Post #11 Chameleon Writing
For our last posting we were tasked with finding a historian who combined good history with good writing. I found Garrett Mattingly to be a perfect example due to his carefully descriptive and elegant writing. I chose a passage from his work The Armada which describes an assault on the Spanish invasion fleet at anchor … Read more
Post #10 The Theory of Labor Advancement
For our tenth posting we’re examining the ways in which Richard White incorporates historical theory into Railroaded. This post will discuss White’s use of the theory of how the railroads and their workers furthered the emergence of unions and skilled labor organizations and the rights of workers in the United States through the clashes between … Read more
Post #8 Baskets all around
This week we are analyzing the individual items found in the painting “The Quilting Frolic 1813″ by John Krimmel and how their depiction and placement within the painting cast light on the culture of Victorian America. The objects that I am researching are the three baskets found on the floor of the room in the … Read more
Post #7 Which way does the puzzle piece go?
The two maps of Barrow’s Plantation, located in Oglethorpe County, GA, are a good demonstration of how useful maps and other visuals can be in assisting a historian express their subject while at the same time, due to an error of the author or publisher can be completely inaccurate. The problem with the maps of … Read more
Post #6 Action at Sea
One of the well known landmarks in London is Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square which stands as a memorial to Britain’s celebrated admiral. At the base of the pillar are 4 bronze reliefs depicting significant naval victories and the death of Lord Horatio Nelson. The relief titled the “Death of Nelson” by John Edward Carew, … Read more
Post #5 Wicked Step Mother
To the historian, criminal cases can provide a wealth of information about both the individuals involved as well as the methods of the lawyers and how the case is received by the judge or jury. The case of Territory v. Rehberg, 1885 is just one of these such cases which illuminate interesting aspects of life … Read more
Post #4 Questionable Testimony
The case of Hershfield v. Hershfield provides historians with an interesting opportunity to view a turn of the century divorce case and witness the manner in which witnesses were chosen and how the court reacted to their testimony. Aaron Hershfield’s case strategy was a common method for men of the time and revolved around proving … Read more
Post #3 Dirty Laundry in Wyoming
In the case of Mamie Grover’s apparent suicide, there were several items which a professional police investigation would have raised issue with. These range from the gross incompatibility of chronology of the events of the evening, to the proverbial stone left unturned in the matter of the accusation of Mrs Grover being an accomplice in … Read more
Post #2 A comparison of the wills of Caroline Carson and Robert Christian
Much can be ascertained through analyzing what and how individuals leave behind to their family and loved ones. The wills of Robert Christian and Caroline Carson provide a historian an opportunity to take a glimpse at what they valued most and how they felt that their survivors deserved to inherit. Despite the fact that the … Read more
Durango, Colorado 1900: A blooming mining town
Durango, Colorado in 1900 was a perfect example of a bustling town which owed its origins to the silver mining operations in the Rocky Mountains. Durango was established in 1883 and by 1900 had already grown to a sizable settlement. Due to the heavy mining influence, the town had a large railway connection as well … Read more
