History
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Most Topular Stories
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Japan's Orphan Tsunami
About.com Asian History22 May 2013 | 11:25 pm -
Why didn't Germany have any aircraft carriers?
History Net: Where History Comes Alive - World & US History Online22 May 2013 | 9:01 pmWhy didn't Germany have any aircraft carriers? Tom DeBarber Dear Mr. DeBarber, The principle reason for Nazi Germany never completing an aircraft carrier was constant changes in priority. One had, in fact, been ordered on November 16, … -
Napoleon In Moscow
History According to Bob23 May 2013 | 5:00 amThis show is about Napoleon trying to figure out what to do while in Moscow . -
8 Things You May Not Know About Memorial Day
History in the Headlines24 May 2013 | 4:00 amiStockphotos.com 1. Memorial Day and its traditions may have ancient roots. While the first commemorative events weren’t held in the United States until the 19th century, the practice of honoring those who have fallen in battle dates back thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans held annual days of remembrance for loved ones (including soldiers) each year, festooning their graves with flowers and holding public festivals and feasts in their honor. In Athens, public funerals for fallen soldiers were held after each battle, with the remains of the dead on display for public mourning… -
My fast Italian six inch gunned cruiser concept
Dreadnought Cruisers4 May 2013 | 7:56 pmI have a photograph of what I have thought that the more modern fast Italian six inch gunned cruiser would look like. The ships would look a lot like the Attilio Regolo, except longer and lower, with eight six inch guns.
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History in the Headlines
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8 Things You May Not Know About Memorial Day
24 May 2013 | 4:00 amiStockphotos.com 1. Memorial Day and its traditions may have ancient roots. While the first commemorative events weren’t held in the United States until the 19th century, the practice of honoring those who have fallen in battle dates back thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans held annual days of remembrance for loved ones (including soldiers) each year, festooning their graves with flowers and holding public festivals and feasts in their honor. In Athens, public funerals for fallen soldiers were held after each battle, with the remains of the dead on display for public mourning… -
10 Things You May Not Know About the Brooklyn Bridge
23 May 2013 | 10:54 amiStockphotos.com 1. Boss Tweed helped get the project started. William M. “Boss” Tweed, the infamously corrupt head of New York City’s Tammany Hall political machine, latched on to the Brooklyn Bridge project from the very beginning. According to sworn testimony he gave later, he facilitated up to $65,000 in bribes to New York’s aldermen in order to win their backing for a $1.5 million bond issue. He then became a major holder of bridge stock and joined a committee charged with managing the project’s finances. Tweed allegedly hoped to skim money from the city’s bridge contracts,… -
Man’s Best (and Oldest) Friend
22 May 2013 | 12:57 pmExcavated dog burial pit in Siberia. (Credit: PLoSONE.org) In the first study, researchers from Russia, Europe and the United States focused their work on human and dog burial sites in eastern Siberia, a region that appears to have been chock-full of prehistoric dog lovers. The earliest known domesticated dog food was found there, dating back some 33,000 years, though most dog burials in the region span a more recent period (less than 10,000 years ago). The researchers examined 17 human and dog burial sites on the southern and western shores of Lake Baikal, which contains around 20 percent of… -
After 168 Years, Potato Famine Mystery Solved
21 May 2013 | 10:49 amYuri5/iStockphotos.com Scientists have long known that it was a strain of Phytophthora infestans (or P. infestans) that caused the widespread devastation of potato crops in Ireland and northern Europe beginning in 1845. P. infestans infects the plant through its leaves, leaving behind shriveled, inedible tubers. The most likely culprit, they believed, was a strain known as US-1, which even today is responsible for billions of dollars of crop damage each year. To solve the mystery, molecular biologists from the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States examined DNA extracted from nearly a… -
Ancients First Ate Palms, Not Rice
20 May 2013 | 2:24 pmPalm fields in southern China. (Credit: szeuyan/iStockphotos.com) Prior to the release of the study, published in the journal PLoS ONE this month, little had been known about the ancient diet of the Xincun region along the southern coast of China, thanks in part to the destruction of plant remains in the humid, subtropical weather. What scientists did know is that agriculture had come later to this area along the Lower Yangtze River than elsewhere in China and much of the rest of the world—rice crops first took root around 2,500-2,000 B.C. and archeologists believed it quickly became the…
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Dreadnought Cruisers
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My fast Italian six inch gunned cruiser concept
4 May 2013 | 7:56 pmI have a photograph of what I have thought that the more modern fast Italian six inch gunned cruiser would look like. The ships would look a lot like the Attilio Regolo, except longer and lower, with eight six inch guns. -
My first attempt in a Springsharp design in years
4 May 2013 | 1:36 pmI have had the concept for a modernized version of the early Italian fast light cruisers. I can tell that I have become extremely rusty using SpringSharp. This is supposed to be a flush-decked version, sort of like the Capitani Romani ships. I thought that 8-6in guns, 8-4in DP, and 8 torpedo tubes might work. I wanted to get 36 knots out of the design. I am not even sure any more how to publish the report. I gave it some armor and machinery, but I am sure that I am doing something inappropriate: Fast Light Cruiser, Italy Light Cruiser laid down 1941 Displacement: 9,685 t light; 10,001 t… -
Jutland
1 Jun 2010 | 9:25 amWe almost got by the anniversary of the Battle of Jutland (May 31-June 1, 1916) without some mention. This Wikipedia image shows the British battle cruiser Queen Mary exploding. There is a Lion-class ship to the left. -
Today was the annivesary of the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1915
24 Jan 2010 | 4:07 pmI noticed two good photographs from the Battle of Dogger Bank (24 January 1915). I hope that these will work for us: the Seydlitz on fire and low in the water (from www.cityofart.net/bship/gun_ops.html) the Derfflinger, Seydlitz, and Von der Tann on the way to the battle (from www.sms-navy.com) -
Cruising formations for Dutch warships?
20 Sep 2009 | 5:15 amOne question that I have is if the Dutch sailed in some cruising formation with their fleet when not engaged in actual fighting. I have speculated that the ships in the same squadron sailed as a clump and that the fleet consisted of clumps, grouped by squadron. Is there a more definitive answer?
