sam blickhan
@snblickhan.bsky.social
She/her. Chicago. People, tech, museums, research. Zooniverse.org Co-Director & #DH lead at Adler Planetarium. PhD. CW Handbook: https://britishlibrary.pubpub.org/
Lapsed musicologist/medievalist. Fiber artist. Musician: https://umbrellabirds.bandcamp.com
Lapsed musicologist/medievalist. Fiber artist. Musician: https://umbrellabirds.bandcamp.com
Pinned
sam blickhan
@snblickhan.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Back To Land, by Umbrellabirds
11 track album
umbrellabirds.bandcamp.com
Happy Friday, bluesky. In a rare moment of sharing something that’s NOT research or fiber art, here’s the new album from my band. Hope you like it.
umbrellabirds.bandcamp.com/album/back-t...
umbrellabirds.bandcamp.com/album/back-t...
Reposted by sam blickhan
We are SO grateful for the work of @sifill.bsky.social. Thank you for joining #DouglassDay this year! The 14th amendment is the heart of our democracy and we must defend it--and defend and define its history collectively. profiles.howard.edu/sherrilyn-if...
Sherrilyn Ifill | Howard Profiles
profiles.howard.edu
February 13, 2026 at 8:06 PM
We are SO grateful for the work of @sifill.bsky.social. Thank you for joining #DouglassDay this year! The 14th amendment is the heart of our democracy and we must defend it--and defend and define its history collectively. profiles.howard.edu/sherrilyn-if...
Reposted by sam blickhan
The #DouglassDay livestream may be over (with 18,725 transcriptions/name IDs submitted so far!) but there are still PLENTY of documents to transcribe, and names to find! The project will stay active until everything is finished, so let's keep up the momentum!
www.zooniverse.org/projects/dou...
www.zooniverse.org/projects/dou...
Transcribe 2026 | Zooniverse - People-powered research
The Colored Conventions Movement fought to ensure all rights for all. You can help tell this history.
www.zooniverse.org
February 13, 2026 at 8:11 PM
The #DouglassDay livestream may be over (with 18,725 transcriptions/name IDs submitted so far!) but there are still PLENTY of documents to transcribe, and names to find! The project will stay active until everything is finished, so let's keep up the momentum!
www.zooniverse.org/projects/dou...
www.zooniverse.org/projects/dou...
Reposted by sam blickhan
NORTHEAST and PENNSYLVANIA transcriptions are complete!!! #DouglassDay
February 13, 2026 at 7:33 PM
NORTHEAST and PENNSYLVANIA transcriptions are complete!!! #DouglassDay
Reposted by sam blickhan
first subject set complete! #DouglassDay
February 13, 2026 at 6:29 PM
first subject set complete! #DouglassDay
Douglass Day is here! 🎉 🎂 Who's ready to transcribe?? #douglassday2026
Happy Douglass Day, everyone! We're SO excited to welcome new and returning transcribers to the platform today from 12PM-3PM ET, and to learn more from our friends @douglassday.bsky.social
Learn more and join the transcribe-a-thon: douglassday.org
Follow along here at #douglassday2026
Learn more and join the transcribe-a-thon: douglassday.org
Follow along here at #douglassday2026
Douglass Day
douglassday.org
February 13, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Douglass Day is here! 🎉 🎂 Who's ready to transcribe?? #douglassday2026
Reposted by sam blickhan
Last night we had a quilting workshop for Douglass Day
1. We made quilt squares!
2. We had 60+ students. Literally ran out of fabric?!
3. Can't wait to share our whole quilt on @douglassday.bsky.social!
Huge shoutout to my new colleagues in the UCSB Library for making it happen.
1. We made quilt squares!
2. We had 60+ students. Literally ran out of fabric?!
3. Can't wait to share our whole quilt on @douglassday.bsky.social!
Huge shoutout to my new colleagues in the UCSB Library for making it happen.
February 11, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Last night we had a quilting workshop for Douglass Day
1. We made quilt squares!
2. We had 60+ students. Literally ran out of fabric?!
3. Can't wait to share our whole quilt on @douglassday.bsky.social!
Huge shoutout to my new colleagues in the UCSB Library for making it happen.
1. We made quilt squares!
2. We had 60+ students. Literally ran out of fabric?!
3. Can't wait to share our whole quilt on @douglassday.bsky.social!
Huge shoutout to my new colleagues in the UCSB Library for making it happen.
Reposted by sam blickhan
I wrote up the talk I gave at CESTA a couple weeks ago, on how we're overdue on changing the narrative about what digital humanities prepares students for. It's not fallback jobs in tech, it's getting involved in your community in moments of crisis. And craft helps build those skills. #DHmakes
Craftivism in a Crisis: Making the Humanities Matter When It’s All ...
[/assets/images/header_craftivism.jpg] https://www.quinndombrowski.com/blog/2026/02/10/craftivism-crisis/ This is a write-up of a talk I gave at CESTA on January 29, 2026, with an epilogue covering...
quinndombrowski.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:21 PM
I wrote up the talk I gave at CESTA a couple weeks ago, on how we're overdue on changing the narrative about what digital humanities prepares students for. It's not fallback jobs in tech, it's getting involved in your community in moments of crisis. And craft helps build those skills. #DHmakes
Reposted by sam blickhan
Her community rallied so fast and so diligently. This is a victory to uphold and celebrate. Reminds everyone that it's worth fighting back.
An immigration court dropped its case against Turkish graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, a little less than a year after federal agents arrested her on a street near Tufts University
Immigration Court Drops Case Against Tufts Student Rumeysa Ozturk
The Turkish national had been arrested by plainclothes federal officers outside her apartment.
on.wsj.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Her community rallied so fast and so diligently. This is a victory to uphold and celebrate. Reminds everyone that it's worth fighting back.
Reposted by sam blickhan
Quick blog post noting some thoughts on 'Documenting AI-created/enhanced records in catalogues/metadata/displays' - I'd love to know who's already doing it, and how? www.openobjects.org.uk/2026/02/docu... #AI4LAM #MuseTech
Documenting AI-created/enhanced records in catalogues/metadata/displays? – Open Objects
Open Objects
www.openobjects.org.uk
February 9, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Quick blog post noting some thoughts on 'Documenting AI-created/enhanced records in catalogues/metadata/displays' - I'd love to know who's already doing it, and how? www.openobjects.org.uk/2026/02/docu... #AI4LAM #MuseTech
Reposted by sam blickhan
Benito is a threat b/c he makes art so alluring and enjoyable you want to understand everything about it and then you end up learning about sugar and slavery and colonialism and the Taínos and Hawaii and then you probably have some thoughts of your own, and that's why art is powerful and dangerous
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Benito is a threat b/c he makes art so alluring and enjoyable you want to understand everything about it and then you end up learning about sugar and slavery and colonialism and the Taínos and Hawaii and then you probably have some thoughts of your own, and that's why art is powerful and dangerous
Reposted by sam blickhan
"the humanities, designed to make people of all backgrounds and wherever located masters of their technology and not its unthinking servants."
1965!!!
1965!!!
"Democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens. It must therefore foster and support a form of education, and access to the arts and the humanities, designed to make people of all backgrounds and wherever located masters of their technology and not its unthinking servants."
1965 founding legalistion of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Title 20 U.S. Code. Chapter 26. Section 951.
"The Congress finds and declares the following:
The arts and the humanities belong to all the people of the United States."
(cont'd.)
Title 20 U.S. Code. Chapter 26. Section 951.
"The Congress finds and declares the following:
The arts and the humanities belong to all the people of the United States."
(cont'd.)
February 6, 2026 at 12:57 PM
"the humanities, designed to make people of all backgrounds and wherever located masters of their technology and not its unthinking servants."
1965!!!
1965!!!
Reposted by sam blickhan
Martinez ends her testimony with this:
"If there's not justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government."
"If there's not justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government."
February 3, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Martinez ends her testimony with this:
"If there's not justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government."
"If there's not justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government."
Reposted by sam blickhan
Martinez: "[I] sat in federal court and watched from 20 feet away as the border patrol agent who attempted to kill me testified at a hearing. Agent Charles Exum—Charles Exum, my attempted executioner was Charles Exum—I hope the government does not consider my use of his name here to be...doxxing."
February 3, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Martinez: "[I] sat in federal court and watched from 20 feet away as the border patrol agent who attempted to kill me testified at a hearing. Agent Charles Exum—Charles Exum, my attempted executioner was Charles Exum—I hope the government does not consider my use of his name here to be...doxxing."
Reposted by sam blickhan
Martinez is recounting her harrowing experience: after being shot by CBP agents, she drove a mile to the safety of an auto shop where she called 911, got treatment at a hospital for 7 bullet wounds, then was immediately taken into custody by federal agents.
