Due to the recent seizure of megaupload.com by the FBI, most of my (legal) files  (under EU law where this blog originates and in accordance with the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 107) are no longer accessible.


I feel that the U.S. Government/the FBI is TOTALLY ABUSING its powers by negating CITIZENS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES the right to use a LEGAL SERVICE THEY HAVE PAID FOR!!!!


I have heard that EF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) is helping to get U.S. users to get their legally stored Megaupload files back (if they're still on the servers) -- but what about international users?


Is there any way to sue the FBI for not allowing me to use a (legal) service I have paid for, with hard-earned money?

Educational Films About U.S. History (Part 13 - Westward Expansion)

Pioneers of the Plains (1942)

Experiences of a pioneer family on their journey from Illinois to the Midwestern plains.

This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, Inc.

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file):
PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (31 MB)

Educational Films About U.S. History (Part 12 - The Civil War)

The Civil War (1954)

Dramatization of important military events and imagery of the places where they occurred.

This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films

Creative Commons license: Public Domain



DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file, 15:06)
PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (88 MB)

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 11 - The Donner Party)

Trail of Tragedy: The Excavation of the Donner Party Site
AVA19387VNB1 - 1994

For many years a plaque has marked the spot where the donner party presumably spent their tragic winter of 1846-47 trapped by the heavy snows of the Sierra Nevada. The Tahoe National Forest working with archaeology students from the university of Nevada.

Producer: Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service,
Tahoe National Forest

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file, 28:45)
Part 1 (95 MB)
Part 2 (95 MB)
Part 3 (95 MB)
Part 4 (55 MB) 

NOTE: You'll need a program like WinZip, WinRar or similar to extract/combine parts.

Public Domain (and downloadable) Literature:

Houghton, Eliza P (Donner),

The Expedition of the Donner party and its Tragic Fate (1911)

(PDF, 53.4 MB)

 

McGlashan, C. F. (Charles Fayette),

History of the Donner party: a Tragedy of the Sierra (1902)

(PDF, 32.8 MB)

The Location of Site of Breen Cabin; General C.F. McGlashan, Donner Party Historian, declares present pioneer monument covers exact spot where hut stood. Array of interesting facts presented relating to early investigation of sites of various cabins occupied by members of ill-fated pioneer party (1920) (PDF, 2.6 MB) 

The fate of the Donner Party was also dramatised for Episode #09
of the 1935 radio series "Frontier Fighters" -
DOWNLOAD THAT EPISODE (32 kbps mp3, 3.26 MB, 14:14)
or download and listen to the complete series  
(134.2 MB zip-file) at archive.org.


"Insight", KXJZ, Sacramento, CA, October 30, 2006


"Insight", KXJZ, Sacramento, CA, March 24, 2008

Patrick Breen's diary, in its entirety, at the Academy of Pacific Coast History

Daily Diary of the Donner Party (from primary sources), compiled by Daniel M. Rosen

PBS American Experience - watch online 

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 10 - Allegheny Portage Railroad)

Allegheny Portage Railroad
AVA19380VNB1, 1993

The video gives the history of the Allegheny Portage Railroad in the westward movement of settlers and commerce in central Pennsylvania in the mid-1800's.

Producer: National Park Service
Harpers Ferry, WV. Harpers Ferry Center.
Creative Commons license: Public Domain.



DOWNLOAD (Divx as multi-part rar-file, 19:54):
PART 1 (95 MB)
PART 2 (95 MB)
PART 3 (45 MB)

NOTE: You'll need a program like WinZip, WinRar or similar to extract/combine parts.

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 09 - The Erie Canal)

"America's Heritage: The Erie Canal" (1957)
Producer: Warner Pathé News

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

DOWNLOAD (Divx, 79 MB, 06:39)

Educational Films about U.S. History (Part 08 - Flatboatmen of the Frontier)

Flatboatmen of the Frontier (1941)

Presents a phase of pioneer agricultural economy in the early nineteenth century. Portrays Ohio Valley farmers as they fell trees, prepare the lumber, and build a flatboat to carry their produce down the river to market.
Producer: ERPI Classroom Films, Inc.

Creative Commons license: Public Domain.

DOWNLOAD (Divx, 127 MB, 10:18)