Category Archives: Postbellum Society

hot time

150 years ago this summer New York City suffered some very hot weather. From the July 27, 1872 issue of Harper’s Weekly: THE HEATED TERM. THE heated term which ended on the 6th inst, was not only the most protracted, … Continue reading

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forget the feud

From the June 8, 1872 issue of Harper’s Weekly: DECORATION-DAY. In the beautiful and touching illustration on our first page this week our artist expresses the universal feeling of the country. While the people have no wish to keep alive … Continue reading

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preacher woman

From the March 2, 1872 issue of Harper’s Weekly: A WOMAN IN THE PULPIT. THE good Presbytery of Brooklyn have been greatly scandalized of late by the appearance of Miss SARAH F. SMILEY, a Quakeress preacher, in the pulpit of … Continue reading

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with counsel like that

From the January 27, 1872 issue of Harper’s Weekly: THE KU-KLUX. WE give on this page an illustration, engraved from a photograph from life, showing three members of a band of Mississippi Ku-Klux, who are now under indictment in that … Continue reading

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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

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Charleston and Chicago on Christmas

150 years ago a couple editorials, North and South, seemed to share some similarities. From the December 25, 1871 issue of The Charleston Daily News (image 2): Christmas. May we not hope that this day of days, the festival of … Continue reading

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not half bad

Another year, another Thanksgiving. Here’s President Grant’s 1871 Proclamation: THANKSGIVING DAY 1871 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION The process of the seasons has again enabled the husbandman to garner the fruits of successful … Continue reading

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street murder

150 years ago last month a white man shot and killed a black man in public on Election Day in Philadelphia. In it’s October 28th Harper’s Weekly summarized the murder. In an editorial a week later the paper seemed to … Continue reading

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“Chicago will not succumb”

I never knew much about the devastating 19th century Chicago fire, except that it seemed to have something to do with a Mrs. O’Leary and her cow. As I realized the fire was getting nearer, at least in sesquicentennial time, … Continue reading

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upriver

According to documentation at the Library of Congress, an expedition of exploration set out from a camp in Arizona territory 150 years ago today: In its May 6, 1871 issue Harper’s Weekly provided more information about the expedition: SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. … Continue reading

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