Nineteenth Century America
Contrabands
Over the course of the last year I became familiar with the use of the term “contrabands” to describe escaped slaves in the American Civil War. Like many terms of the period, it seemed self-explanatory, in an ugly way. A symptom of the racism that was fundamental in the Union as well as in the…
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From the Archives: The First Memorial Day
We’re heading into Memorial Day weekend here in the United States: a time to remember soldiers fallen in our country’s service. Instead of writing a new post on the subject, I’ve chosen to share this one again. For the record, My Own True Love and I plan to attend Chicago’s Memorial Day parade tomorrow–a first…
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Shin Kickers From History: Elizabeth Blackwell, MD
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the world to become a doctor with a degree from a certified medical school. She was determined that she would not be the last. She became, as the title of her 1895 autobiography proclaimed,* a pioneer in opening the medical profession to women. Blackwell was born in England…
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