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The Diary of Samuel Pepys
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Thursday 24 May 1660
24 May 2013 | 4:00 pmUp, and made myself as fine as I could, with the Linning stockings on and wide canons that I bought the other day at Hague. Extraordinary press of noble company, and great mirth all the day. There dined with me in my cabin (that is, the carpenter’s) Dr. Earle and Mr. Hollis, the King’s Chaplins, Dr. Scarborough, Dr. Quarterman, and Dr. Clerke, Physicians, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Fox (both very fine gentlemen), the King’s servants, where we had brave discourse. Walking upon the decks, where persons of honour all the afternoon, among others, Thomas Killigrew (a merry droll, but a… -
Wednesday 23 May 1660
23 May 2013 | 4:00 pmThe Doctor and I waked very merry, only my eye was very red and ill in the morning from yesterday’s hurt. In the morning came infinity of people on board from the King to go along with him. My Lord, Mr. Crew, and others, go on shore to meet the King as he comes off from shore, where Sir R. Stayner bringing His Majesty into the boat, I hear that His Majesty did with a great deal of affection kiss my Lord upon his first meeting. The King, with the two Dukes and Queen of Bohemia, Princess Royal, and Prince of Orange, came on board, where I in their coming in kissed the King’s,… -
Tuesday 22 May 1660
22 May 2013 | 4:00 pmUp very early, and now beginning to be settled in my wits again, I went about setting down my last four days’ observations this morning. After that, was trimmed by a barber that has not trimmed me yet, my Spaniard being on shore. News brought that the two Dukes are coming on board, which, by and by, they did, in a Dutch boats the Duke of York in yellow trimmings, the Duke of Gloucester in grey and red. My Lord went in a boat to meet them, the Captain, myself, and others, standing at the entering port. So soon as they were entered we shot the guns off round the fleet. After that they… -
Monday 21 May 1660
21 May 2013 | 4:00 pmSo into my naked bed1 and slept till 9 o’clock, and then John Goods waked me, [by] and by the captain’s boy brought me four barrels of Mallows oysters, which Captain Tatnell had sent me from Murlace.2 The weather foul all this day also. After dinner, about writing one thing or other all day, and setting my papers in order, having been so long absent. At night Mr. Pierce, Purser (the other Pierce and I having not spoken to one another since we fell out about Mr. Edward), and Mr. Cook sat with me in my cabin and supped with me, and then I went to bed. By letters that came hither in… -
Sunday 20 May 1660
20 May 2013 | 4:00 pmUp early, and with Mr. Pickering and the child by waggon to Scheveling, where it not being yet fit to go off, I went to lie down in a chamber in the house, where in another bed there was a pretty Dutch woman in bed alone, but though I had a month’s-mind1 I had not the boldness to go to her. So there I slept an hour or two. At last she rose, and then I rose and walked up and down the chamber, and saw her dress herself after the Dutch dress, and talked to her as much as I could, and took occasion, from her ring which she wore on her first finger, to kiss her hand, but had not the face to…
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History in the News
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Bowdoin awarding degrees to 464 graduates
25 May 2013 | 2:03 pmPresident Barry Mills will preside over Saturday's commencement at the Brunswick school, with degrees being awarded to students from 42 states and 14 foreign countries and territories. -
Heritage Society to Honor Fallen Soldiers
25 May 2013 | 9:53 amThe Odenton Heritage Society will pay tribute to service members killed in action with a new online booklet and display at its museum. -
Will Rob Ford's supporters leave Ford Nation?
25 May 2013 | 5:43 amWill supporters continue to back Toronto Mayor Rob Ford following allegations that he was recorded on video appearing to smoke crack cocaine? The growing controversy over a purported video alleging to show Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine may be testing the faith of even his most die-hard supporters. -
Battle of the Bulge survivor get his wish
25 May 2013 | 1:29 amCourtesy photo Army veteran Edgar Bill pauses for a moment of contemplation at the dedication to the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., last Sunday. -
Loreta Velazquez: Secret Confederate Soldier, Union Spy, or Liar?
24 May 2013 | 9:24 pmThe rebellious spirit and mysterious complexities of secret solider Loreta Velazquez continue to spark debate more than 100 years after her death.
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Breaking News Feed
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New book shows Tommies ate well in WWI trenches
23 May 2013 | 11:50 amIn the BBC series Blackadder Goes Forth, Baldrick memorably described the finest culinary delight available in the trenches of the First World War as “rat-au-van” – rat that had been run over by a van. In fact, new research suggests the standard of fare on offer to the men on the Western Front was, if perhaps repetitive, at least nutritious, plentiful and, on occasions, flavoursome.Andrew Robertshaw, curator at the Royal Logistic Corps Museum, has produced a guide to the food eaten by British soldiers of the First World War, complete with recipes for some of the meals.Although there was… -
Visitors flout ban on wearing Nazi uniforms to WWII event
23 May 2013 | 11:47 amVisitors to a Second World War-themed event celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Dambuster have turned out in Nazi uniforms despite a ban on the costumes.Organisers of the 1940s weekend in Haworth, West Yorkshire, faced complaints last year from a party of German tourists about the flaunting of regalia linked to the Holocaust.This year, an attempt to prevent a repeat of the controversy, signs warning "No Nazi or SS Insignia or uniforms on these premises" were displayed on shops pubs and camp sites.Businesses all over the town were given signs saying Nazi or SS uniforms "not welcome," in a… -
Cross dressing spy who caused a headache for British masters
23 May 2013 | 11:46 amAs one of Britain’s top spies in the Second World War, being arrested in Spain dressed as a woman caused a major headache for his political masters.Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke, a key figure in British intelligence in the Middle East, was detained in Madrid after being seen “in a main street dressed, down to a brassiere, as a woman”.The spy was on his way to Egypt to pass on key information and the incident sparked a mad scramble in London to ensure he was released and sent on his way as quickly as possible.Files released by the National Archives show that Lt Col Clarke – who was… -
Muppets creator Henson's items head to NYC museum
23 May 2013 | 11:39 amNEW YORK — The Muppets may have taken Manhattan, but they're getting a spiffy new home in Queens.Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Bert and Ernie of "Sesame Street" fame, the stars of "Fraggle Rock" and other puppets, costumes and items from throughout Muppets creator Jim Henson's career have been donated to the Museum of the Moving Image, which is building a new gallery to house them, the institution announced Tuesday.Encompassing almost 400 items ranging from original puppets to behind-the-scenes footage, the gift is a boon for the 25-year-old museum, which saw attendance skyrocket in 2011 and… -
Truce ends tussle over Bill of Rights
23 May 2013 | 11:37 amFor years, historians have disagreed whether the New York Public Library's original copy of the Bill of Rights is the one that went missing long ago from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.On Wednesday, the state and the library are expected to call a truce after agreeing to share custody of the 223-year-old document for the next century, at which point the agreement must be renegotiated or extended.While no clear-cut answer has emerged as to the document's rightful owner, the pact ends five years of discussions between Pennsylvania and the library and closes the door on a legal fight."One of…
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American Presidents Blog
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Dolley Madison’s Letter
25 May 2013 | 10:13 amWe’ve all heard the story of how Dolley was fleeing the White House in the War of 1812. We all know about her famous letter as well. But where did we get it? Well, David Mattern wrote an article for us about this in White House History. We don’t actually have the letter – we have a copy of what probably was a copy. As Mattern tells us, the letter isn’t written like her others ones and talks about things her sister (and we aren’t sure which sister!) would already know. So what this means is this letter was probably rewritten (or even written) to tell the… -
Sarah's Fashions
23 May 2013 | 6:21 pmWe often think about fashionable First Ladies as someone like Jackie Kennedy or Nancy Reagan. But Sarah Polk was also quite the fashionable First Lady! This article showcases her clothes and talks about her fashion - as well as she knew how to make her buck for clothes go a long way: After their marriage in 1824 James and Sarah Polk practiced thrift, a habit that they carried into the White House, despite the high costs of frequent entertaining and maintaining proper appearances. The first lady developed dress patterns that she liked and then hired seamstresses to make them… -
Andrew Jackson and the Cherokees
22 May 2013 | 9:20 pmThis article talks about the long process Major Ridge and John Ross fought to save the Cherokees, but lost to Andrew Jackson. They tried every strategy and knew how to use the system, but could not get around the very stubborn Jackson: By 1813, Ridge had seen enough of politics to understand the diplomatic advantage to be gained from joining the Tennesseans against the Red Sticks. The Cherokees might even have realized that advantage had it not been for the militia leader they fought under: Andrew Jackson. As a boy in the 1770s, Jackson had listened to stories of Indian violence toward… -
General Grant in Love and War
18 May 2013 | 7:05 pmThis is a neat article on Grant and his wife, Julia. The quotes from their courtships letters are a lot of fun! As soon as he was away, Grant began writing love letters to Julia Dent. They portray a tender, sensitive and insecure young man, overly concerned that his fiancée did not share the intensity of his longing for her. She did not write as frequently as he did, causing him great despair, but when she did compose and send letters, Grant would read them over and over. “My Dear Julia,” he wrote. “You can have but little idea of the influence you have over me Julia, even while… -
New Goals...
