Author: Christine Skirbunt Few holiday films have woven themselves into the fabric of American Christmas quite like A Christmas Story (1983). Directed by Bob Clark and based on humorist Jean Shepherd’s semi-autobiographical stories, over time, its nostalgic humor, dry wit, and pitch-perfect depiction of early 1940s life transformed it into an enduring classic. So beloved is [...]
The Truth in Their Names:Pocahontas, Nancy Ward, and SacagaweaAuthor: Christine Skirbunt Every November, Native American Heritage Month invites us to remember the first peoples of this continent, not only as historical footnotes, but as full human beings whose lives shaped American history. Yet many of us still hold on to incomplete versions of their stories. [...]
Author: Christine Skirbunt When autumn’s chill tiptoes in, leaves turning russet, morning air sharpening, many of us instinctively reach for a sweater. That cozy ritual feels so natural. But it is worth remembering that there was a time when knitwear was considered purely utilitarian, and women’s autumn wardrobes were dominated by layers of structured fabrics [...]
Author’s Note:As I once said before, my aim is to stay behind the scenes here and let the history speak. This is a rare exception where I briefly insert my voice because the trail that led to this article is a rabbit hole many Recollections readers have traveled or plan to explore. On my maternal side, [...]
Author: Christine Skirbunt Welcome, dear reader, to a most singular entry in the chronicles of Recollection’s diary. I beg you to open your mind to an unearthly October visitation for this is a journey into those curiosities that ought never to have been. Tonight, you step beyond the veil of time and place, into a [...]
Author: Christine Skirbunt With the invention of the telephone in the late 19th century a new profession was also invented: that of switchboard operator. This job was vital because, in the earliest days of the telephone, people could not dial each other directly. They needed an intermediary – known as a telephone operator – to [...]
Author: Christine Skirbunt When we think of fashion’s dangers, we might imagine high heels that twist ankles or corsets that pinch waists. But for much of history, clothing didn’t just cause discomfort – it could kill. From flammable fabrics that turned stages into infernos to toxic trades that poisoned entire industries of workers, fashion has [...]
Author: Christine Skirbunt Take the quiz to find your spooky seasonal persona – and what to wear from our historical wardrobe! Overview: Whether you’re attending a Halloween party, planning a historical costume photoshoot, or just want to unleash your alter ego, this quiz pairs you with a perfect Recollections persona inspired by a few of [...]
Author: Christine Skirbunt Locked Out of Ownership While women were entering the workforce in greater numbers during the latter part of the 19th century and they may have won the right to vote in 1920, this progress happened in fraught increments. It may surprise younger generations of American women today (especially those born in the 1980s [...]