Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The (elegant brass) Christmas Box--Anno 1914

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Whenever possible, I like to use images and objects in teaching. They can provide insights into specific aspects of life in the past in th...

Merry Christmas, Amherst! From Rejection to Grudging Acceptance

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On Christmas Day a century before Amherst became a town, Mass Moments tells us: in 1659, a law was passed by the General Court of Massach...
Thursday, December 25, 2014

Wishing You All a Very Merry Christmas!

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To my friends and readers who celebrate Christmas: wishing you a joyous holiday! And of course, greetings of the season to all! vig...
Friday, December 12, 2014

Amherst Woman During Prohibition Era: George Washington was NOT a drunk!

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What curious, serendipitous finds one makes when doing research. A week ago, we marked the anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition . No...
Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Before It Was Safe to Drink the Water: Amherst Historical Society Teaches You How to Drink Like a Colonist

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The annual meeting of the Amherst Historical Society typically includes a guest lecture. This year, at the suggestion of visiting curator Ma...
Sunday, November 30, 2014

Post-Thanksgiving Digestif (cheers and fears)

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Thanksgiving became a regular national holiday only in 1863 when President Lincoln called upon the nation "to set apart and observe th...
Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thanksgiving History: From the Vaults

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Nothing new this year. For that matter, I suppose, I never have anything truly new to say about Thanksgiving: just my occasional mus...