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 [...]
Author: Christine Skirbunt When we think of World War II heroines, images of spies, nurses, and munitions workers often come to mind. But another group of women quietly transformed the British home front with determination, boots, and a hoe in hand: the Land Girls. Members of the Women’s Land Army (WLA), these women kept Britain’s [...]
Author: Christine Skirbunt 250 Years 25 Decades One Nation in Motion Decade 21: 1976–1985America turned 200 – and reflected on its identity. In 1976, the United States celebrated its Bicentennial, marking 200 years of independence with parades, fireworks, time capsules, tall ships, and nationwide festivities. It was a rare moment of national unity after a [...]