“The Affair at Harper’s Ferry”
In the middle of the night on October 16, 1859, twenty-one men led by militant abolitionist John Brown made their way …
Uncle Tom’s Cabin: The Excitement and the Influence
Abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852 as a direct response to the passing of the Fugitive Slave …
Ohio’s 1842 Election: Absquatulators vs. Gerrymanderers
It was 1842, and Ohioans were preparing for another round of elections, including the race for governor. Americans were still recovering from …
Fortunes Made and Lost: The Panic of 1857
August 24th is an important day in the economic history of Ohio and of the nation–on this date in 1857, the New …
“Killed by Pitched Ball”: Finding Ray Chapman on Chronicling America
On August 16, 1920, at the Polo Grounds in New York City, Raymond “Ray” Chapman–star shortstop of the Cleveland Indians–stepped into the …
The Greatest Show on Earth!
Circuses have been entertaining people all over the world for thousands of years. The modern circus, comprised of a traveling group of …
“The Catastrophe on the Mississippi”
Early in the morning on April 27, 1865, the worst maritime disaster in American history occurred when the S.S. Sultana exploded on …
From the Siebert Collection: The Philanthropist
For our first featured item from the Siebert Collection, open to the public during Black History Month, we’re highlighting an 1838 …
Mount Vernon Civil War-Era Newspapers Now Online!
This week, we’re featuring a guest post from John Chidester, Director of the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County. Enjoy! …
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
According to American Memory from the Library of Congress, it was on today’s date in 1784 that the first daily newspaper …