14 May 2013 | 12:14 pmYou might have noticed that my posting as been pretty sparse, which is the sign of a long semester. Over the summer, my goal is to store up ideas (which is half my problem...I'm usually brain dead by the time I try to do this!) and my goal is going to be three times a week for posting and to keep this up from now on. Wish me luck! As some of you realize (as you have sent me ideas, thanks!), you can always email me if you have suggestions!
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History According to Bob
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Battle for Constantinople Part 6
25 May 2013 | 5:00 amThis show is about 6 of 6 on the battle for Constantinople, this one is the fall . -
Sacketts Harbor to Beaver Lakes
24 May 2013 | 5:00 amThis show is about 1813 battles of Sacketts Harbor and Battle of Beaver Dams . -
Prussia 1831 and Hegel
24 May 2013 | 5:00 amThis show is about Prussia in 1831 and Hegel and history theory of what a state should be . -
Napoleon In Moscow
23 May 2013 | 5:00 amThis show is about Napoleon trying to figure out what to do while in Moscow . -
Civil War 1215 To 1216
22 May 2013 | 5:00 amThis show is about the English Civil War 1215 to 1216 and the Death of King John .
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History Net: Where History Comes Alive - World & US History Online
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Daily Quiz for May 25, 2013
24 May 2013 | 5:01 pmScott Fahlman created this on September 19, 1982. -
Daily Quiz for May 24, 2013
23 May 2013 | 5:01 pmThis country was the first to deploy flamethrowers in World War I. -
Why didn't Germany have any aircraft carriers?
22 May 2013 | 9:01 pmWhy didn't Germany have any aircraft carriers? Tom DeBarber Dear Mr. DeBarber, The principle reason for Nazi Germany never completing an aircraft carrier was constant changes in priority. One had, in fact, been ordered on November 16, … -
Daily Quiz for May 23, 2013
22 May 2013 | 5:01 pmThis first-ever sporting event took place on November 30, 1872. -
War Stories: The Pacific - The Solomons to Saipan
22 May 2013 | 4:10 pmA B-25 Mitchell flying low over the harbor during an attack on the Japanese base at Rabaul The Japanese soldiers left on Guadalcanal did not represent as serious a threat to the 1st Marine Division and the air complement at …
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About.com African-American History
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Dred Scott
30 Apr 2013 | 4:59 pm -
Timeline: 1850 to 1859
30 Apr 2013 | 4:57 pm -
Robert Morris
30 Apr 2013 | 4:04 pm -
Macon Bolling Allen: The First African-American Lawyer
30 Apr 2013 | 1:35 pm -
Scottsboro Boys
31 Mar 2013 | 2:56 pm
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african american history - Google News
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History Makes Hiring Household Help A Complex Choice - WBUR
25 May 2013 | 7:24 amHistory Makes Hiring Household Help A Complex ChoiceWBURBut because being the help has figured large in the history of African-American women, some who are in the position to lean in are torn about hiring domestic employees. That ambivalence was reflected back in 1975, when America met George and Louise and more » -
Gateway Arch 'Biography' Reveals Complex History Of An American Icon - NPR
25 May 2013 | 2:57 amNPRGateway Arch 'Biography' Reveals Complex History Of An American IconNPRCampbell, a history professor and the co-director of the Wendell Ford Public Policy Research Center at the University of Kentucky, joins NPR's Scott Simon to talk about the controversy around the design, the African-American residents who were and more » -
This Day in Black History: May 24, 1918 - BET
24 May 2013 | 10:25 amBETThis Day in Black History: May 24, 1918BETYoung was also the driving force behind the construction of the current Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History building. In 1981, he was awarded the NAACP Spingarn Medal. Young published his autobiography, Hard Stuff: The Autobiography -
This Day in Black History: May 22, 1940 - BET
22 May 2013 | 9:08 amThis Day in Black History: May 22, 1940BETBernard Shaw, one of the pioneer African-American broadcasters, became best known for his role as an anchor with CNN. Before then, he worked for CBS News from 1971 until 1977 and at ABC News from then until 1980. He then joined CNN where he -
This Week In Black History 5-22-13 - New Pittsburgh Courier
22 May 2013 | 8:44 amThis Week In Black History 5-22-13New Pittsburgh CourierThe Black troops would play a major role in turning the tide of battle against the rebellious Southern slave states. 1959—Benjamin O. Davis Jr. becomes the first African-American general in the U.S. Air Force. His father, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., had
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History.com - This Day in History - Lead Story
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May 25, 1977: Star Wars opens
24 May 2013 | 9:00 pmOn this day in 1977, Memorial Day weekend opens with an intergalactic bang as the first of George Lucas' blockbuster Star Wars movies hits American theaters. The incredible success of Star Wars--it received seven Oscars, and earned $461 million in U.S. ticket sales and a gross of close to $800 million worldwide--began with an extensive, coordinated marketing push by Lucas and his studio, 20th Century Fox, months before the movie's release date. "It wasn't like a movie opening," actress Carrie Fisher, who played rebel leader Princess Leia, later told Time magazine. "It was like an earthquake."…
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Blog 4 History
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Civil War Trust working to purchase Vicksburg Land
8 May 2013 | 7:43 pm… from the Civil War Trust … A CIVIL WAR TRUST FIRST Confident after a string of successes, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant believed Vicksburg could be taken by storm. On May 22, 1863, the whole of Grant’s army assaulted the defenses around the city. Along the Southern Railroad, Brig. Gen. Michael Lawler’s Thirteenth Corps brigade breached the Confederate lines at the Railroad Redoubt. A hand-to-hand struggle ensued, but without reinforcements, the Federals were compelled to withdraw. The heavy casualties of these early assaults convinced Grant to lay siege to the city. The… -
The Slaves’ Gamble by Gene Allen Smith
23 Jan 2013 | 10:50 amThe Slaves’ Gamble by Gene Allen Smith ———————————- Why would slaves fight for the United States, a nation that kept them in bondage, during the War of 1812? Why did free blacks join with the British or with the Spanish, or with Native American communities during the conflict? These questions form the basis for Gene Allen Smith’s new book, The Slaves’ Gamble: Choosing Sides in the War of 1812. In this gripping story, Smith, a history professor at Texas Christian University, recreates the growing conflicts between the… -
“Saving Lincoln”, an innovative new history film, premiers Feb 15.
