of the people that have lived in the Colorado Plateau over the past 12,000 years. It started with the Paleoindians and has included such people as the Archaic culture, Anasazi, Hopi, Zuni, Pais cultures, and Navajos among...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: Blue Ringed Octopus O Logy Card
Flip this interactive OLogy card to find fast facts, questions and answers, and other bite-size pieces of information about the blue-ringed octopus.
PBS
Pbs American Masters: Scientific American: Following Muddy's Trail
This site has a lesson plan on Muddy Waters focused on the American Masters documentary about him. Parallels the Great Migration with the growth of the blues music movement in America. Click on Muddy's name to access a detailed biography...
Other
History in Motion: Boll Weevil Blues
This scenario shows the spread of the weevil and a few of the songs that singers such as Charley Patton, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and others created in the wake of its devastation. Click on the events to see the details of the...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: School Publishers: You're a Grand Old Flag
"Every country has a flag. A flag stands for a country and the people who live there. What do you know about flags? Click on one of the choices to find out more."
Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon History: Troubled Times
Although this site concerns itself with Oregon, the issues are nationwide. Article discusses the background of the Populist movement.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Blue Whale
As far as we know, the blue whale is the largest animal ever to have existed on the planet. Weights up to 190,000 kg (as much as 30-40 African elephants) have been recorded. Learn more about the Balaenoptera musculus, more commonly known...