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Abraham Lincoln’s Cooper Union Speech
One of Abraham Lincoln's most important speeches was the one he gave at the Cooper Union in New York City on February 27th, 1860. The resounding success of this speech forged Lincoln into a nationally known and popular political figure, paving the way for his attempt...
Sullivan Ballou’s Last Letter
On this Valentine's Day, we remember the eloquent words of Major Sullivan Ballou whose last letter was written to his wife leading up to the battle at First Bull Run and found on his dead body after the battle. Sullivan Ballou was a prosperous attorney at the...
The Story of ‘Jingle Bells’ by Oliver Ditson
One of the cherished tunes that fills the air during the Christmas season originated not as a holiday anthem but as a humorous ditty performed in minstrel shows in the 1850s. “Jingle Bells” is among the most popular American songs of all time. Although it is strongly...
Thanksgiving in 1865
The following woodcut by Winslow Homer depicts the inaugural celebration of Thanksgiving as an official national holiday in the aftermath of the Civil War. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving as a nationally recognized holiday, marking this...
The History of Thanksgiving in the United States
The History of Thanksgiving in the United States In the early days of the United States, Thanksgiving was declared by Presidents George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison, but it was primarily observed on a state or territory level in the following years....
Laura Keene
Laura Keene, a renowned British-American stage actress, is celebrated for her pivotal role as the first influential female theater manager, instrumental in establishing New York City as the premier theatrical hub in the United States. Her legacy is forever intertwined...
Somebody’s Darling – A Civil War Poem
The poem was written by Marie Ravenel de La Coste and was later put to music. It appeared in newspapers, North and South, during the Civil War. A bleak and haunting poem about the loss of a young soldier during the Civil War. This poem, reprinted here as it...
Governor Curtain Proclaims Thanksgiving Day 1862
Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin issues this proclamation during the Civil War on October 16, 1861: Proclamation of a Day of Thanksgiving. – 1862. Pennsylvania, ss. (Signed) A. G. Curtin. IN THE NAME AND BY the Authority of the Commonwealth of...