22 Jan 2013 | 11:09 amSAVING LINCOLN opens in theaters on February 15, 2013. This film utilizes a new filmmaking technique – CineCollage, which makes use of actual Civil War photos (from the Library of Congress) for the green screen backdrops in every scene. Based on fact, the story follows U.S. Marshall Ward Hill Lamon as he shadows Abraham Lincoln as his bodyguard during the Civil War. Trailer on YouTube: http://youtu.be/s9Tn9IpCjaY SAVING LINCOLN – featuring: Tom Amandes (TV’s “Everwood”), Lea Coco (J. Edgar), Penelope Ann Miller (The Artist), Bruce Davison (X-Men¸TV’s “Last Resort”), Josh… -
Desparate Sons by Les Standiford
18 Dec 2012 | 12:37 pmI’m reading a review copy of Les Standiford’s excellent Desparate Sons, a very well researched historical narrative featuring the people and events leading up to the American Revolution. In Desparate Sons most of the action takes place between 1765 and 1776, giving us insight into a period of American History that is often overlooked when accounts focus mostly on the Revolutionary War for independence from Britain, the Declaration of Independence, The US Constitution, and the other well-trod literary grounds of Early American History. Desparate Sons focuses on the colonial… -
A note about commenting at Blog4History.com
18 Dec 2012 | 12:36 pmBlog4history really appreciates the many thoughtful comments we get. Unfortunately spammy junk comments are overwhelming enough that it’s hard to approve some of the good comments in a timely fashion, so PLEASE don’t think we are censoring your thoughts or ideas here – that doesn’t happen except with extraordinarily outrageous comments. Best to send me an email at jhunkins@gmail.com if you have a comment you want approved immediately – I really value input here but can’t track all the activity we get on a daily basis. If you are a historian or…
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New York History
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This Week’s New York History Web Highlights
24 May 2013 | 12:00 pmDigital Libraries: Will They Replace Traditional Books? Irish Potato Famine: New Culprit Identified Historiann: Introduction to Historical Practice Digitization 101: The Cost of Attending a Conference Kingston Lounge: Ellis Island Baggage and Dormitory Museum 2.0: The Negotiated Agency Of User Participation Navy Times: 50 Years of Nuclear History NYTimes: New Research Tools Kick Up Dust [...] -
This Week’s Top New York History News
24 May 2013 | 6:51 amConey Island Mermaid Parade Under Threat MA Land Records, 1620-1986, Online Military Records Free on FindMyPast Board of Regents Supports Dream Act Brooklyn Bridge Celebrates 130 Years Fest Celebrates 100 Yrs of Ferry PA, NYPL Truce Over Bill of Rights Mohawk Land Claim Talks Begining Museum Wise Folds Into MANY $90 Million For Parks, Historic [...] -
NYS History Journal Ends Print Publication, Goes Digital
23 May 2013 | 1:00 pmThe New York State Historical Association’s (NYSHA) quarterly journal New York History, published since 1919, is no longer available as a print publication and will henceforth be published as a digital pdf file. A statement published on the NYSHA webpage reported the change: “In 2012, the New York State Historical Association partnered with the State [...] -
$60,000,000 History Questions For Andrew Cuomo
23 May 2013 | 9:00 amSomeone I know sent me an e-mail in response to my posts about the Path through History asking me “What do you think has motivated Cuomo to launch the $60 million tourism initiative?” That is a big question and I don’t claim to be privy to the inner sanctum of the Albany decision-makers or to [...] -
The Hudson River Valley Review (Spring 2013)
22 May 2013 | 11:00 amThe diverse articles in the newest issue of The Hudson River Valley Review (Spring 2013) perfectly illustrate the pervasive and lasting influence of the Hudson River Valley in shaping America’s destiny. The cover article, on a pivotal era at the United States Military Academy at West Point, is adapted from the 2013 Cunneen-Hackett Lecture in [...]
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Soldiers of the 38th
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Private Osip Zaveruha
3 May 2013 | 6:57 pmBorn on 23 February 1895 in Laogow, Russia - next of kin listed as Ekaterina Yaveruha, Seko Malazentov[?], Russia - at the time of his enlistment in 1916: trade as moulder; single; no current or previous military service; height of 5 feet 1 inch; chest of 37 inches fully expanded; fair complexion; gray eyes; auburn hair.Joined the 126th Battalion, CEF, in Toronto, Ontario, on 3 January 1916 (number 775389) - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, on 4 or 6 December 1916 - killed in action on 9 April 1917 - name inscribed on the Vimy Memorial, France.(Updated with a photo of Pte… -
Private Charles Douglas Hamlyn Yonge
3 May 2013 | 6:55 pmBorn on 2 April 1887 in Bishops Waltham, Portsmouth, England - son of Walter Scrymshire S. Vernon (deceased) and Alexandrina Sara Ada Yonge, Farsham, Hampshire, England - at the time of his enlistment in 1916: present address in Stratford, Ontario; trade as buffer and polisher; single; no current or previous military service; Church of England; height of 5 feet 9.5 inches; chest of 36.5 inches fully expanded; fair complexion; grey eyes; light brown hair.Joined the 110th Battalion, CEF, in Stratford, Ontario, on 18 April 1916 (number 727779) - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF,… -
Private Albert James Worrall
3 May 2013 | 6:53 pmBorn on 9 March 1888 in Liverpool, England - husband of Agnes Jane Worrall, Toronto, Ontario - at the time of his enlistment in 1915: present address same as wife; trade as shipper; married; no current or previous military service; Church of England; height of 5 feet 3.75 inches; chest of 34 inches fully expanded; fair complexion; blue eyes; brown hair.Joined the 126th Battalion, CEF, in Toronto, Ontario, on 21 December 1915 (number 775221) - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, on 4 or 6 December 1916 - killed in action on 9 April 1917 - name inscribed on the Vimy Memorial,… -
Lance-Corporal Lawrence Albin Woodworth
3 May 2013 | 6:51 pmBorn on 24 February 1895 in Montreal, Quebec - son of Albin E. Woodworth, Montreal, Quebec - at the time of his enlistment in 1915: present address same as father; trade as banker; single; no current or previous military service; Presbyterian; height of 5 feet 11 inches; chest of 39 inches fully expanded; fair complexion; blue eyes; light brown hair.Joined the 87th Battalion, CEF, in Montreal, Quebec, on 29 November 1915 (number 177928) - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, in England on 14 July 1916 - landed in France with the 38th Battalion on 13 August 1916 - attached to the… -
Private William Winkworth
3 May 2013 | 6:49 pmBorn on 10 October 1895 in Ontario - son of William and Eva Winkworth, Swansea, Ontario - at the time of his enlistment in 1916: present address same as mother; trade as machinist; single; no current military service; previously served with the 10th Royal Grenadiers (two years); Baptist; height of 5 feet 6.75 inches; chest of 35.5 inches fully expanded; fair complexion; blue eyes; fair hair.Joined the 166th Battalion, CEF, in Toronto, Ontario, on 5 February 1916 (number 669607) - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, on 27 November or 1 December 1916 - killed in action on 13…
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Discovery News
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Beaches Hit By Hurricane Sandy Reopened
25 May 2013 | 12:00 amThe boardwalks of New York and New Jersey's beaches that were hit by Hurricane Sandy last year are reopening -- just in time for Memorial Day weekend. -
Bear Tracks Spur Bigfoot 911 Call
24 May 2013 | 3:17 pmA Pennsylvania man called 911 to report a Bigfoot sighting. But what the police found would be a matter of dispute and controversy. Continue reading → -
The Wow! Signal: Intercepted Alien Transmission?
24 May 2013 | 2:20 pm36 years ago, a brief radio signal was detected by an observatory in Ohio. Could it have been an extraterrestrial transmission? Continue reading → -
Boys Aren't Necessarily Wilder
24 May 2013 | 2:12 pmIn Asia, there's little difference in self-control between genders, but girls tested better than boys in the United States. Continue reading → -
Top 10 Beaches of 2013
24 May 2013 | 11:30 amThe best beaches in America reach from Cape Hatteras to Waikiki.
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O Say Can You See?
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You asked, we answered: Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?
24 May 2013 | 7:21 amWe know you're curious. A Civil War military history researcher explains where Memorial Day celebrations came from. Decoration Day postcard depicting a woman in mourning clothes at the grave of a Civil War soldier, 1908. Warshaw Collection of Business Americana - Civil War, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. In the midst of the nation's observation of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, battle anniversaries and encampments of Union and Confederate reenactors are reminders of the Civil War's long legs in American society. One of the lesser-known… -
Part III: On the set of "Rebel," the story of a woman who fought in the Civil War
23 May 2013 | 8:39 amWhen filmmaker María Agui Carter first came across the 1876 memoir of a Latina woman who fought in the Civil War, she recognized "a voice that sounded so modern" and was compelled to make a film about this maverick. We asked Agui Carter a few questions about her film and the woman "who made no apologies about breaking every gender, social, and ethnic boundary," which you can catch on PBS on Friday, May 24, 2013. Part I and Part II of this post provide some background on Loreta Janeta Velazquez. Filming a battle charge in… -
You asked, we answered: What did soldiers eat during the Revolutionary War?
