Danbury Library Blog

Recently I saw a fascinating documentary on the History Channel which was entitled "Hitler's Death." It was an in-depth look at the forensic evidence surrounding the death of Hitler in the bunker in April of 1945. The major reporter for this documentary was Nick Bellantoni. I knew I recognized his name and then realized that he is the Connecticut State Archeologist as well as an adjunct professor of Anthropology at the University of Connecticut. He visited Berlin and Moscow in order to review the forensic evidence. The Russians were the first to enter the bunker after Hitler's death. In the Moscow State Archive the Russians had a fragment of skull which they claimed had come from Hitler's brain and a bloodstained fragment from Hitler's sofa. Bellantoni was able to examine the brain fragment and sofa fragment in Moscow. He was able to take a swab of the blood on the sofa and took photographs of the skull fragment. He took these findings back to his laboratory at the University of Connecticut and had a team of scientists examine them. His findings were surprising. The skull DNA was female and also from a younger person. It could not possibly have been from Hitler. The blood on the sofa was from a male but could not be identified as Hitler's. The result is a mystery reopened and the possibility that Hitler did not die in the bunker. And Connecticut is at the center of it all. An interesting story about Hitler's possible survival is The Portage to San Cristobal of A. H. by George Steiner.

Posted by John O'Donnell at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Danbury's One Book, One Community begins in October with a month full of events and programs dedicated to the book, "Hurry Down Sunshine" by Michael Greenberg. New for 2009, we have an essay contest in which winners will win $200 and dinner with the author. The deadline is October 1st, and there are three categories available for entry. For more details, visit our One Book, One Community website.

Our first event is on Monday, October 5, with a showing of the movie Awakenings at WestConn at the Student Center Theatre. Join us for an evening with great film and great discussion.

For a complete list of all events for One Book, One Community, visit the events page at the One Book, One Community site.

Posted by Merry at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's been reported that NYC police and fire personnel still use the above expression when faced with a situation made hazardous because a building is so packed with junk/stuff . The Collyer brothers, the famous recluses/hoarders whose Harlem home contained over 100 tons of junk collected over decades (as seen in photo) were discovered deceased amidst the rubble in 1947.

In his new book, Homer & Langley, author E.L. Doctorow takes some of the basic facts of the Collyer brothers' lives and weaves them into a fictional account which has been described as a "small but sweeping masterpiece." Doctorow views the Collyers as "two brothers who opted out of civilization and pulled the world in after them."

Posted by Mary at 02:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We all know Sir Isaac Newton for his titanic scientific achievements. He did groundbreaking work in the fields of gravity, the laws of motion, calculus, optics and alchemy. But he had another career that few people are aware of. In 1696 he left the University of Cambridge (where he had worked for thirty years) and went to London to work as Warden (and later Master) of His Majesty's Mint. This story is told in a new book by Thomas Levenson which is entitled Newton and the Counterfeiter... When he took up this position England's currency was in the midst of a severe crisis. Silver was flowing out of England to the European continent. This had an almost catastrophic effect on the English currency which was based on silver coinage. Newton had to evolve a plan to rescue the English economy. He also locked horns with a master counterfeiter, William Chaloner, who forged bank notes, bonds, personal checks, and clipped silver coins. Newton corresponded with and pursued Chaloner (and other currency criminals) and his work led to the imprisonment and execution of Chaloner. Newton added to his already formidable scientific achievements a record of solid accomplishments in transforming the British economy.

Posted by John O'Donnell at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In his 1977 Commencement Address to my graduating class at Holy Cross, Sen. Ted Kennedy told us "because so much has been given to you, be worthy of your stewardship and the promise of this land".

My father later commented "Teddy gave a good speech". That's the way it was--when and where I grew up (R.I. and Mass). If someone spoke of Jack, Bobby or Teddy, it was not necessary to use the last name. They were a part of our lives. We were shaken by their tragedies, embarrassed and horrified by some missteps but always loyal to the cause

In his professional life Ted Kennedy was unwavering in his commitment to speaking for those who have no voice and inspiring many to public service.

His reportedly very candid memoir True Compass will not be the last word on Teddy but they are his final words on a remarkable life.

Posted by Mary at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I recently rewatched the movie version of John LeCarre's novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. The book has been hailed as the most realistic spy novel since its publication in 1963. I have read the book and seen the movie multiple times. But in watching it again this week I was struck by one segment of the movie in particular. The story centers around Alec Leamas who is ostensibly being retired from the British Secret Service. This is in order to set in motion a highly complex plot to bring down the head of the East German Spy Service who has killed all of the British agents in East Berlin. After Leamas leaves the spy service he is sent to the unemployment office to find a job. His case worker, Mr. Pitt, finds him a job in the Bayswater Library for Psychic Research. Pitt tells Leamas: "They're an odd lot..." Leamas goes to work in the library and finds out the truth in Pitt's statement. Leamas immediately locks horns with the head librarian, Miss Crail, who tries to be a dictator with Leamas. When he goes out at lunchtime he hits the local pub for some drinks as well as some food shopping. He brings his shopping bag into the library and draws a sharp reprimand from Miss Crail: "I regret" she continued at last, "that we do not allow it, bringing shopping bags into the library." Miss Crail grows to hate Leamas in the short time he works at the library. However, the other librarian, Liz Gold, is friendly to him and they fall in love. She is a menber of the British Communist Party and is eventually dragged into the plot against Leamas' wishes. When she is brought into a tribunal in East Berlin to testify, Leamas tells them to send her home and he will tell them everything. He describes her thus: "She's just a frustrated little girl from a crackpot library-she's no good to you. " Then he realizes that the operation is not at all what he thought it was with tragic consequences for the both of them.

Posted by John O'Donnell at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)