Category Archives: American History

bicentennial

“A Visit from from St. Nicholas” was first published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel on Dec. 23, 1823. The poem was later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore and has become more widely known as “The Night Before Christmas.” According to … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago, American Culture, American History, American Society | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

tea time

150 years ago this week people commemorated the centennial of the Boston Tea Party. According to the January 3, 1874 issue of Harper’s Weekly, one of the celebrations incorporated a contemporary political issue – women’s rights: THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY. On … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, American History, Postbellum Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving, federal style

When the Civil War started, Thanksgiving was not a national holiday. There seemed to be a tradition of Thanksgiving with turkey in November. Sometimes states (and possibly also localities) declared Thanksgiving Days for a variety of reasons. According to Pilgrim … Continue reading

Posted in 160 Years Ago, American History, American Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

muted celebration?

Recently National Review compared and contrasted The United States and Britain: “Every nation needs a mythic anchor. Ours is our revolutionary self-founding. Britain is its longer, slower maturation.” Eight years after the Civil War ended a Southern newspaper didn’t feel … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, American Culture, American History, Postbellum Politics, Postbellum Society, Southern Society | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“guiding star”

From the March 1, 1873 issue of Harper’s Weekly: WASHINGTON AT VALLEY FORGE. [see Illustration on First Page.] O Noble heart! that ne’er from duty swerved, Nor thought of self through all the weary hours! O noble life! that did … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago, American History | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

game day

Lately I’ve been in the habit of visiting the Pilgrim Hall Museum as November makes its annual return. This year I checked out Thanksgiving Touchdown, an article that describes the connection between American football and Thanksgiving and even touches on … Continue reading

Posted in American Culture, American History, Postbellum Society | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

irrepressible

On October 10, 1872 former U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward died at his home in Auburn, New York. People in the Midwest could read all about it the next day. From the October 11, 1872 issue of The … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Aftermath, American History, Lincoln Administration, Postbellum Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

dedicated

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. was dedicated on Memorial Day a century ago (five score years). From the May 31, 1922 issue of The New York Times: WASHINGTON, May 30. – The Lincoln Memorial magnificent and compelling in its … Continue reading

Posted in 100 Years Ago, American History, Monuments and Statues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

artifact on parade

From the March 16, 1872 issue of Harper’s Weekly: WASHINGTON’S CARRIAGE. ONE of the most interesting incidents of the grand parade in this city [New York City] on the 22d of February was the appearance in the procession of a … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, American Culture, American History | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

resolutions galore

150 years ago today a Chicago editorial looked at the year just past and saw the terrible destruction of the Great Chicago Fire in October 1871 as a source of hope for the coming year – citizens had a great … Continue reading

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, American Culture, American History, Postbellum Society | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment