Annotation is a note added to a text. And you’re an annotator. You read and write annotation every day, it patterns the warp and weft of daily life.
Welcome to #Annotate22—one year, 365 examples—a project that’s part syllabus, educational mixtape, and public pedagogy.
Read January: Annotation is | February: Annotation on | March: Annotation with | April: Annotation in | May: Annotation for | June: Annotation by | July: Annotation marks
August 11: Annotation documents invention.
August 11 tweet | August 11 Hypothesis annotation
“Patent #2,292,387 for a ‘Secret Communication System,’ granted to actress Hedy Kiesler Markey. At the time it was filed, in 1941, Lamarr was married to Gene Markey, a Hollywood screenwriter. She felt that having her married name on the patent would give it more credibility.”
Lamarr’s patent was granted on this day, August 11th, 1942. #Annotate22 223/365
Source: National Air and Space Museum.
August 10: Annotation documents bomb on beach.
August 10 tweet | August 10 Hypothesis annotation
“Attention | Unexpected Ordinances (Bombs) from WWII target practice on Assateague Island are washing up on the beach. DO NOT touch or move these. Notify a Park Ranger immediately.” Notice added to doorway welcome signs. #Annotate22 222/365
August 9: Annotation documents resignation.
August 9 tweet | August 9 Hypothesis annotation
“The letter became effective when Secretary of State Henry Kissinger initialed it at 11:35 a.m.”
Nixon resigned the Office of the President on this day, August 9th, in 1974. #Annotate22 221/365
Source: Today’s Document from the National Archives.
August 8: Annotation documents Olympic Gold.
August 8 tweet | August 8 Hypothesis annotation
On this day, August 8th, the US “Dream Team” defeated Croatia to win the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. A Spalding basketball autographed by co-captains Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, plus the note “Barcelona ’92” added to the ball. #Annotate22 220/365
August 7: Annotation documents alteration.
August 7 tweet | August 7 Hypothesis annotation
“We work with our lacks–we do what we can–we give what we have.”
An “altered,” and annotated, quote from Henry James’ “The Middle Years” as the Chapter III epigraph in Margo Jefferson’s recently published book Constructing a Nervous System (which I recommend). #Annotate22 219/365
August 6: Annotation documents “Advisory Notice.”
August 6 tweet | August 6 Hypothesis annotation
“This Advisory Notice shall serve to inform you that this book has been identified by some community members as unsuitable for students. This book will also be identified in the Destiny system with the same notation. The decision as to whether this book is suitable or unsuitable shall be the decision of the parent(s) who has the right to oversee his/her child’s education consistent with state law.”
According to NBC News, a Florida school district adds labels to 100+ books, “Many of which touch on issues related to race or the LGBTQ community.” #FReadom #Annotate22 218/365
Source: “A Florida school district added a parental ‘advisory notice’ to over 100 books,” NBC News.
August 5: Annotation documents subtle resistance.
August 5 tweet | August 5 Hypothesis annotation
“FTP”
Added to a DPD sticker, seen while walking around Dover, Delaware, earlier this afternoon. #Annotate22 217/365
August 4: Annotation documents Satchmo’s cover and creativity.
August 4 tweet | August 4 Hypothesis annotation
An annotated version of “Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen,” from a collection of Louis Armstrong music manuscripts, archived in the National Museum of American History. Louis Armstrong was born on this day, August 4th, in 1901. #Annotate22 216/365
August 3: Annotation documents achievement.
August 3 tweet | August 3 Hypothesis annotation
A note–“Vierfacher Olympiasieger in Berlin 1936”–added to the Jesse-Owens-Allee street sign at Olympiastadion Berlin. On this day, August 3rd, Jesse Owens won the men’s 100 metres sprint event at the 1936 Olympic Games in 10.3 seconds. #Annotate22 215/365
August 2: Annotation documents annoyance.
August 2 tweet | August 2 Hypothesis annotation
“I’d just like to know what’s happening–they are really impossible.”
James Baldwin, annotating a 1961 letter to his sister, asking about a money order that never arrived. Baldwin was born on this day, August 2nd, in 1924. #Annotate22 214/365
Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture.
August 1: Annotation documents theorem.
August 1 tweet | August 1 Hypothesis annotation
In 1637 French mathematician Pierre de Fermat annotated Diophantus’ Arithmetica: “I have a truly marvellous demonstration of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain.” A 1670 edition of Arithmetica subsequently included Fermat’s “Scholium,” which today is know as his “last theorem.” #Annotate22 213/365
Source: Nature.
A note about images:
#Annotate22 is an educational project and an act of public pedagogy. This year-long effort is comprised of blog posts, social media, and public Hypothesis annotations intended to advance new narratives about the relationship among annotation, literacy, and learning. Images are a key component of #Annotate22. The use of images follows best practices in fair use for media literacy education. Sources for all images are cited. Furthermore: a) Featured images are used for an educational purpose different than that of the original purpose, and are interpreted in an original and creative context; and b) The extent of featured images (i.e. a screenshot) is appropriate for the purposes of teaching and learning.
