More Noted Things

Charlie Savage,"Obama Curbs Secrecy of Classified Documents," NYT, 30 December, features President Obama's executive order opening federal archives to research. All historians must appreciate his declaration that"no information may remain classified indefinitely."

"Religion and the historical profession," The Immanent Frame, 30 December, is a symposium of responses to news of religion's resurgence as a field of historical study. Contributors include: Jon Butler, David Hollinger, John Schmalzbauer, Jonathan Sheehan, and Grant Wacker. Hat tip.

Sarah Kaufman,"Rumors abound that new Leonardo da Vinci painting has been found in Boston," Washington Post, 31 December, reports that those who know won't say and those who say don't know.

Esther Shore,"L.L. Zamenhof and the Shadow People," TNR, 30 December, looks at the origins of Esperanto.

James Dao,"Army History Finds Early Missteps in Afghanistan," NYT, 30 December, looks at the unpublished work of a team of seven historians covering the first four years of the United States' experience in Afghanistan.

Finally, Yale's Economics Department announces that UCLA's Naomi Lamoreaux will move to New Haven in the fall of 2010 to take appointments in Yale's economics and history departments.