16 May 2013 | 1:17 pmAfter answering a question about what may have been in the pockets of Revolutionary War soldiers, another Revolutionary War question came in from a Facebook follower. Our answer by Marko Zlatich, a longtime volunteer in the museum's Division of Armed Forces History. Barrel-shaped water canteens were uncommon. Their size and awkward shape made them impractical for most soldiers. It is likely that such a canteen would have been owned by a militia man who was called up and merely took what was available to him. Even before a food supply system was organized, on June 10,… -
Journeying west: Distinctive firearms travel to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West
14 May 2013 | 9:09 amWe recently loaned 64 objects from our National Firearms Collection to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a Smithsonian Affiliate in Cody, Wyoming, for a display. Researcher Ashley Lynn Hlebinsky shares two highlights of the display. Photo courtesy of Buffalo Bill Center of the West This loan is the culmination of the efforts of many individuals from the east and west. Without the vision of Cody Firearms Museum Curator Warren Newman, the dedication of National Museum of American History Associate Curator of firearms David Miller, and the team at Smithsonian Affiliations,… -
Police in history and Hollywood
7 May 2013 | 3:11 pmTwo curators share interesting law enforcement-related artifacts in their collections, inspired by National Police Week. Curator Eric Jentsch: Hollywood's version of police work Police badge from "Barney Miller" television show "Barney Miller," portrayed by actor Hal Linden (born in 1931,) was Captain of New York City's fictional 12th Precinct Detective's Office. There, Miller sensitively oversaw a diverse squad of wacky officers and their daily interactions with eccentric criminals and endless paperwork. The comedy was broadcast…
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About.com 19th Century History
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Newspaper Sunday: Margaret Fuller
19 May 2013 | 3:12 amWhen Margaret Fuller perished in a shipwreck at the age of 40 her growing influence on society was tragically halted. An early feminist and writer, she often expressed ideas which ...Read Full Post -
Phineas T. Barnum and "The Art of Money-Getting"
18 May 2013 | 4:56 pmWhat the showman Phineas T. Barnum called humbugs we might call viral content. Think about it. People lined up to see his attractions. And for ...Read Full Post -
The Mexican War
13 May 2013 | 4:43 amOn May 13, 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico. The decision was not without controversy, as many Americans thought the war was being provoked as a pretext to ...Read Full Post -
Newspaper Sunday: First Trip On the Erie Railroad
12 May 2013 | 4:06 amWhen the Erie Railroad opened in 1851, President Millard Fillmore, members of his cabinet, and prominent politicians including the legendary orator Daniel Webster, celebrated by traveling across New York State ...Read Full Post -
Boss Tweed
6 May 2013 | 4:42 amThough he never served as mayor, William M. "Boss" Tweed essentially ran New York City in the booming years following the Civil War. As head of Tammany Hall, a legendary political machine, it was Tweed who held the real power in the city. And thanks to his gregarious personality and instinctive sense of street-level politics, Tweed was popular with the public while engaging in legendary corruption. Growing up on the Lower East Side, Tweed, like many neighborhood boys, was infatuated with the neighborhood volunteer fire companies. As a young man, though employed in his father's trade of making…
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About.com 20th Century History
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Muppets Going to a NY Museum
23 May 2013 | 5:22 pmThe Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York, is the lucky recipient of a number of well-loved Muppets characters and historical items. Over 400 items are being donated by Jim Henson's family and will be displayed in a new, 2,200 square-foot gallery....Read Full Post -
Jailed Argentinian Dictator Dies
23 May 2013 | 5:06 pmDictator of Argentina from 1976 to 1981, Jorge Rafael Videla presided over the "Dirty War," in which an estimated 20,000 civilians were secretly captured, tortured, and murdered in an attempt to curb communism....Read Full Post -
New Pictures From the Romanov's Last Years Found
23 May 2013 | 4:29 pmRecently, over 200 private pictures of the Romanovs were found in a vault in the small, local Zlatoust Museum in the Urals. This is a very rare find as it shows the Romanovs, the last Russian czar and his family, enjoying their last carefree moments in the years proceeding their murder....Read Full Post -
Margaret Thatcher: The Iron Lady
23 May 2013 | 3:49 pmWhether you hated her or loved her, Margaret Thatcher made history when she became the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom, serving three terms from 1979 to 1990. ...Read Full Post -
History Quote of the Week
30 Apr 2013 | 7:04 am"I have no trouble with my enemies. I can take care of my enemies in a fight. But my friends, my goddamned friends, they're the ones who keep me walking the floor at nights!" -- Quote by U.S. President Warren Harding...Read Full Post
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About.com African History
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25 May 1986 – Forced Removals Begin at Crossroads Township
24 May 2013 | 5:10 pm -
This Day in African History – Italy Reorganizes its Red Sea Territories as Colony of Eritrea
23 May 2013 | 5:10 pmRead Full PostThis Day in African History – Italy Reorganizes its Red Sea Territories as Colony of Eritrea originally appeared on About.com African History on Friday, May 24th, 2013 at 00:10:25.Permalink | Comment | Email this -
This Day in African History -- Mungo Park Begins his First Exploration of Africa
22 May 2013 | 1:25 amRead Full PostThis Day in African History -- Mungo Park Begins his First Exploration of Africa originally appeared on About.com African History on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 at 08:25:46.Permalink | Comment | Email this -
This Day in African History – Dr Banda Steps Down
18 May 2013 | 5:10 pmThis Day in African History – Dr Banda Steps Down originally appeared on About.com African History on Sunday, May 19th, 2013 at 00:10:06.Permalink | Comment | Email this -
This Day in African History – Fall of Acre to the Sultan of Egypt
17 May 2013 | 5:10 pmRead Full PostThis Day in African History – Fall of Acre to the Sultan of Egypt originally appeared on About.com African History on Saturday, May 18th, 2013 at 00:10:39.Permalink | Comment | Email this
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About.com American History
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Old Kinderhook
3 May 2013 | 2:26 amMartin Van Buren, "Old Kinderhook," served as the eighth president of the United States. Heavily involved in the Democratic Party, he helped form one of the first political machines. He was also part of Andrew Jackson's famed Kitchen Cabinet. Learn more about this president whose only major foreign policy issue was the anticlimactic "Aroostook War."...Read Full Post -
John Quincy Adams, World Traveller
30 Apr 2013 | 3:59 amJohn Quincy Adams is a fascinating figure. He had travelled more than most in the world by the age of 17. He was quite a talented diplomat whose skills did not quite translate well in domestic politics. He was a staunch defender of the universal and inalienable rights of man, slave or free, as evidenced by his role on the defense team in the Amistad case. Learn more about this man who would only serve one term as president due to the backlash from the 'Corrupt Bargain'....Read Full Post -
10 Things to Know About James Monroe
30 Apr 2013 | 12:13 amMany people may not realize how much James Monroe was involved in the American Revolution. He was the son of a patriot who fought against British colonial policy. In 1775, he was one of 24 students who stormed the governor's palace in Williamsburg to seize weapons. He not only crossed the Delaware with Washington and stayed at Valley Forge, but also fought in the Battles of Trenton, Germantown, Brandywine, and Monmouth. Learn more about our fifth president who was reelected unopposed gathering all but one of the electoral votes in the Election of 1820:...Read Full Post -
Schenck v. United States
14 Apr 2013 | 11:42 pmCharles Schenck was arrested and convicted of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 by advocating individuals to speak out and sign a petition against the Conscription Act during World War I. He appealed to the Supreme Court...Read Full Post -
Lincoln Shot
14 Apr 2013 | 1:30 amApril 14, 1865, while watching a performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater with his wife, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated from a gunshot wound to the back of ...Read Full Post
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About.com Ancient / Classical History
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A Greek Philosopher Predicted It
24 May 2013 | 11:55 pmOn This Day in Ancient History - May 25: Eclipse © Clipart.com The Rogue Classicist says that it may have been on this day in 585 B.C. that Thales predicted a solar eclipse. Read Full PostA Greek Philosopher Predicted It originally appeared on About.com Ancient / Classical History on Saturday, May 25th, 2013 at 06:55:10.Permalink | Comment | Email this -
The First Christian Emperor Died
22 May 2013 | 2:48 pm -
Guess Who
21 May 2013 | 11:55 pm -
On This Day the Mother of the First Christian Emperor...
