Written By : William Teach

Look, I love the Grateful Dead. I’ve seen them live in Philly (2x), Norfolk (2x), D.C., and Hershey Park. Good time everytime. Even so, this is rather absurd

The Grateful Dead Archive has taken another step in its long strange trip, from the UC Santa Cruz library to its own Web site, The Virtual Terrapin Station.

One of the most popular bands in rock ‘n’ roll history will have its legacy including photos, show tickets, toys, posters and recordings preserved online thanks to a federal grant. The Grateful Dead Archive, housed at the McHenry Library, has been awarded $615,175 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to photograph and scan collection images and upload them. The public will be able to access the online collection and offer fans the opportunity to contribute to the collection by digitally submitting photos.

Christine Bunting, head of special collections and archives at McHenry, said the school will use the grant over 2½ years to archive what she said is the world’s largest public collection of Dead memorabilia.

“The ultimate goal of making the archive digital is that everyone will have a Grateful Dead experience,” Bunting said.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an federal government organization that uses public money for, yup, museum and libraries. This is a good thing. Usually. To be honest, I’d much rather they get way more than the average of $18 million a year. We can take it from all the other idiot federal government programs and use the money for museums and libraries. That said, somehow I doubt that the Grateful Dead, a rather free spirited and anti-government group of the 60′s and 70′s, would appreciate the government propping them up.

I also doubt that all the Progressively indoctrinated young folks who see the exhibit will get the message of the Grateful Dead. And, I’m not going to explain it to them.

Via Weasel Zippers on the feedreader.

Don Surber has some other tax dollar outrages.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove

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