February 3, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Martinez is recounting her harrowing experience: after being shot by CBP agents, she drove a mile to the safety of an auto shop where she called 911, got treatment at a hospital for 7 bullet wounds, then was immediately taken into custody by federal agents.
Reposted by sam blickhan
Next witness to testify is Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen and Chicago resident who was shot five times by CBP agents in October and was later charged with assaulting the agents who shot her. The U.S. Attorney's Office dropped those charges six weeks later.
February 3, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Next witness to testify is Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen and Chicago resident who was shot five times by CBP agents in October and was later charged with assaulting the agents who shot her. The U.S. Attorney's Office dropped those charges six weeks later.
Reposted by sam blickhan
a tribute to everyone who hasn’t forgotten how to love their neighbors 💙
www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/...
www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/...
Americans Love Their Neighbors
Statistics say this is a time of disconnection. Minnesota’s response to ICE shows otherwise.
www.theatlantic.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:17 PM
a tribute to everyone who hasn’t forgotten how to love their neighbors 💙
www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/...
www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/...
Reposted by sam blickhan
1/I have been tracking the Mobile Fortify Database. The most accurate public information is the privacy tech assessment waved through by the Privacy Officer of DHS. A key point: (1) it is based off the CPB Travel Verification App; and (2) it was only supposed to track detained immigrants.
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:06 PM
1/I have been tracking the Mobile Fortify Database. The most accurate public information is the privacy tech assessment waved through by the Privacy Officer of DHS. A key point: (1) it is based off the CPB Travel Verification App; and (2) it was only supposed to track detained immigrants.
We're SO proud to be hosting another Douglass Day on @zooniverse.bsky.social -- this is always an extremely meaningful event, and if you've never participated before this is a GREAT year to start! Registration via newsletter linked below.
Get Ready for Douglass Day 2026! Fresh newsletter out today.
- Preview event on Feb 6
- New teaching resources
- Swag (trading cards are back!)
open.substack.com/pub/douglass...
And there's still plenty of time to register for Douglass Day 2026. All Rights for All!
- Preview event on Feb 6
- New teaching resources
- Swag (trading cards are back!)
open.substack.com/pub/douglass...
And there's still plenty of time to register for Douglass Day 2026. All Rights for All!
January 29, 2026 at 5:37 PM
We're SO proud to be hosting another Douglass Day on @zooniverse.bsky.social -- this is always an extremely meaningful event, and if you've never participated before this is a GREAT year to start! Registration via newsletter linked below.
Reposted by sam blickhan
ACH is holding our annual virtual conference, ACH 2026, from June 24 to 26, 2026. We are excited to announce that we have extended our call for papers to February 23, 2026: buff.ly/Rltfrcu
ACH 2026 CFP
Submit a proposal: ACH 2026 ConfTool
ach2026.ach.org
January 28, 2026 at 2:21 PM
ACH is holding our annual virtual conference, ACH 2026, from June 24 to 26, 2026. We are excited to announce that we have extended our call for papers to February 23, 2026: buff.ly/Rltfrcu
Reposted by sam blickhan
"Abolish ICE" was submitted 9,200 times for Chicago's snowplow naming contest, records show. blockclubchi.co/3ZAnDTZ
January 28, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"Abolish ICE" was submitted 9,200 times for Chicago's snowplow naming contest, records show. blockclubchi.co/3ZAnDTZ
Reposted by sam blickhan
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
January 24, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
Reposted by sam blickhan
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
January 25, 2026 at 1:15 AM
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
Reposted by sam blickhan
Our amazing Douglass Day 2026 stickers are now available for purchase and download! Click the link below and don't miss out on them!
Graphics 2026 – Douglass Day
douglassday.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Our amazing Douglass Day 2026 stickers are now available for purchase and download! Click the link below and don't miss out on them!
Reposted by sam blickhan
Chicago, the temp is going to drop late tomorrow night, and we'll see wind chills of −30 °F or lower on Friday and Saturday. Check on unhoused neighbors and people without reliable heat. Make sure they know their options. If you venture out, wear your warmest coat and cover up as much as you can.
January 22, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Chicago, the temp is going to drop late tomorrow night, and we'll see wind chills of −30 °F or lower on Friday and Saturday. Check on unhoused neighbors and people without reliable heat. Make sure they know their options. If you venture out, wear your warmest coat and cover up as much as you can.
Reposted by sam blickhan
are they not monsters?
January 22, 2026 at 12:08 AM
are they not monsters?