Authored by Shannon Jaeger
During World War I, canning became a way to help the war effort at home. Canning was seen as a patriotic practice during wartime and led those in the United States to believe that it would help ensure an Allied victory due to posters that were being printed (Sullivan, n.d.).
Continue readingAuthored by Lauren King
Emmaus Christian Church was founded in 1826 as the first organization for the Disciples of Christ located in Caroline County; it is described as “rather small” but with approximately a 100 living members at the time of survey (Farmer and George 1937, 1). The survey conducted by Farmer and George (1937) describes the current church members as being a prominent part of the community providing a list of names. Yet, that is all that is known about those members. Without existing church records there is no supplemental information is available (i.e. marriages, deaths). The records from the churches are a vital source of social information that can increase the available knowledge to the public that might be lacking otherwise (Olson 1942). However, the records from Emmaus Christian Church were destroyed in 1864 during the Civil War (Collins, n.d.).
Continue readingAuthored by Caleb Daubenspeck
In November 1959, E Schuyler English, editor, and president of the Pilgrim Fellowship addressed his supports, encouraging them to give towards the ministry and missions. “For nineteen centers, since our Lord told His apostles to be witnesses concerning Him to the uttermost part of the earth, one generation after another has followed the apostolic Christians in carrying the Gospel to those in darkness throughout the world” (English, E. Schuyler 1959b, 4). The small monthly letter sent out to supporters provided the supporters an opportunity to engage with missions around the world. In an earlier newsletter, English suggested that there are three ways that people can participate in missions to the poor and oppressed; those who can go, those who can support, and all can pray (English 1959a, 2). The newsletter allowed people to engage with missions overseas in personal missions and financially through gifts.
Continue readingAuthored by Lisa Most
The Creative Clubhouse, founded by Library Technician Eric Jones in August 2016, is a group of adults with varying levels of abilities who meet twice per month at the San Diego County Library in Lakeside, California to explore their creative talents through art.
Continue readingAuthored by Ashley Kardys
Slavery in the United States has a long and documented history but this photo aids in highlighting a very personal story, one of thousands, that helps to shed an intimate light on the life of two local Connecticut African American sisters and a Caucasian woman. This pairing of women was astronomical in paving a new and free path in the New England states for the education of African Americans. This image depicts a neighborhood along the river in Norwich, Connecticut, circa 1787-1876, where two African American sisters, Sarah Harris (1812 – 1878) and Mary Harris (1816 – 1899) began their heroic lives. In 1833 Sarah Harris was the first young African American woman to be admitted into what was previously an all-white school for girls run by a Quaker abolitionist and teacher, Prudence Crandall.
Continue readingAuthored by Pamela C. Zacher
America’s Antebellum period brought with it a fervor to see its women educated, despite previously held beliefs that women’s education was not as important as men’s (Sweet 1985, 41). Thus, a movement began to provide quality education for the nation’s females, that would be available for women of all socio-economic classes, would be of quality parallel to that offered to men, and expand beyond etiquette and instruction in domestic duties. “Feeling the call of God to educate women, America’s Evangelical denominations…with passionate engagement built female seminaries” (Sweet 1985, 41).
Continue readingAuthored by Roseanne Pensabene
August Wilson was a wildly lauded playwright in the 1970s and 80s, and used his abilities to share the stories of the struggles African Americans faced and the responsibility to make sure those voices were heard and that they had a place in the theater. Stories of Black Americans were told by Caucasians, which is problematic in of itself, as indicated in Wolfe (1998) “No people can gain authenticity by either accepting others’ judgment of them or looking to others for approval” (4). Wilson exhibited the Vincentian value of respect by giving a platform and awareness to struggles that were so often hidden and ignored (St. John’s University 2017). He also made sure to give opportunities to African Americans within the theater community with the creation of Pittsburgh’s Black Horizons Theater.
Continue readingAuthored by Melissa Nadzan
According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), “Every 73 seconds an American is sexually assaulted” (RAINN 2018). On top of that Kimble states, “It may sound incredible that only around 23 percent of survivors report such crimes to police, but it’s true” (2018). Survivors of sexual violence will not always come forward for a number of reasons including, their own shame, not understanding the process, or lack of support. The display personifies support, empathy, and gives survivors access to county resources that are available and information on how to pursue criminal charges in court.
Continue readingAuthored by Suzanne Lemmon
The Orphan Train Ballet premiered in 1997, and has since been a part of Covenant Ballet Theaters repertory of story ballets performed for K-12 students of the NYC area. This non- profit arts in education dance company not only entertains and educates, but keeps history alive for thousands of children through the art of ballet (Covenant Ballet Theater 2020).
Continue readingAuthored by Elizabeth Hodges
“Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends. The question of self-pity” (Didion 2007a, 3). In December of 2003, Quintana Roo Dunne, daughter of writers Joan Didion and John Dunne, fell into septic shock after contracting pneumonia. On December 31, 2003, after visiting their daughter in New York’s Beth Israel North Hospital, Didion and Dunne sat down to dinner (Didion 2007a, 6-7). Shortly after they began eating, Dunne suffered from a major heart attack and died. Dunne’s death marked the beginning of a year that would change Joan Didion’s life. After a number of traumatic hospitalizations in 2004, Quintana developed acute pancreatitis and died August 26, 2005 (Meter 2005).
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