In such a fast-paced day and age, a visit to the MOAH library can
be a welcome change of pace. The library, though modest in appearance,
contains a wealth of information on America's past.
The library carries primarily older books and magazines, but the
collection covers a wide range of topics. Filling the shelves are
books and magazines on science, medicine, crafts, inventions, toys,
and antiques.
Period researchers will appreciate the price guides and catalogs.
There are also maintenance guides and various "how to" books on hand.
Though you won't find a computer or internet access here, you will
discover (and can try) an authentic World War I typewriter, a relic
from days when word processing involved required strong fingers, and
jammed keys were the most frequently experienced "system crash".
Just pulling a book or old magazine from a shelf, leafing through
it's sturdy pages, and breathing in the inky richness of print and paper
makes the visit a worthwhile experience. The whole library seems to have
the power to quickly transport you back in time, to the glory days of
invention and advertising.
One of the most noteworthy aspects of the library is its large
collection of Sunset magazines, dating from 1910 to 1944. A look through
these reveals Sunset's changing emphasis over time. Content evolved
from prose and poetry to articles of a more political nature, and
finally, to subjects such as cooking and gardening, the Sunset content
now familiar to most of us.
One cannot look at these old magazines without noting the remarkable changes
that took place over the 20th century. Wartime messages urging America
to conserve energy or to invest in war bonds make the wars seem more
real, especially for those of us too young to remember. Other articles
and advertisements, often depicting women in the role of homemaker,
might seem more than a little dated. And some of the advertisements
promoting odd inventions that never quite made it are funny; you cannot
help but smile a little and feel nostalgic as you read them.
While the books and magazines cannot be checked out, copies can
be made upon request. So come by and browse a bit. Whether you're
researching a particular subject or just want to escape a little,
the past is, sometimes, a great place to be.
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This page last updated September 29, 2000 |