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Previous Reference Questions - 2001
Q: What is meant by "pin money"?
A: Pin money is an allowance or sum of money a woman would put aside to purchase pins.
Source: : Devious Derivations, by Hugh Rawson
Submitted by Lauren Clark, Reference Assistant
Q: What did President Abraham Lincoln keep in his silk top hat?
A: President Lincoln kept important business papers and memoranda in his hat.
Source: : The Humorous Mr. Lincoln, by Keith W. Johnson 1965
Submitted by Lauren Clark & Diane Carney, Reference Assistants
Q: What are the "Oscars" and from where was the term derived?
A: The "Oscars", inaugurated in 1928, are officially known as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards for the best achievements in performance and filmmaking for each calendar year. The Librarian of the Academy, Margaret Herrick, remarked that the statuette looked like her uncle Oscar, coining the term "Oscars" since 1931.
Source: The Film Encyclopedia, by Ephraim Katz 1994
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn, Reference Department
Q: What are the names of the "Crash Test Dummies" seen on the car commercials?
A: The "Crash Test Dummies" are named Vince and Larry. Vince, the older of the two, is often found in the gray suit, while Larry wears the blue suit. They were developed by the National Ad Council, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the United States Department of Transportation. They spend their time educating the publice on seat belt and trasportation safety.
Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration .
Submitted by Laureen Clark, Reference Department
Q: How many square feet are in a square yard?
A: One square yard is equal to 9 square feet or 3ft x 3 ft. The origin of the word yard stems from an ancient root corresponding to the present-day English word growth.
Source: The Macmillan Dictionary of Measurement edited by Mike Darton and John Clark.
Submitted by Laurie Dumas, Reference Department
Q: Where did the computer term bug originate?
A: The slang term bug is used to describe problems and errors occuring in computer programs. The term is believed to have originated in the 1940s at Harvard University. When investigating the malfunction of one of the computers, a dead moth was found and believed to be the cause of system's failure.
Source: The Science and Technology Desk Reference edited by The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Science and Technology Department.
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Department
Q: What major event and year was the only time LIFE magazine printed its quintessential logo in black instead of red?
A: The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 not only put a black cloud over America, but also a black typeset on LIFE magazine in his honor.
Source: Life Sixty Years: A 60th Anniversary Celebration by The Editors of Life.
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Department
Q: How was May Day originally observed and how has that changed?
A: The first day of May, or "May Day", has been observed as a holiday since ancient times. Spring festivals, maypoles, and maying can still be seen today. It is believed to originate from the old Roman Floralia, or festival of flowers. May Day traditions can be traced back to Paganism as well. May Day has been transformed over the century, however, into a holiday for the workers. In many other countries it is their version of Labor Day.
Source: Chase's Calendar of Events 2001 .
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Department
Q: What was the first American novel?
A: The first novel published in America was The Power of Sympathy or the Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth, printed in Boston in 1789. The author, William Hill Brown, used the pen name, "philenia." It is a sentimental novel about the trials of love and spirit of women.
Source: Famous First Facts edited by Joseph Nathan Kane .
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn, Reference Department
Q: Which U.S. town boasts the claim of "Birthplace of Memorial Day"?
A: Boalsburg, a small town in Pennsylvania, proudly displays the claim of Birthplace of Memorial Day. The villiage of approximately 800 people maintains that the ceremonious decoration of the soldiers graves on July 4, 1864 was the origin of Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was first known. Boalsburg, however, is just one of 25 places claiming to be the original location of Memorial Day.
Source: The Folklore of American Holidays edited by Hennig Cohen and Tristram Potter Coffin .
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn, Reference Department
Q: What is the origin of the traditional pastime of the "barbecue"?
A: The English began to use the word as early as 1665 and it was most likely derived from the Spanish word barbacoa. According to the unabridged Random House Dictionary, a barbacoa was "a raised frame of sticks" in which meat or fish was dried, grilled, or smoked upon. When introduced to the United States towards the end of the 17th century, the design was not only used as a gridiron for cooking, but also as a bedstead for sleeping. It was just a short time before the term "barbecue" was to signify an animal roasted or broiled over an outdoor pit. It soon was known to be an "open-air social or political gathering at which such was the chief food served came to be called a barbecue. On September 18, 1773, President George Washington wrote in his diary about attending his own barbecue."
Source: A Book About a Thousand Things by George Stimpson.
