History MattersSeptember 1 to September 15, 2020
On September 7th, Uncle Sam will be two-hundred and seven. The United States got its nickname when a Troy, NY newspaper ran a story about Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker who supplied beef to the American soldiers during the War of 1812. He loaded the portions into barrels marked “US”, which the troops started referring to […]

Book of the Week: MAMA’S BANK ACCOUNT by Kathryn Forbes
The 1930s adventures of an immigrant Norwegian family in San Francisco that inspired the play, I Remember Mama.

Book of the Week: THE OTHER SIDE OF ME: A MEMOIR by Sidney Sheldon
Depression, near-suicide, and success; Sinatra, Berlin, Monroe; The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, and a late-in-life writing career that generates book sales of more than 350 million worldwide.

Book of the Week: THE STONE DIARIES by Carol Shields
A “conventional” wife and mother catapults into a successful garden columnist; winner of the 1995 Pulitzer Prize.

Book of the Week: EPILOGUE: A MEMOIR by Anne Roiphe
Acclimating to widowhood and dating; lunches and coffees; and inexpungable loneliness; by the author of Up the Sandbox.

Movie of the Month: Singin’ in the Rain
A popular film star is matched with a conniving leading lady he doesn’t like, but she believes they’re in love; Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds co-star in her movie debut.

A Patriotic Pick: August 2020“Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation” by Joseph J. Ellis
Whether it’s via their tone, topic, or tenor, certain works just say “America.” Here is one such title, suggested by Grateful American Book Prize judge Dr. Neme Alperstein, a teacher of gifted and talented students in the New York City Public Schools system:”Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation” by Joseph J. Ellis.
A Patriotic Pick: August 2020“Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation” by Joseph J. Ellis
Whether it’s via their tone, topic, or tenor, certain works just say “America.” Here is one such title, suggested by Grateful American Book Prize judge Dr. Neme Alperstein, a teacher of gifted and talented students in the New York City Public Schools system: “Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation” by Joseph J. Ellis. In this lively, […]

A Blog About Abigail and John, Part 4: “My Dearest Friend/Miss Adorable”
This is the fourth part of a continuing series of blog posts for Historic Deerfield by author David Bruce Smith about Abigail and John Adams.
History MattersAugust 16 to August 31, 2020
The official acknowledgement that gave women the right to vote came to a successful resolution 100 years ago this month. After the state of Tennessee ratified the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920, the two-thirds requirement to make it law was satisfied. Eight days later, the Constitution was formally modified to reflect the change. Historical […]