Four years ago, I first submitted the phrase "archival magic" in an editor's call for gratefulness around this time of year. I'm thankful for all of you who spend a few minutes here each month and hopefully a few more exploring a link, story, or resource that catches your eye.

The mission to illuminate and share archival materials means that this newsletter ranges widely in its topics. But by definition, a range has limits; it is neither endless nor immeasurable.

I really struggled with journalism in my early years because I couldn't see myself as an intrepid contributor to the industry's watchdog role. I was not at all excited about investigative pieces or courthouse reporting or city council minutes—even though I understood how critical that coverage was (is!) to every town in the country and to democracy itself.

Then I went to grad school. I met colleagues who were thrilled about those areas, and I was comforted that my passion for stories about science, history, and sports didn’t mean I was a failure as a journalist (or worse, a pretender) for not directly and daily supporting the Fourth Estate.

Any good media outlet delivers a mix of narratives that inform, educate, AND entertain. Yes, we have problems to fix, but the world is brighter and kinder than the biggest headlines suggest. I hope you're also able to find some fun even on the difficult days. Cheers to archival frivolity:

• hoop dreams in 1929
• partying after Prohibition in 1933 
• fashion parades in 1956

Stay informed, but don’t skip the sugar.

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This newsletter was written on the traditional lands of the Piscataway and Nacotchtank.