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M. Brett

@mebrett.bsky.social
1.3K followers 451 following 535 posts

Historian (public, digital, Early United States), now in Libraries/Archives. You might have known me as magpie on the birdsite. All views expressed/re-posted here are solely mine & do not reflect any employer past, present, or future.

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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
As a cohabitant with a 19 year old cat, "intermittently cuddly and curmudgeonly" sounds perfectly accurate for a Feline Who Has Life Experience. Please give him my regards 😻
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Toss-up between the movie Mr. Boogedy, the trolls in Willow, and the Granada adaptation of "The Adventure of the Creeping Man." And yes, two of those three do share a specific kind of creepy.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
That is a gorgeous cat.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Foggy here this morning! But I can now see the whole parking lot (rather than just the part closest to me) so it might be getting safe enough to head to work.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I love traveling and seeing friends. I also love (seriously) coming home and being lectured by my very old, very loud cat. He's such a sweetheart and a grump, all at once.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Seconded!
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
American Archive of Public Broadcasting americanarchive.org
americanarchive.org
American Archive of Public Broadcasting
A collaboration between GBH and the Library of Congress with a long-term vision to preserve and make accessible significant historical content created by public media.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I know that’s not a unique or new thought. Just something that I’m chewing on while in this session about preserving local news media. And that I think about anytime people talk about “digitize everything discard the originals”
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Thinking about the ways that digital is and is not ephemeral. On the one hand, “don’t put it on the internet if you don’t want it to last” (social media, web archives, data privacy issues. But digital can be hard to keep (storage, file formats, physical tech needs)
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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 19/09/2026
As someone whose 11.5 nephew has voluntold me I’m running “D&D” for him while I’m in DC, I appreciate Evan’s sneaky success in following the spirit and not the letter of the request…
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Yes, that got mentioned! And other projects for news media more generally; this project is working with these projects. They’ve touched on some of the differences working with the corporate stations vs PBS stations, but only briefly.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Final session for me is hearing about the News Media Archive of Rhode Island - www.nmari.org. Trying to give local TV and radio news archives the same attention and preservation which has been given to local newspapers. #WorkOfRevolution #localArchives
nmari.org
NewsMediaArchive
The News Media Archive of Rhode Island (NMARI) collects, preserves, and provides public access to the state's audiovisual news heritage. Starting from the position that local news is vital civic infra...
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Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Good to see this national AI conversation get going. But it’s still too much on Silicon Valley’s terms. The rest of us don’t have to act like everything is computer. We can talk real world instead of sci fi. We don’t need to put tech companies’ power and profit first, and societal impacts second.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Snuck away from the conference for a few minutes to join an old friend at a street concert by the students of her school. Amazing kids!
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Larry Cebula @larrycebula.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Friends, does your university, museum, archive or whatever have an official policy on the use of AI? And can you please share it? #workofrevolution #artificialintelligence #AI #publichistory
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Already multiple compliments today on my [illegible] design shirt. It’s from the Friends of the Virginia State Archives www.bonfire.com/illegible/?p... #WorkOfRevolution
bonfire.com
[illegible] | Bonfire
Buy [illegible] merchandise that supports Friends of the Virginia State Archives Inc. Featuring Black Softstyle Cotton Tees, professionally printed in the USA.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I hope I manage to find you in person! There are so many people here!
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Omg. I love it.
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Selena M Moon @selenammoon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Nice to see everyone at #NCPH/AASLH26. Have 3 simultaneous sessions so hopping around. For #accessibility please use a mic, large text, among many other measures. #WorkOfRevolution
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Sharing from this morning’s session doing #WorkofRevolution at NCPH/AASLH - resources and zones from Here and Now to help with “designed to support community-engaged humanities research and storytelling.” nowandhere.org/resources
nowandhere.org
Resources | Now & Here
In this collection of zines and other resources, our Digital Strategy Team offers tips, tricks, and best practices for bringing new digital storytelling to life based on the work of our Fellows and pr...
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Can I give Bardic Inspiration to a few people?
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Dan Howlett @dhowlett1692.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
At NCPH and AASLH but curious about who is on these stickers? We turned Reddit's Snoo mascot into historical figures- and we have bios for each of them! Learn more about Jane Snoosten (Austen) here: www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
reddit.com
From the AskHistorians community on Reddit: New Snoo Sunday: Introducing Viola Snoomond, Snoosé Rizal, and Jane Snoosten
Explore this post and more from the AskHistorians community
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Good morning from NCPH/AASLH #WorkOfRevolution! I’ve already caught up with old friends and made some new ones.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
That feels oddly appropriate …
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
So cool!
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Hannah Alpert-Abrams @halperta.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
There are few people who give me more hope for the future of education than @walshbr.bsky.social. Brandon's new book is sharp, generous, and helpful. If you are interested in teaching, higher education, or digital humanities, put this at the top of your reading list.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
It’s slower than flying but sometimes cheaper. I like to do it when I don’t have to change trains (especially when it saves me from I-95/the NJ Turnpike)
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Currently reading my way through a British Library Crime Classics anthology “Blood on the Tracks: Railway Mysteries.” I am also taking the train to my conference :)
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
See you soon!
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I am still not great at BlueSky - has anyone created a feed for the NCPH/ASSLH hashtag(s)?
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Historian river cruise? ;)
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Oof. Yeah that would be terrible.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I’m glad they had fun! It seems like it would be overwhelming.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Today a former colleague is on Jeopardy! I remember when a Montpelier colleague was on the show and spent weeks (months?) beforehand practicing with a mock buzzer. It’s all about buzzer speed!
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
It was so much fun reading the program and going “Oh! [Name] is going to be there! Awesome!”
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Looking forward to catching up with many old friends (and undoubtedly making new ones) at the joint @ncph.bsky.social / @aaslh.org conference!
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
It’s the combination of mirror and detail, I think My dad collected and carved rubber stamps. Some of them made no sense until you used them!
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I’m curious to see if it’s any less odd when printed
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Disney’s Three Musketeers (from the 90s) is kinda like a TTRPG where there are 3 veteran players, a new player who’s enthusiastic, and a DM who likes to play scenery-chewing villains…
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
My sister uses the Pair glasses and loves them. It’s tempting but I think I would be tempted to gat all of the frames.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I think I’m going to have to just bite the bullet and buy a pair of prescription sunglasses.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Multiple calls a day from robots representing “Member Services”. Yesterday I took the call and just spoke French at them. Today I think I might either launch into patter songs or start cursing up a blue streak.
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Yes. It’s terrifying.
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Cate Denial @cjdenial.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Anyone have insights for Liz?
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
“I would rather die” “That can Be Arranged!”
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Reverse chronological or alphabetical. :)
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Movie marathon?
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Lady Postseason, Himbos at Her Feet (she/her) @maggiesox.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
LOOK. Y’all don’t know how obsessed I was with this movie.
youtu.be
ANNIE (1982): “Easy Street” Full Clip | Sony Pictures Kids Zone #WithMe
YouTube video by Sony Pictures KIDS ZONE
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M. Brett @mebrett.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Clue is one of my all time favorite movies. I love Muppet Treasure Island, RHPS, and even Disney’s 3 Musketeers. Tim Curry has been an icon for my whole life. I am heartbroken
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Brett Bobley @brettbobley.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Highly recommended reading from my wonderful former colleague at NEH, Molly Hardy. (Related aside: I once asked one of the DOGE boys "who would ever want to work here after what you've done?" To which he replied, "oh, NEH will be so much better soon." Yeah, fuck off.)
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