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn, Reference Department
Q: What is the origin of the Lady of Justice?
A: The origin of the Lady of Justice is believed to be the Greek mythological goddess, Themis. This deity was daughter to Uranus and Gaia and was a partner and advisor to Zeus. Themis was a Titan who believed in and taught obedience to laws and peace. "She became known as a goddess of divine justice." The depictions of her carrying a sword in one hand and the scales of justice in the other with her eyes covered is used to this day as our symbol of law and justice.
Source: Common Law .
Submitted by Maureen Delovio, Reference Librarian
Q: How many amendments are there to the United States Constitution?
A: There are 27 amendments, or changes, to the Constitution. According to the Constitution of the United States, Article V-Constitution: how amended; proviso-, states that amendments can be proposed by congress. The ten original amendments are know as the Bill of Rights and were ratified between the years of 1789 to 1939. The last amendment to date is Amendment XXVII-Congressional pay, proposed by Congress in 1789 and ratified in 1992.
Source: The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2001 .
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant
Q: Which is the only planet whose surface can be seen in detail from the Earth?
A: Mars, also known as the Red Planet, is the only planet of the nine that we can see a detailed surface. Mars neighbors the earth, with its closest approach at 34,600,000 miles away. In fact, Mars is at this closest point to the Earth as of June 21, 2001. The last time Mars was this close to our planet was in 1988. The planet should be visible and bright in the southeast sky for the next two weeks. Be sure to take a look, especially in the late evening.
Source: The World Book Encyclopedia, 2001 .
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant
Q: What is the origin of Fireworks?
A: It is believed that fireworks were indirectly discovered in China as a consequence to gunpowder over two thousand years ago. Its original uses ranged from frightening away devils to arms in battles. It was not until the late 1500s that fireworks were used for pleasure in a public display. Today,fireworks have become a popular form of entertainment all around the world.
Source: The Illustrated Science and Invention Encyclopedia..
Submitted by Kate Carroll,Reference Assistant
Q: Where on the human body are the adrenal glands located and what is their general function?
A: There are two adrenal glands in the body, each one located on top of each kidney. They are about the size of a grape and consist of two parts, the core or medulla and the Cortex, or outer layer. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help control your heart rate and blood pressure and therefore, help you to cope with physical and mental stress.
Source: The American Medical Association Family Medical Guide,edited by Asher Finkel, MD and Jeffrey Kunz, MD.
Submitted by Laureen Clark,Reference Assistant
Q: Who is believed to be the real Mother Goose?
A: Although there are numerous theories behind the phenomenon of "Mother Goose", there is reasonable support for the idea that Elizabeth Goose, a Massachusetts woman, was Mother Goose. Elizabeth Foster became a stepmother to 10 children when she married a widower named Isaac Goose in 1682. The couple ended up with a total of 14 children, which was a challenge for Elizabeth. Apparently she had a persistent memory for old stories, fables, and rhymes and used them to entertain and quiet all her children. In 1719, Elizabeth's son-in-law, Thomas Fleet, published a repertoire of her tales Songs for the Nursery, or Mother Goose's Melodies for Children. (There is no known copy existing today). Elizabeth Goose died in 1757 and at the least, is known as the real American Mother Goose.
Source: Famous Americans You Never Knew Existed, by Bruce Felton and Mark Fowler,edited by Asher Finkel, MD and Jeffrey Kunz, MD.
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: What are stem cells and what are their importance?
A: Stem Cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to proliferate indefinitely in culture. They can form into any adult cell, particularly specialized cells. Embryonic stem cells are derived from fertilized embryos less than a week old. These cells are of great interest to medicine and science because of their ability to develop into virtually any cell made by the human body. Scientists believe that they are a potential source of adult cells such as blood, bone, or neural. For more information on stem cells, click on the National Institutes of Health website.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assisstant
Q: Who once stated, "the dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book"?
A: Walt Whitman, a mid 19th century poet, was the author of this quote. In 1855, his collection of poems, Leaves of Grass, shocked both the English Victorians and the American Puritans. The book has been banned throughout time because of it's content of sexual love. Banned Books Week is celebrated September 22nd-29th.
Source: American Library Association
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: Who is the author of "America the Beautiful"?