20 May 2013 | 11:50 pm -
Moses Finley
19 May 2013 | 11:55 pm
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About.com Asian History
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The Strange Fate of India's Peacock Throne
24 May 2013 | 7:55 pm -
Japan's Orphan Tsunami
22 May 2013 | 11:25 pm -
China, India Promise to Resolve Border Dispute
22 May 2013 | 8:14 am -
Gandhi's Effects Sold at Auction
21 May 2013 | 8:40 am -
Japan's Constitutional Amendments Make Neighbors Nervous
7 May 2013 | 10:07 pm
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Toptenz.net
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Top 10 Undeservedly Forgotten Pop-Rock Albums Of The ’90s
24 May 2013 | 9:01 pmIf ’90s music is remembered for anything, it’s for producing groundbreaking alternative artists, as well as a slew of shallow, glossy pop novelties. Somewhere in the middle of all that, the following pop-rock artists released amazing albums featuring a little bit of slickness, and a whole lot of craftsmanship. They’re remembered neither as revolutionary records, [...]The post Top 10 Undeservedly Forgotten Pop-Rock Albums Of The ’90s appeared first on Toptenz.net. -
Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Game
24 May 2013 | 2:04 pmThough he’s mostly known for being a rapper of epic proportions who consumes more drugs than half of Columbia, Snoop Dogg (or Lion depending on how hip you are) has another addiction. Video games. Along with appearing in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 as a rap-god/fight over-sear and the Def Jam series of games as the [...]The post Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Game appeared first on Toptenz.net. -
Top 10 Most Important Mario Characters
23 May 2013 | 9:01 pmMario, one of the most popular video game characters today. Mario has been from jumping over barrels to running all around the world for saving a princess, racing in little karts on many different tracks, flying around the universe for collecting lost stars, competing in the Olympics with Sonic, etc. The games he’s been starred in include Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart, Super Mario World, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario [...]The post Top 10 Most Important Mario Characters appeared first on Toptenz.net. -
Please Continue the Experiment
23 May 2013 | 5:13 pmEver wondered what it would take for someone to convince you to murder another human being? Well you’re probably insane and in serious need of help, the latter of which we can provide by telling you that all it would take is a lab coat. Scientists have discovered that we as humans are socially engineered [...]The post Please Continue the Experiment appeared first on Toptenz.net. -
Top 10 Most Bizarre Events To Ever Occur During A Baseball Game
22 May 2013 | 9:01 pmWhile many people celebrate professional baseball’s greatest home runs, or its best players, we choose to honor the wackiest, most ridiculous, or downright embarrassing things to happen during a game. Some of these, many would like to forget, but we won’t let them. 10. Plague of Midges The Cleveland Indians baseball stadium, and much of [...]The post Top 10 Most Bizarre Events To Ever Occur During A Baseball Game appeared first on Toptenz.net.
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History Of Macedonia
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Μακεδονικό και Παρασκήνιο – 17
24 May 2013 | 10:08 am- Νέα πολιτική ήττα υπέστη η Ελλάδα με την υπερψήφιση στο Ευρωκοινοβούλιο της έκθεσης προόδου των Σκοπίων κατά το έτος 2012. Υπερψήφισαν 505 ευρωβουλευτές, καταψήφισαν 61 και σημειώθηκαν 31 αποχές. Τα Ελληνόφωνα ΜΜΕ απέφυγαν να αναφέρουν ό,τι ανάμεσα στους ευρωβουλευτές που την υπερψήφισαν ήταν και ο Χρυσόγελος. Την… -
Έκθεση υπέρ των ενταξιακών διαπραγματεύσεων με τα Σκόπια - Υπερψηφίστηκε από το Ευρωκοινοβούλιο
24 May 2013 | 6:18 amΥπερψηφίστηκε από το Ευρωκοινοβούλιο Οι σκοπιμότητες και τα πολιτικά κριτήρια υπερίσχυσαν ακόμη και στο Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο όπου χθες η Ελλάδα υπέστη μια πολιτική ήττα μετά την υπερψήφιση της έκθεση του ευρωβουλευτή των Σοσιαλιστών Άγγλου Ρίτσαρντ Χιούιτ με την οποία ζητείται η άμεση έναρξη ενταξιακών… -
Όχι Σκοπιανοί, Αλβανοί και Τούρκοι στον Ελληνικό Στρατό
24 May 2013 | 5:03 amΈξι απόστρατοι αξιωματικοί, ένας ταξίαρχος, ένας συνταγματάρχης, ένας σμήναρχος, ένας ανθυπολοχαγός, ένας πλωτάρχης, και ένας στρατιωτικός, οι οποίοι τελούν εν αποστρατεία και ένας πολίτης προσέφυγαν στην Ολομέλεια του Συμβουλίου της Επικρατείας. Όλοι οι προαναφερόμενοι ζητούν να ακυρωθούν ως αντισυνταγματικές και… -
Γ. Κουμουτσάκος: Βουλευτές των Σκοπίων αρνούνται να καταδικάσουν χάρτες αλυτρωτικού περιεχομένου
22 May 2013 | 11:52 amΤο θέμα της ανάρτησης ενός χάρτη- πρόκλησης από τον Sitel, του πρώτου σε ακροαματικότητα τηλεοπτικού σταθμού των Σκοπίων, στην επίσημη σελίδα του σταθμού σε ευρέως χρησιμοποιούμενο μέσο κοινωνικής δικτύωσης, έθεσε ο Ευρωβουλευτής ΝΔ, κ. Γ. Κουμουτσάκος, στη Μεικτή Κοινοβουλευτική Επιτροπή ΕΕ-πΓΔΜ, που συνεδρίασε σήμερα στο… -
PanMacedonian Association USA – letter to the American Archaeological Institute
22 May 2013 | 7:11 amMay 16, 2013 Ms Elizabeth Bartman President of the American Archaeological Institute (AAI) Boston University 656 Beacon Street, 6th Floor Boston, MA 02215-2006 Dear Ms Bartman, We, the members of the Pan-Macedonian Association, one of the largest Greek American Associations in the US, are writing this letter as a collective effort to express our concerns regarding a [...] Related posts: Letter sent by the PanMacedonian Association to the President of the University of Utah American Hellenic Institute (AHI) letter to the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton The US…
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lefthistory
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Our men in Santiago welcomed Chile coup
15 May 2013 | 4:16 amNewly released documents show how Pinochet duped British embassy staff Hugh... -
The English translation of the recording of Salvador...
