The Fisher Girls edition This time around, our caption contest presented a selection of Harrison Fisher's romantic illustrations from the first quarter of the 20th century. Thanks for playing! The winning captions are below. Click on the image to see all captions submitted. The winning captions! #1 - Hearts in the Sand“And this, my dearest, [...]
First, Charles Dana Gibson brought us the Gibson Girl. Then, after Gibson's retirement from illustrating, Harrison Fisher arrived on the scene. His Fisher Girl “redefined the American ideal of feminine beauty” (Harrison Fisher and the American Beauty) during the first quarter of the 20th century. Who was Harrison Fisher? Harrison Fisher was born to be [...]
Clara Schumann's early life Clara Schumann (born Wieck) was born on September 13, 1819 in Leipzig, Germany. Her father, Friedrich, was a musician. He taught piano, started a lending library, and opened a shop where he sold musical instruments. Friedrich Wieck was a well-respected music teacher. His students included his future wife and mother of [...]
Recently released documents give us a glimpse into royal, rebellious life of Queen Victoria’s daughter, Louise. Princess Louise’s Unpaid Cigarette Bill Princess Louise, Duchess of Argylle, 1861 Princess Louise, later known as the Duchess of Argyle, was born in 1848 to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She was not known for being the perfect picture [...]
Sarah Biffin, 1784-1850, was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but she learned how to make her mouth her most valuable asset. She was born with phocomelia, which affects the development of limb and bone in utero.
Each year on December 31st, people standing in Times Square and people all over the world sitting around their television countdown as the ball drops in New York City. While “Dick Clark’s New York Rockin’ Eve” is a modern tradition, there is a long history of New Years celebrations in New York City.
Evergreen trees decorated with lights, garland, and ornaments have become a staple in most households that celebrate Christmas, however, these trees haven’t always been a symbol of the upcoming holiday. Since evergreen trees stayed green throughout the cold months, they have long been revered. Ancient Egyptians worshipped the god Ra and believed that Ra grew [...]
It has become the norm that when we travel from state to state we must factor in time zone changes and that there is a Sunday in the spring and in the fall when we change our clocks for Daylight Saving Time, but time has not always been this way. The Concept of Time Before [...]
The start of December brings the season of Fezziwig Balls, like the one The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers hosts each year. The night is filled with 19th century carols, refreshments, and dancing as guests step back in time. Fezziwig Balls are named after Mr. Fezziwig, the employer of A Christmas Carol’s Ebenezer Scrooge when he was [...]