A: Katherine Lee Bates (1859-1929), a poet and professor of English, composed the poem "America the Beautiful" in 1893. She was inspired by her journey across the country, particularly the spectacular view she had from Pikes Peak in Colorado. When it was published in the Congregationalist in 1895, America was smitten and it soon became the unofficial national anthem. At last, the poem was put to Samuel Augustus Ward's "Materna," making it one of the most popular patriotic songs in America.
Source: Notable American Women 1607-1950: A Biographical Dictionary edited by Edward James, Janet James, and Paul Boyer.
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: Which city is considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world?
A: The Syrian capitol of Damascus has the reputation of being the oldest city in the world. Excavations of the city demonstrated that an urban center existed in the 4th millennium BC. Damascus was mentioned in Egyptian records of 4 thousand years ago. The city was under the reign of the Assyrian Kingdom until 333 BC when it was conquered by Alexander the Great. It remained under the Roman empire until 635 AD when it was conquered by the Arab Muslim armies. Damascus was the most important center of Arab Islamic culture for almost for over a century. In 1946, Syria became an independent republic, attributing to much of the growth of the ancient city. Today, Damascus has a population of over 3 million with over 200 mosques.
Source: Britannica Encyclopedia 15th Edition
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: How long does immunity from smallpox last after treated with the vaccination?
A: Popular belief has it that the smallpox vaccination lasts for approximately twenty years. Estimates from the Center of Disease Control, however, suggest immunity from the vaccination only lasts between 3 to 5 years. Routine vaccination against smallpox ended in 1972 and in 1977, the World Health Organization stated that smallpox was eliminated from the world. To learn more about smallpox, visit the CDC website.
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: Who's voice and work is on the first Audio Book?
A: The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas recorded several of his poems for commercial use in 1952. He was approached by two college graduates after the poet gave a reading in New York. The name of the recording was A Child's Christmas in Wales and Five Poems, which included the poem "Do Not Go Gentile Into That Good Night." Although Whitman, Joyce, and Hemmingway had all recorded their voices prior to Thomas, they were not available to the public. Caedmon, Roney, an Cohen's Company will celebrate their fiftieth anniversary in February with the release of Dylan Thomas: The Caedmon Recordings.
Source: Book Magazine November/December 2001
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: Where was the nation's first capital?
A: New York City served as the nation's first capital for a brief period of time after the Constitution was ratified. The first Congress met in N.Y. city in March of 1789 and on April 30th of that year George Washington was inaugurated. In 1790, the Congress approved the building of a new capital city in Washington, D.C. The seat of government moved temporarily to Philadelphia until the construction was complete.
Source: Congressional Quarterly's Desk Reference on American Government
by Bruce Wettrau
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: How do Cell Phones Work?
A: Since a cell phone is actually a radio, they rely on frequencies to function. They are a duplex frequency radio which means they use two frequencies at once so that two people can communicate. The term "cell" stems from the cellular system in which a given city is divided into small cells, allowing for multiple users at any given time. Each cell has a base station and covers about 10 square miles. Within each cell there are approximately 832 radio frequencies allowing for 56 individuals using the same frequency in any given cell. To learn more about cell phones visit the following website.
Source: How Stuff Works
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: Who named our state and why is it called Rhode Island?
A: During the 17th Century, Dutch explorer, Adrian Block named the red clay shores of our state Roodt Eylandt, or "red island." While under British occupancy, Roodt Eylandt was anglicized and became Rhode Island.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Rhode Island, 2001
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: When was the first income tax levied by Congress?
A: The first income tax law was drafted on August 5, 1861 and effective on January 1, 1862. It imposed a 3% tax on incomes exceeding $800. It was created to support the Civil War effort, however, it was never truly enforced. The income tax was abolished in 1872, and although reintroduced in 1894, it was not ratified until 1913. This 16th Amendment to the Constitution gave Congress the power to lay and collect income tax.
Source: Famous First Facts, 5th Ed., 1997
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant
Q: Who was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize?
A: Alex Haley, born in 1921, was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for his novel Roots . His first major accomplishment was the Autobiography of Malcom X written with Malcom X in 1964. While tracing his family ancestry, Haley traveled to West Africa and began to write a blend of fiction and nonfiction, creating Roots: The Saga of an American Family, published in 1976. Besides winning the Pulitzer Prize, the novel also won a National Book Award.
Source: African American Breakthroughs: 500 Years of Black Firsts, Eds. Pederson & Smith, 1995.
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn,Reference Assistant