10 May 2013 | 7:47 amThe English translation of the recording of Salvador Allende’s last speech to the people of Chile on the morning of the coup, 11 September 1973: This is probably the last opportunity for me to speak to you. The air force has bombed the towers of Radio Portales and Radio Corporacion. My words contain no bitterness, just disappointment. May they be a moral punishment for those who have betrayed the oaths they took: the soldiers of Chile, the titular commanders-in-chief, Admiral Merino, who has designated himself the commander of the Navy, and Mr Mendoza, that despicable general who only… -
Salvador Allende: Revolutionary Democrat
1 May 2013 | 11:47 pmSalvador Allende: Revolutionary Democrat is a political biography of Salvador Allende, the Chilean... -
Allende Speaks in 1945 on the worrying trends in the United Nations
10 Apr 2013 | 3:14 amAllende on the United Nations and the US, speaking in the Chilean Senate on 12 September 1945. He... -
Theory for Everyone
9 Apr 2013 | 3:35 amhttp://review31.co.uk/article/view/95/theory-for-everyone Jodi Dean, The Communist Horizon Verso,...
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Harm's Way: A Blacksmith's Journey
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Brewing in Cleveland
16 May 2013 | 10:11 amI own a book called Brewing in Cleveland, part of the “Images Of America” series. About lager beer, the introduction notes the following: A huge influx of German immigrants arrived in Cleveland between the 1840s and the 1880s, bringing much of their culture with them. The particular process for the production of lager beer was one aspect, and it would revolutionize the American beer industry within a fairly short time. The first lager beer in America is thought to have been brewed around 1840, and it is believed that it was first brewed in Cleveland in either the late 1840s or the… -
Silvester and Gustav Adolf Days
9 May 2013 | 3:29 pmSometimes, traveling in a foreign country leads to a disconnect. Like the time Dave and I went to Canada in early October to celebrate his birthday, and everyone kept saying “Happy Thanksgiving.” (The Canadian Thanksgiving is always the second Monday in October.) When I was visiting Freinsheim and asked Ina how Germans celebrate New Year’s Eve, she kept talking about Silvester. “Silvester? What’s that?” Turns out it’s the German New Year’s Eve. In Germany, New Year’s Eve is Silvester because December 31 falls on the feast day of Sylvester… -
The first of May
1 May 2013 | 5:58 pmOnce a pagan festival honoring fertility and spring, the Festival of the Maypole is still celebrated today in many regions of Germany. It’s said the custom of the maypole began around the tenth century, a tidbit I found here. I think it might date earlier, however, to Roman times. Romans used to celebrate a feast called Floralia from April 28 to May 2 (according to Holiday Spot), so it could be an amalgamation of early European tribal customs and the Roman feast. In some parts of Germany, there was once the tradition where a bachelor would leave a “secret admirer” gift at… -
Carriages, collectibles, chocolate
23 Apr 2013 | 4:00 pmLast weekend I had the good fortune to get away to Cannon Beach with my friend Deb. Driving down Hwy 101, we stopped in Raymond, Washington for a visit to the Northwest Carriage Museum. Jerry Bowman, Curator, showed us around. Here he’s noting the features of the Studebaker Stanhope, popular around 1895. The interpretive sign explains: “The Stanhope, or ‘Izzer’ as it was commonly called, became a 19th century favorite. The name ‘Izzer’ was a clever adaptation of a rural colloquialism, ‘izzer’ meaning something that is modern and up-to-date, as… -
Hambacher Fest 1832
16 Apr 2013 | 1:31 pmThe Tenement Museum visitor center and shop at 103 Orchard Street, New York, New York has a great selection of books. I got caught up in such titles as: When Did the Statue of Liberty Turn Green?: And 101 Other Questions About New York City, until a title caught my eye a few shelves over: The German-American Experience, by Don Heinrich Tolzmann. A must-buy. When I brought it to the counter, the salesperson sighed. “You found one of two books we carry here about German Americans. I wish we had more.” I should have asked her what the other title was, but my tour of 97 Orchard Street…
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From Out of the Top Hat: A Blog from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
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Another Problem with Noah Brooks
4 May 2013 | 12:49 pmJournalists may be the warp and woof of contemporary history, but if you pick at the threads too hard, the cloth can begin to unravel. This blog first poked at Noah Brooks on December 13, 2010 (by chance, the anniversary of the battle of Fredericksburg), but for this week’s battle of Chancellorsville, 150th anniversary, the [...] -
Abraham Lincoln Went to Beardstown, But Did He Pick Up Syphilis While He Was There?
18 Apr 2013 | 1:10 pmA couple of years ago I gave a public lecture on Lincoln’s last days in 1865. Following the discussion period, as I was leaving the auditorium, a woman approached me to ask one more question. She hadn’t broached the subject earlier, she said, because it was so distant from my topic. “Did Lincoln,” she wondered, [...] -
Six Generations of an Illinois Family: Two Abraham Lincoln Letters, One Gift!
28 Mar 2013 | 11:14 amWhen Thomas Kenney of Massachusetts accepted 160 acres in Illinois from President James Monroe in 1818 as partial thanks for his service in the War of 1812, he set the later owners of that land along a path to local notoriety and friendship with a giant — Abraham Lincoln. Now the historic treasures of John [...] -
Hal Holbrook’s “Lincoln”
19 Feb 2013 | 12:42 pmWith the current spotlight on Lincoln actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones — all three of them up for Oscars on Sunday night, Feb. 24th — it’s easy to overlook the (now) 88-year-old Hal Holbrook, who plays Preston Blair, Sr., in the film. When Steven Spielberg signed the actor for this small [...] -
3.5 x 2.25 inches, 500 faces
31 Jan 2013 | 9:59 amWhat fits into your shirt pocket, is a little bendable but basically sturdy, and shows the photographic portraits of nearly 500 people? No, not your iPhone. The answer is the carte de visite (cdv) pictured here. It is backmarked for Ashford, Brothers & Co., of 76 Newgate Street, London, and was probably created in 1863 [...]
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Civil War Saga
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The Disappearance of Sarah Slater: Confederate Spy and Lincoln Conspirator
14 May 2013 | 10:17 amSarah Gilbert Slater was a mysterious Confederate spy who worked with both John Wilkes Booth and John Surratt prior to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln but disappeared shortly after without a trace. Federal investigators began pursuing Sarah Slater after she … Continue reading → -
Edwin Booth Voted for Abraham Lincoln
2 Apr 2013 | 9:23 amDespite his connection to his Confederate-sympathizing brother, John Wilkes Booth, stage actor Edwin Booth voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. John Wilkes Booth was reportedly deeply disappointed by his brother’s vote and lectured him for supporting Lincoln. Although Edwin was … Continue reading → -
William Quantrill’s Three Graves
5 Mar 2013 | 12:05 pmWilliam Quantrill was the leader of a violent group of Confederate guerrillas, known as Quantrill’s Raiders, whose members included brothers Frank and Jesse James. After Quantrill was shot and paralyzed during a skirmish with Union soldiers in Louisville, Kentucky in … Continue reading → -
Civil War Food
19 Feb 2013 | 10:55 amCivil War food was very different from the types of food we eat today. Due to war-time food shortages and a lack of both refrigeration and large-scale food processing, most meals were simple, easy to prepare dishes made from basic … Continue reading → -
James Russell Lowell’s Endorsement of Abraham Lincoln
7 Feb 2013 | 12:52 pmJames Russell Lowell was an abolitionist and poet from Cambridge, Massachusetts who served as the first editor of the Atlantic Monthly magazine from 1857 to 1861. In October of 1860, Lowell wrote a long article titled “The Election in November,” … Continue reading →
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History of Massachusetts
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Prudence Cummings Wright & Leonard Whiting’s Guard
13 May 2013 | 11:57 amPrudence Cummings Wright was a 35-year-old mother of six from Pepperell who recruited a group of 30 to 40 women to stand guard at a local bridge in April of 1775, where they captured two New Hampshire men suspected of … Continue reading → -
The Poetry of Phillis Wheatley
4 Apr 2013 | 6:13 amPhillis Wheatley was a slave from Boston who became a world-renowned poet and the first African-American to publish a book. Born in Senegambia, in what is now modern day Gambia or Senegal, Wheatley was captured and brought to Boston on … Continue reading → -
James Russell Lowell’s Feud with Henry David Thoreau
5 Mar 2013 | 11:45 amJames Russell Lowell was a U.S. Diplomat, poet and editor who had a longstanding feud with Henry David Thoreau that lasted well after Thoreau’s death. Although Lowell was not the only one at the time who disliked Thoreau, who was … Continue reading → -
The Roles of Women in the Revolutionary War
21 Feb 2013 | 12:22 pmWomen in the Revolutionary War took on many roles, some were traditional while others were unconventional and scandalous for the time. From supportive roles like nurses, cooks and maids to more direct roles such as secret soldiers and spies, women … Continue reading → -
Reverend John Hale of Beverly
5 Feb 2013 | 12:02 pmReverend John Hale was a minister from Beverly best known for his role in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Born in Charlestown in 1636 to local blacksmith Robert Hale, as a child Hale witnessed Massachusetts’ first execution of a … Continue reading →
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V is for Vintage
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Vintage Cannes
24 May 2013 | 12:20 pmQuick, jump in the time machine for a little film history tour of vintage Cannes. We’ll be back in time for hors d’ouvres supper. photos by... -
…the future is only the past again…
22 May 2013 | 6:16 amBorn on 24th of May 1855, Sir Arthur Wing Pinero was an English actor and dramatist. -
What happened in 1905?
