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Posted by: Heather Thomas
On the afternoon of February 28, 1844, President John Tyler and roughly 400 guests were enjoying a cruise down the Potomac River on the new US Navy warship USS Princeton, when the mammoth, 13-ton naval gun on board, known as the “Peacemaker,” exploded. The disaster came close to costing the president his life, but instead it led to his marriage.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers, U.S. Presidents
Posted by: Heather Thomas
Spanning roughly 1870-1900, the Gilded Age was a time of rapid industrialization in the United States. The country was transforming from an agrarian society of farmers and small producers to an industrial economy based in large urban cities. At the same time, there was a burst of innovation in the fields of engineering, science, and technology, which brought about some of the modern era's most innovative inventions. Here is a look at some of those inventions through historical newspapers.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers
Posted by: Heather Thomas
Thanksgiving is the one American holiday defined by its cuisine. Here is a brief history (and recipes!) of some of the dishes that have come to represent a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Holidays, Newspapers, Recipes
Posted by: Heather Thomas
The Edwardian era bride was expected to be the image of modesty. High necklines, long gloves, and ruffled petticoats were prominent to achieve head to toe coverage. While the fashionable silhouette shifted from the idealized S-shape of a Gibson Girl to a more A-line shape over time, satin, ruffles, and lace reigned supreme throughout the …
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Fashion, Newspapers, Women's History
Posted by: Heather Thomas
On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law the Yellowstone National Park Act, establishing the first national park in America, and the first of its kind in the world! Take a look at some of the scenic and magnificent National Parks you can visit this summer.
Posted in: Animals, Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers, U.S. Presidents
Posted by: Heather Thomas
Calling all dog lovers! Earlier this year, the American Kennel Club announced that for the first time in history, the French Bulldog was the most popular purebred dog breed in 2022, knocking out the Labrador Retriever which took the top spot for the past 30 years. Here’s a look back at the most popular breeds …
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers
Posted by: Heather Thomas
February 20 is Presidents Day--officially Washington's birthday--and what better way to celebrate than with some presidential trivia! You may have aced round 1 in 20 Questions: U.S. Presidential Trivia Quiz, but below are twenty more trivia questions to test your POTUS knowledge.
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers, Trivia, U.S. Presidents
Posted by: Heather Thomas
With unprecedented prosperity, technology, and leisure like no decade before it, 1920s America roared, soared, and was never bored, igniting endless fads and crazes of excess and frivolity–until it all came crashing down (Hendricks, 2018). The decade before survived the cataclysm of World War I and a deadly global influenza epidemic. This brought about a …
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers
Posted by: Heather Thomas
It is a rare event for a wedding to be held at the home of the President of the United States, but on November 19, 2022, the 19th documented wedding will take place at the White House, when Naomi Biden, the granddaughter of President Joe Biden, and Peter Neal get married on the South Lawn. …
Posted in: Digitized Newspapers, Newspapers, U.S. Presidents