Supporting Digital Scholarship

“Project MUSE is an amazing phenomenon. I enjoyed my five years in Baltimore—returning to my hometown to work at Hopkins. We had fun at MUSE and did great things during pivotal years for the platform. We staved off existential threats, launched an eBooks platform, and built a strong foundation for the future—mostly because of an outstanding staff that was as gritty as a bushel of live jumbos. From Dundalk to Glen Burnie, they brought it every day: underdogs, scrappers, librarians, beekeepers, roller derby queens, novelists, weightlifters—a Lexington Market of digital publishing talent. It was never easy, never pretty all the time and my colleagues were wonderful—Kathleen Keane, Erik Smist, Greg Britton, Bill Breichner, Becky Clark, and Wendy Queen—who was ready then to be director. I could see the vast expanse of the city from our offices—and where I was born. Jack Goellner would stop by the house to say hello. I coached the Hopkins women’s club basketball team. It was all there in front of me. I started writing poetry again. I dreamed about Johnny Unitas and Earl Weaver. It was a special time.”

—Dean Smith