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 Victorian balls, like the Fezziwigs held by organizations such as The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers and Regency Encounters which both held yearly Victorian balls prior to Covid. The night is filled with 19th century carols, refreshments, and dancing as guests step back in time. While not as many [...]
Early Life Susan La Flesche Picotte was the first Native American female physician. She is remembered for breaking racial and gender barriers. Susan was born in 1865 in the Omaha Indian Reservation, daughter to Chief Joseph (called “Iron Eyes”) and Mary Gale (called “One Woman”). Both parents were of mixed race. The chief knew his tribe [...]
It’s been 150 years since Louisa May Alcott introduced us to the March family in Little Women and we can’t seem to get enough of the story and the characters who inhabit it. Is it because of the diverse personalities of the March siblings? Our readers have strong opinions on who is their favorite and how the [...]
Thomas Hardy’s first literary success Far from the Madding Crowd was written by Thomas Hardy in 1874. It was his fourth novel and the first one to see major literary success. The story was first published anonymously as a monthly serial in Cornhill Magazine. Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) considered himself a poet first and foremost but [...]
Are you attending a Dickens-themed event? Whether you are participating in a Dickens Fair, are part of a Victorian caroling group, or are part of a Dickens production such as A Christmas Carol, it’s important for a lady to know how to dress the part! We’re here to wrap it all up for you in [...]
The Industrial Revolution brought many and lasting changes to the labor force. We moved from a mostly agricultural society to one dominated by mechanization. Men, women, and children as young as five worked long hours in often dangerous conditions. It wasn’t unusual for people to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week for [...]
We know about the common wedding traditions that have stood the test of time, but we may not always know their origin or why we still honor them. Some of these traditions may come as a shock, while others are more than fitting to last lifetimes. Here are just a few wedding traditions that have [...]
Oh, the things you will see when you take the road less traveled! I love taking the ‘scenic route.’ On a recent trip through New Jersey, it was a delight to drive through Belvidere, New Jersey! Why take the interstate when there is a bridge over the Delaware River in this historic little town? [...]