Author Archives: SUMPTER

The death of Gerrit Smith

Posted on December 28, 2024 by SUMPTER

The well-known abolitionist Gerrit Smith died on December 28, 1874. Harper’s Weekly published a eulogy and brief biography in its January 16, 1875 issue: GERRIT SMITH. THE active antislavery movement in this country began forty years ago, and it is … Continue reading →

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Light show

Posted on December 25, 2024 by SUMPTER

The bible verse is Psalm 95.6 (New King James Version) From Wikipedia: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s painting Adoration of the Shepherds, c.1650; There is a link to the later painting (circa 1668) on the same subject, which is a thumbnail above; … Continue reading →

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comin’ to town?

Posted on December 24, 2024 by SUMPTER

It wasn’t exactly a diptych. The plates were separated by a couple pages of text. But in its December 26, 1874 issue Harper’s Weekly did publish two full-page images on a related theme: would Santa Claus, née Saint Nicholas, arrive … Continue reading →

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let the good time roll

Posted on November 28, 2024 by SUMPTER

Are you ready for some jollification? President Ulysses S. Grant’s sixth Thanksgiving Day proclamation (from Pilgrim Hall Museum): THANKSGIVING DAY 1874 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION We are reminded by the changing seasons … Continue reading →

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blue, gray, khaki

Posted on November 11, 2024 by SUMPTER

After the United States entered World War I in 1917, Camp Hancock was built near Augusta, Georgia as a training site for U.S. troops. Camp Hancock was named after Civil War general and native Pennsylvanian Winfield Scott Hancock. According to … Continue reading →

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technoween

Posted on October 31, 2024 by SUMPTER

According to the Library of Congress, the above picture was created/published in 1909 or 1910. Since the Wright brothers’ first 59 second flight at Kitty Hawk occurred in December 1903, I’d call that witch an early adopter, at least by … Continue reading →

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Dedicated

Posted on October 15, 2024 by SUMPTER

After Abraham Lincoln was assassinated his body was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. 150 years ago today a large monument at the Lincoln grave site was dedicated. In its October 24, 1874 issue Harper’s Weekly described the … Continue reading →

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Fall River Fire

Posted on September 30, 2024 by SUMPTER

On September 19, 1874 a very destructive fire at a mill in Fall River, Massachusetts killed or injured many of the employees. In its October 10, 1874 issue Harper’s Weekly analyzed the fire and highlighted the heroism of a young … Continue reading →

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Battle in New Orleans

Posted on September 14, 2024 by SUMPTER

According to Eric Foner in Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877, every election in Louisiana “between 1868 and 1876 was marked by rampant violence and pervasive fraud.” The results of the 1872 Louisiana gubernatorial election were highly disputed. Both carpetbagger Republican … Continue reading →

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no gift

Posted on September 2, 2024 by SUMPTER

Recently, when I was searching the Library of Congress for “Labor Day,” the September 3, 1921 issue of The Labor World caught my attention. The paper headlined the ‘greatest Labor Day in history;’ and the masthead mentioned Duluth, Minnesota and … Continue reading →

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