HITS

• The Victorian Web  http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/hypertext/landow/victorian/victor.html
• Location of site: Brown University.
• Creator of the site: George P. Landow, Professor of English and Art History, Brown University.
• Content of the site:  "This site is an overview of all aspects of the era, from social context to economics to religion and philosophy.  Each underlying page gives you all the information you need to know to understand life in Victorian times." ... "Each site gives a chronology of events for each topic.  There are 11 subjects includig politics, science, technology of that time.  He breaks each subject down into different topics and each topic has a detailed summary.  For example, in the technology heading, a person can learn about the first locomotive, its development, its history, etc.  He provides many interesting and informative links which help to explain the topic thoroughly."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information:  "On the home page, there is a link to 'who created the Victorian Web' with an in-depth description of sponsors" ... "He has authored many books on the subject and has reserached the art and culture of the period" ... "He is a professor at a distinguished university and he called upon another professor in history from Vassar to contribute information" ... "You can learn a lot ... His career speaks for itself..."
• Intended purpose: Information.
• Biased information?  "It does not seem so.  A good scholar will look at all aspects of a tpic and present all information in an equal light.  Each aspect present is thoroughly explored and unbiased." ... "No.  It reads more like a history book.  It is based on facts and dates.  A professor created the web site and so I imagine that he would present both sides in some of the pieces I read.  They did not seem biased at all."
• Useful for research? Yes.
• Design: Easy to read, easy to navigate, includes graphics.
• Reviewed by: Nicky Belle, Melissa Kanbayashi, Caroline Malloy, Justin Sitron, Jim Millikin
 
• Victorian Preservation Association  http://www.vpa.org
• Location of site: Domain Technologies (the server)
• Creators of site: Webmaster of the Victorian Preservation Association, a nonprofit organization in Santa Clara Valley, California.
• Content of site: "The site is very informative, loaded with links.  It has reviews of local Victorian houses and reports on the preservation efforts of newly acquired homes.  A lot of nice period photos and an informative look at the process of restoration.  GREAT LINKS -- all seem to be live" ... "There are many pictures of renovations and refurbished houses.  Many links to other Victorian sites..."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information:  "It is a non-profit organization site which supplies a link to email the webmaster.  Seems to have many contributors.  A volunteer organization that is reporting about old houses. ... seems to be very credible" ... "The association includes a short 'mission' statement about itself on its home page.  Fairly reliable."
• Intended purpose?  Information.   "No advertising and quick loading."
• Biased information? "It tends to glorify [the VPA's] accomplishments" ... "Very straight-forward and informative -- only biased by its love of this era and its homes."
• Useful for research?  "If you need pictures or are interested in the restoration and modern obsession with the Victorian era, this is a great site with great links" ... "There are wonderful picutres of exteriors and interiors of restored Victorian homes, wonderful for projects!"
• Design:  Mostly easy to read (some distracting backgrounds), easy to navigate, includes effective graphics.
• Reviewed by Nick Biello, Brian Sirak.

• Nancy's Victorian Web Site  http://members.aol.com/classyinct/home2.html and http://members.aol.com/classyinct/home.html  (two versions of site)
• Location of site: AOL personal home page.
• Creators of site: Nancy and Larry Marron.
• Content of site: "It contains information about facets of Victorian life ranging from the Crystal palace to influences on modern architecture" ... "It contains almost every interesting aspect of Victorian life from decorating styles to what people were like during this time" ... "The creator of this site ueses illustrations in her web site.  She refers to many dates ..."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information: "She is a Victorian enthusiast ... She can be contacted through e-mail" ... "This creator took a lot of time to prepare this web site" ...
• Intended purpose? Entertainment and information.
• Biased information? No.
• Useful for research?   "Yes.  It gives people a feel for what Victorian life was actually like" ... "She has the facts and supports them through pictures and writings" ...
• Design: Easy to read, easy to navigate, includes graphics.
• Reviewed by Missy Cotter, Adriana DiDomenico, Tiana Odum.
 
• Victoriana, Resources for Living  http://www.victoriana.com
• Location of site: Private company.
• Creator of site: Joanne Haug
• Content of site:  "This site gave me the inside scoop on Queen Victoria and she was not so Victorian.  It also links to articles of Victorian lives, and the Victoriana Library and Museum and Historical Society web sites.  There were many pictures of antiques such as linens, plates, books, etc." ... "This site has been broken down into subdivisions.  First there is a 'welcome' site.  Next, there is a Victoriana Library featuring articles and Harper's Bazar magazine on line.  The next division is about shops.  It is a list of 30 Victorian 'categories, each with links to 19th century sites.  The next division is 'fun and free.'  This part features pictures and a crossword puzzle."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information: "This site has been copyrighted 1996-97 by Victorian Resources for Victorian Living.  The site says that 'Victoriana' is a registered trademark of Reflections of the Past Antiques" ...
• Intended purpose? Information, Entertainment, Commercial business.
• Biased information? "This site did not appear to be biased initially.  However, after I considered that it was a commercial site, I realized that some information could potentially be slanted in order to meet the needs of the company" ... "The information seems to be accurate" ...
• Useful for research?  "The information seems to be very useful for research.  There are many direct quotes, and the text seems to really give a good account of the Queen's personality" ... "Yes ... By going to the 'Victorian Library' page, one could research various articles, archives, and museum and other 19th century web sites" ...
• Design: Easy to read, easy to navigate, includes graphics.  "I especially liked the 'email' graphic.  It was a quill being dipped in to ink, and then writing out 'email.'  The other graphics within this site were 'Victorian' in nature."
• Reviewed by:  Terri Bott, Melissa Bearoff, Kim Tung.
 
