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.
Just down the road, along Route 50 near Trappe, is an eerie landmark that hasn’t yet been swallowed by housing developments or shopping complexes. This lonely brick ruin is all that remains of Whitemarsh Chapel, a church dating back to 1665, which was mostly destroyed by fire in 1897.
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 Joan Rosenberg Kovachi.
