November 29, 2016 marks Louisa May Alcott’s 184th birthday (1832). Today, she is best remembered for her book, Little Women. Here are some interesting tidbits you might not have known. Louisa May Alcott started publishing poems, short stories, thrillers, and juvenile tales in 1851 under the pen name Flora Fairfield. She also wrote under the [...]
Thanksgiving is probably nearly as old as mankind. From the time we started cultivating crops, farmers have been grateful for the sun, rain, and a good harvest. Its roots can be seen in the harvest feasts of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. It also is similar to Sukkot, the ancient Jewish harvest festival. Long [...]
Thanksgiving… a day filled with memories of family and friends, of hearth and home. We want to share this Thanksgiving with you. We’re looking for your favorite Thanksgiving story. Upload your story in the comments section or email them to donna@recollections.biz. Please try to keep your story to no more than 500 words. We’ll pick [...]
Victoria Claflin Woodhull was born on September 23, 1838, the seventh of 10 children born to Roxanna ‘Roxy’ Hummel Claflin and Reuben ‘Old Buck’ Buckman Claflin. Her mother was illegitimate and illiterate. Her father was a con man and snake oil salesman. The family lived in rural Homer, Licking County, Ohio. Life was not easy [...]
Nothing challenged Victorian ideology in the United States more than the Civil War. Women living during Antebellum America were the epitome of domesticity. The industrial revolution changed the way men worked. Men increasingly spent their work time away from home, moving into factories, offices, and shops. In what historians call ‘the Cult of True Womanhood,’ [...]
If you look at an old American calendar from the late 1930s or early 40s, you will see November 11 marked as Armistice Day, not Veterans Day. Armistice Day was first celebrated on November 11, 1919 to mark the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Hostilities ceased on the 11th hour of [...]
Sarah Josepha Hale – Poet, Novelist, Editor Within five years of David's death, Sarah published a novel, Northwood. In the novel, she describes the character and manners of New Englanders. One of the traditions she described in her book is very familiar to Americans. Baker shares Sarah's words with us. ”The table, covered with a [...]
Becoming Sarah Josepha Hale I was researching Godey's Lady's Book for a blog post and found Sarah Josepha Hale who was a large part of the success of this 19th-century publication. She also advocated for girls' education reform (although she was not a suffragist) and the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday through her [...]
Today we are making a connection Liesa Kelley Joslin, a fashion model for Recollections. Q. How long have you been a model for Recollections? A. Honestly, I'm not even sure because I've been doing it so long! I would say at least 6-7 years?! Possibly more! Q. Is Recollections the only company you’ve modeled for? [...]