• Victorian Age in Eureka Springs, Arkansas  http://www.eureka-usa.com/victorian/index.shtml
• Location and creator of site: Unidentified.
• Content of site: "History and events that took place in Eureka Springs in the time of the Civil War, with excerpts from the actual Eureka Chronicles."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information: Creator not identified, "but it does give information on Susan Schafer, who wrote the books used in the site."
• Intended purpose?  Information and Eureka Springs tourist center links.
• Biased information? "No.  It seems like straight-out information about the Barefoot Ball, Bath Houses, City Streets, etc."
• Useful for research: "Yes, if I was doing a report on Eureka Springs during the Civil War."
• Design: Easy to read, not easy to navigate, some small graphics.
• Reviewed by Jessica Reilly.
 

• Abigail's Elegant Victorian Mansion   http://www.bnbweb.com/Abigails.html
• Location of site: Private company.
• Creator of site: B&B Web.
• Content of site: "Tells about the bed-and-breakfast and the food there and activities included in your stay.  It also gives a little background about the innkeepers. ... "This site shows many things that they do in the bed-and-breakfast.  Usually people only stay for one or two days.  It is very colonial-looking and it catches your eye..." ... "The site does not give you much information on the Victorian Age.  It is mostly advertising the bed and breakfast and the area around it."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information: "It is advertising inns and guest houses."
• Intended purpose? Advertising.
• Biased information? "It tries to make the bed-and-breakfast seem good and attract you and make you want to go there" ... "Advertising usually makes something seem better than it really is."
• Useful for research? "Yes, because it gives you a basic overall view of what the inn is like and what you can expect from it" ... "No, it does not give you much information about anything.  Although if this house does depict the Victorian Age correctly, it gives good pictures."
• Design: Easy to read, easy to navigate, good graphics.
• Reviewed by Katie Alfonso, Ducarmel Augustin.

• The Victorian Society in America  http://www.libertynet.org/vicsoc/
• Location of site: Philadelphia
• Creator of site: Victorian Society of America
• Content of site: "Schedule, membership info, publications (what they do, but must be a member), summer school information, chapters ... no real content, just institutional information."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information:  "There seems to be no real Victorian information.  So, one questions what the society knows.  The society seems more based on organizing conventions."
• Intended purpose?  "Advertising to get more members.  There is an influence on keeping real info from you until you join."
• Biased information? "Thre is no info to be influenced ... very dry to read."
• Useful for research? "No, they should at elst report on what the conferences entailed, what people learned there."
• Design: Easy to read, easy to navigate, graphics not effective.
• Reviewed by Justin Sitron, Caroline Malloy.

• The Rockwell Mansion   http://www.rockwood.org
• Location of site:  Rockwood Museum, New Castle County, Delaware
• Creator of site: New Castle County Community Services Department.
• Content of site: "The site has seven categories: an introduction to the museum, info about tours, a self-guided tour, calendar of events, features of the month, and online exhibitions."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information: "New Castle County Community Services runs the Rockwood Museum.  This seems to be a reliable source of information about the museum."
• Intended purpose? Information and advertising
• Biased information? "No.  The site presents the information on the museum and this family of the Victorian Age in an unbiased format."
• Useful for research? "Not too useful because much of the information is devoted to events sponsored by the museum and not historical info."
• Design: Easy to read, easy to navigate, not enough graphics, especially in the online exhibits.
• Reviewed by Michael Brilli, Keith Fischer.

• Forest Park History Museum: St. Louis in the Gilded Age   http://h-net.msu.edu/~shgape/museums/stlouis.mus.html
• Location of site: H-Net Humanities and Social Sciences On-Line
• Creator of site: Peg Wherry
• Content of site: "It is a web site reviewing a museum exhibit at the History Museum, Forest Park, St. Louis.  The exhibit is on St. Louis during the Gilded Age."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information:  "It states that Peg Wherry has some affiliation with Kansas State University. This is not much to be able to tell if they are a reliable source."
• Intended purpose? Infromation.
• Biased information? "She seems to like some things and not like others."
• Useful for research? "No, not really.  The site only describes a particular exhibit.  It by itself does not really get too much into life in the GIlded Age.  Also very small.
• Design: Easy to read, easy to navigate, no graphics.
• Reviewed by Kristen Brandstetter.

• The Gilded Age in Detroit   http://www.bhere.com/ruins/guild/ga01.htm
• Location of site: Individual.
• Creator of site: Lowell Boileau: artist/reporter
• Content of site: "A celebration of the ruins of Detroit, one section of which deals with the ruins of the Gilded Age."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information: "As a part of this page, the author includes a personal home page, complete with picture and resume."
• Intended purpose? "Entertainment and information, heighten awareness of these lost treasures."
• Biased information? "No, information is presented in a very direct, real fashion."
• Useful for research? "A good site for studying Gilded Age architecture (the photographs are detailed), but not for history."
• Design: Easy to read, navigation a little confusing, good graphics.
• Reviewed by John Keigher, Natalie Bergren.

• My Hobbies   http://www.heartcorps.com/melanie/hobbies.htm
• Location of site: A company?
• Creator of site: Melanie Anne Phillips.
• Content of site: "She talks about her hobbies: Victorian Era, camping, hiking, sci-fi, comic books."
• Assessment of this creator as a reliable source of information: "She seems a little eccentric, but committed to what she believes in."
• Intended purpose? Fun.
• Biased information? No -- no information.
• Useful for research? No.  "This site is cool to look at but does not serve any purpose for research.  Don't go to it unless you want some good graphics."
• Design: Easy to read, easy to navigate, includes effective graphics.
• Reviewed by Jackie Fulginiti.