by Clements Library | Dec 25, 2012 | Books, Holidays, Today in history
Guest post by Sarah Fitzgerald, Book Division volunteer *** Many of our Christmas traditions come from the Victorian Era, including the decoration of Christmas trees and Charles Dickens’ story, A Christmas Carol. The Clements has several versions of A Christmas...
by Clements Library | Nov 22, 2012 | Holidays, Today in history
Guest post by Sarah Fitzgerald, Book Division volunteerThanksgiving celebrations have often been marked by hymns of thanks in appreciation of the joys of life and plentiful food. Songs of thanksgiving pre-date the first national recognition by...
by Clements Library | Nov 20, 2012 | Today in history
Post by Brian Dunnigan, Associate Director and Curator of MapsThe name “Molly Pitcher” and her actions helping to “man” a cannon at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778 might strike a chord of recognition among those familiar with the American Revolution. Much less...
by Clements Library | Nov 11, 2012 | Manuscripts, Today in history
Guest post by Meg Hixon, Project ArchivistThe First World War has long been eclipsed in American public memory, but it was, at the time, the “Great War” that affected families across the country and across the world. In honor of Veterans’ Day, the...
by Clements Library | Oct 25, 2012 | Graphics, Today in history
Post by Brian Dunnigan, Associate Director and Curator of MapsMany Americans remember the War of 1812 as a naval conflict in which, as Canadian historian C.P. Stacey put it, “the pride of the Mistress of the Seas was humbled by what an imprudent Englishman had...
by Clements Library | Oct 13, 2012 | Maps, Today in history
Post by Brian Dunnigan, Associate Director and Curator of MapsOctober 13 marks the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Queenston Heights. This significant action of the War of 1812, fought some six miles downstream from Niagara Falls, was precipitated by an invasion of...
by Clements Library | Aug 16, 2012 | Maps, Today in history
Post by Brian Dunnigan, Associate Director and Curator of MapsThe events of August 16, 1812, brought an ignominious end to an American invasion of Canada and sent shock waves through the United States. On that day Brigadier General William Hull surrendered the fort...
by Clements Library | Jul 17, 2012 | Graphics, Maps, Today in history
Post by Brian L. Dunnigan, Associate Director and Curator of MapsEarly in the morning of July 17, 1812, the residents of Mackinac Island awoke to pounding on their doors. A group of fellow citizens, led by local militia captain Michael Dousman, told everyone that war...
by Clements Library | Jul 12, 2012 | Today in history
[From the Clements Library Collections]On July 12, 1812, Brigadier General William Hull initiated the first military campaign of the War of 1812, calling for–and attempting–an invasion of Canada. Unfortunately for Hull, it was an utter disaster–his...