21 May 2013 | 5:05 amDo you know what happened in 1905? An outline of significant events that took place in the year 1905. Also featuring galleries of images to illustrate the culture,... -
something for the weekend
17 May 2013 | 3:19 pmEveryone’s gone Gatsby crazy! Here’s a little something for the weekend. It’s not too late to take a peek at the Harrods Great Gatsby window displays and pop-up... -
Trimalchio, the original Gatsby story
14 May 2013 | 8:01 amHave you read Trimalchio yet? No? Don’t worry, not too many people have until recent years. It’s the first edition and working title of The Great Gatsby. It...
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The Little Jazz Baby
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Here Comes Another Bad Review for Gatsby 2013…
12 May 2013 | 11:04 pmI have mentioned The Great Gatsby 2013 more than a few times over the past several months without having seen it. Based on the trailers alone (and the fact that Baz Luhrmann directed it), I declared it offensive and complete and utter rubbish. Many people have told me I was too quick to judge, that I should actually see it before casting any judgment—good, bad, or otherwise. Well, my darlings, I saw it this past Sunday and can now say with confidence that all my suspicions were right—it is absolutely horrible. I’ll give you the highlights here and you can decide for yourself… -
The Top 5 Best Actresses in Black and White
6 May 2013 | 12:03 amLast month I brought you the ten best actors in black and white, and today I am going to talk about who I believe are the top five best actresses in black and white. They were all world-famous at one time (some of them for things other than their acting skills…unfortunately), and still have enduring qualities today. And I admit that I do not pay much attention to actresses on the silver screen, so I really do not have a solid top 10 best actresses. The other five vary with my mood. But there are five dames who constantly, and will always, be the best actresses of all time to me. … -
America’s Love Affair with Terrorist Groups
3 May 2013 | 11:30 pmThese days when we think of terrorist groups, we think of dictators in the Middle East and other international groups who sit there and plan ways to do us harm here in the United States. We rarely, if ever, think about our own people conspiring against us. We are raised to believe that Americans are generally good at heart. We do not automatically associate them with terrorism or terrorist groups. We would not think of it. What if I told you that America has had a long, enduring love affair with terrorist groups born and bred right here in the United States? And more often than not,… -
Peter Lorre’s Sympathetic Psychopath
2 May 2013 | 11:00 pmPeter Lorre in M (1931) Peter Lorre, the pint size, bug-eyed actor with a nasal Viennese accent, made his name in Hollywood playing ruthless murderers and hooligans. Lorre got his start in Germany in (shocker of shockers) comedies and musicals on the stage. But it was his breakthrough performance in the Fritz Lang thriller M (1931), along with his unconventional, sinister looks, that set him on the path of being typecast as some of the most despicable creatures ever put on film. In M, Lorre plays Hans Beckert a serial killer in an unnamed city who preys on children, luring them with candy and… -
Dear Hollywood, Please Stop Reinventing Gatsby
25 Apr 2013 | 12:49 amCover of the first volume in the series (Photo credit: Wikipedia) My second post on this blog asked “Does the world really need another Gatsby?” speaking of the the various adaptions of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. And a while back, I wrote a more creative post on how one can learn from Gatsby’s mistakes. I also included the novel in a short list of must-reads by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I think it is safe to say that I love The Great Gatsby more than life itself. I am also extremely protective of F. Scott Fitzgerald and all the hard work…
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Ancient Origins
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A War in the Heavens: In the Far Reaches of Outer & Inner Space
25 May 2013 | 6:23 amIs there a war going on out there in the far reaches of outer and therefore inner space, a War in the Heavens as many have alluded? If there is such a war, what would that mean to us here on planet Earth in terms of our belief systems, our safety and sovereignty? In 1995 Courtney Brown started the Farsight Institute to teach remote viewing techniques. In the early days of his endeavors, he was very open about what he was doing and what he was ‘seeing’. For a time he posted the most amazing reports on his website that were emerging from his and others remote viewing events. These reports… -
Archaeologists Discover Nearly 5,000 Cave Paintings in Mexico
25 May 2013 | 12:32 amArchaeologists in Mexico have found 4,926 cave paintings in north-east Mexico in Burgos providing new information about the presence of pre-Hispanic people in a region which was previously believed to be uninhabited. The well-preserved rock art found at 11 different sites, with the walls of one cave covered with 1,550 separate paintings. The images in red, yellow, black and white depict humans, animals, insects, skyscapes and abstract scenes. They also found paintings of a pre-Hispanic hunting weapon called the atlatl, which had not been seen in any other paintings in the region. Until… -
Amazing Discovery that Could Rewrite Australian History
24 May 2013 | 10:17 pmAccording to the history books, the first person to discover Australia was Dutchman, Willem Janszoon, who landed in north Queensland in 1606 – more than 160 years before Captain Cook arrived and claimed the continent for Britain. However, the discovery of copper coins on Wessel Island, which originate from the former sultanate of Kilwa near Tanzania, and are dated as far back as the 900s, has the potential to rewrite Australian history. In 1944, a solider was patrolling the strategically important Wessel Islands off the north coast of Australia when he stumbled upon five coins buried in… -
One God Versus Many - A Solitary God in the Company of Many (Part 2)
24 May 2013 | 2:52 amThe concept of the Christian Trinity is puzzling, to say the least, but what about the Jewish/Christian god’s admittance to the existence of other gods? Here are the Old Testament instances where this god identifies, or admits, the existence of other gods. Most of the verses relate to the law as it was handed down to and recorded in the Torah by the Jewish patriarch Moses. “For on this same night I will go through Egypt…executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt—I, the Lord!” Exodus 12:12 “You shall not have other gods besides me. You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the… -
Large Neanderthal Settlement found in Greece
24 May 2013 | 1:20 amIt was more than 100,000 years ago when this settlement in Mani, Southern Greece, was occupied by a large number of Neanderthals. The site is called Kalamakia Middle Paleolithic Cave. The site was found and excavated in 1993 by the National History Museum of Paris and it is dated to be occupied between 100,000 and 37,000 years BC. The human remains that were found in the cave at Kalamakia include remains of at least 8 people including youngsters that were classified as Neanderthals based on the bones and wear on the teeth that were examined. Furthermore, tools and shells were also found…
