Category Archives: American History

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

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“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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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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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Dutch treat

Given the fact that David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize winning John Adams was apparently published in 2001, I have to say I’m thankful that I finally got around to reading it within the last year or so. It is a very … 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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