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24, February 2012

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Civil War Love Letters: February 24, 1862

Disclaimer

There are words, phrases, and statements in these letters that may be offensive to the reader. At the time the letters were written, certain words and phrases were common and even acceptable. We wish it were otherwise. The words are those of the author, James Love, and the attitudes he expresses are those of the time period. We have retained the original language of the letters because we believe that, in spite of their faults, the letters provide an exceptional first-hand account of the attitudes and actions during this horrific period in our nation’s history.

James and his men finally became part of a regiment in late February or early March. The 71 men became Company K, 8th Kansas Infantry regiment, commanded by Captain William S. Herd. James was first lieutenant. The future plans of the regiment remained uncertain. Read more »

22, February 2012

Some Sauerkraut with Your Schnitzelbank?

Thirty years ago, in 1982, I was invited to attend the Fasching Sonntag at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Baden. I had no idea what a Fasching Sonntag was, but it sounded like an interesting change from the usual date of dinner and a movie or concert. Read more »

16, February 2012

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Civil War Love Letters: February 16, 1862

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While James remained in Kansas exploring the open prairies, he heard news of several Union victories in other parts of the country. On February 8, Union forces defeated the Confederates on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Closer to home, on February 12, Union general Samuel R. Curtis won a skirmish at Springfield, Missouri. Finally, from February 12–16, Union naval and military forces worked together to capture Fort Donelson in Tennessee, and Confederate troops evacuated Bowling Green, Kentucky. These last victories led to the rise in prominence of Ulysses S.

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10, February 2012

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Pulling the Wool Over Our Eyes

A man in Siberia is claiming to have shot a video of a woolly mammoth, a creature that became extinct 10,000 years ago. Wouldn’t you just know it—the video is so blurry that you can’t make out the creature! (Come to think of it, do any crisp images exist of Nessie or Bigfoot?)

Illustration by Velizar Simeonovski © The Field Museum. Read more »

9, February 2012

Frankie Freeman Named St. Louis's 2011 Citizen of the Year

Frankie Muse Freeman has been named St. Louis's 2011 Citizen of the Year. She is the first African American woman to win this award, chosen by past winners and sponsored by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Freeman spent her career as a lawyer fighting for civil rights, her first major case ending discrimination in public housing in St. Louis. At age 95, Freeman is still going strong. Read more »

9, February 2012

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Celebrating Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, here is an excerpt from the memoir of St. Louis lawyer and civil rights activist Frankie Muse Freeman. Ms. Freeman was just named St. Louis’s 2011 Citizen of the Year. Learn more about Freeman's book A Song of Faith and Hope here. Read more »

8, February 2012

Civil War Love Letters: February 9, 1862

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James and his men remained in camp at Fort Leavenworth, where they tried to stay warm in their tents. James’s tent was the place for playing checkers and cards and reading newspapers. He wished for a copy of the Illustrated London News, the world’s first illustrated weekly newspaper, which was first published in 1842. James also mentions "E.A.," "Wm.," the "McPheeters question," and the "Oath." "E.A." refers to Eliza Ann Wilson, James’s cousin and the wife of Molly’s brother William C. Wilson. Read more »

2, February 2012

Translating Pictures

Working on the Missouri History Museum’s ADA exhibit (The Americans with Disabilities Act: Twenty Years Later) helped me think about and then expand what I knew (or thought I knew) about accessibility. One of the commitments the exhibit team made was to provide Braille label text throughout the exhibit. Read more »