Henry Louis Mencken was an American journalist and cultural critic who had such a distinctively combative writing style that the term “Menckenian” was coined to describe it.
The Hill Dorms are some of the oldest buildings on campus. Serving as dormitories, a frat house, and classrooms, they stand high on the hill as some of the most recognizable images of the campus. Here are some upperclassmen in 1926 who are doing their best intellectual posing on the steps of Middle Hall. Notice the score on the door: this was in the prime of hazing, pitting the sophomore class against the “rats” or freshmen. What role will the hill dorms play as the college moves into the future?
Now that we are in the midst of the cold and flu season, I am reminded of the William Firth Wells papers. In late 2019, the processing of the Wells papers began, but 2020 put most things on hold, including finishing this collection.
While many of us have favorite family recipes that we look forward to every year, the Archives and Special Collections team thought we’d share some Thanksgiving recipes from Maryland’s history and our various library collections.
This time of year can be a mad dash- between the holidays, end of semester activities, and the general chaos of life, it is sometimes difficult to find a moment for yourself, simply to rest and relax. If you were searching for a sign to take a break, look no further than this photo of George, the unofficial Washington College campus cat, seen snoozing here in a chair in the 1987 Pegasus. We hope your weekend is as relaxing and restful as George’s!
The National Home Front Project is a major grassroots initiative under the leadership of historians at Washington College. Our innovative oral history program partners with individuals, communities, and organizations across the United States to record, preserve, and share audio interviews with civilians who experienced World War II. By pulling together in the spirit of wartime Americans, we can ensure that future generations hear their voices, and that our country never forgets its past. For this short entry, we’d like to share the story of Wilodeen Brady.
It is difficult to imagine that the beautiful and serene Sassafras River was once a battlefield, but this was the case on May, 6, 1813. As the British troops advanced towards Fredericktown and Georgetown- two small communities separated by the Sassafras- local militia fired at them from both towns. Though the militia fought back only briefly before retreating, the British troops took their revenge by first setting Fredericktown aflame, then crossing the Sassafras to Georgetown. Much of Georgetown was destroyed in the fire started by the British, but two structures survived due to the courage and tenacity of one local resident, Catherine “Kitty” Knight.
The National Home Front Project is a major grassroots initiative under the leadership of historians at Washington College. Our innovative oral history program partners with individuals, communities, and organizations across the United States to record, preserve, and share audio interviews with civilians who experienced World War II. By pulling together in the spirit of wartime Americans, we can ensure that future generations hear their voices, and that our country never forgets its past.
Now that we are well into Fall and as Halloween nears, let’s look at a bit of true crime hidden in the Joseph Wickes papers.
Originally published in 1608, Brother Francesco Maria Guazzo’s Compendium Malefarium was an immediate success and widely regarded as the authoritative text on witches and witch-hunting.
