Category Archives: Postbellum Society

irrepressible

Posted on October 10, 2022 by SUMPTER

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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hot time

Posted on August 7, 2022 by SUMPTER

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

Posted on May 30, 2022 by SUMPTER

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

Posted on April 25, 2022 by SUMPTER

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

Posted on January 31, 2022 by SUMPTER

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

Posted on January 1, 2022 by SUMPTER

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

Posted on December 25, 2021 by SUMPTER

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

Posted on November 30, 2021 by SUMPTER

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

Posted on November 11, 2021 by SUMPTER

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”

Posted on October 11, 2021 by SUMPTER

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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