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March 6, 1857: US Supreme Court Rules on the Dred Scott Decision
On this day in 1857, in the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, the United States Supreme Court declared that all blacks — slaves as well as well as free — could never become citizens of the United States. The decision would further polarize the nation on the institution of slavery and become a major step toward its ultimate abolishment.
Revisit this and other critical moments during America’s arduous journey through slavery in a special collection from PBS.Image: Library of Congress
Ever wanted to know how women in ancient Greece and Rome got those fantastic hairdos? (Okay, maybe it’s just me.) One Baltimore stylist is figuring it out:
“On Pins and Needles: Stylist Turns Ancient Hairdo Debate on Its Head”
Just in time for Christmas, it’s Barbara Fritchie Sugar Cakes!
This newspaper clipping came to us from a local donor, but unfortunately, we don’t know which newspaper it came out of, when it was published, or where the recipe originally came from. Given the note at the end of the recipe, I think it’s from around the 1930s to 1950s. In the first couple decades of the 20th century, cook books were still a pretty new thing, and recipes were not very specific.
1 cup butter
1 pound granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour milk
1 teaspoon soda
1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Flavoring
Flour to make soft dough
Roll and cut with cake cutters. Bake on greased tins. (Note: It is not unusual for old recipes to include no specific directions, such as the method of mixing and length of baking time. The recipe is printed just as it has been pasted down.
Barbara Fritchie
The recipe is eerily similar to a sugar cookie recipe we make every Christmas in my family, so of course I had to try making the Fritchie cookies using some hints and the method from our Christmas sugar cookies. They were pretty darn delicious, so I’m sharing it with you:
First, I tweaked the ingredients list a bit (insertions are in bold):
- 1 cup butter
- 1 pound granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup
sour milkbuttermilk - 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon flavoring
[Our Christmas cookie recipe calls for 1 1/2 tsp lemon extract and some nutmeg. For my Fritchie cookies, I used 1 tsp lemon extract and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Experiment to find the flavors you like best.]
What do you think? Would you try making these?
What in the name of Barbara Fritchie!?
Of course, we couldn’t let Flag Day pass without at least some pictures of Barbara Fritchie and her flag!
- PC0310 - postcard with color portrait of Barbara Fritchie, her house and flag on front and the famous poem by John Greenleaf Whitier on back
- PC0114 - postcard showing Fritchie’s monument in Mt. Olivet Cemetery with American flag
- PC1148 (my personal favorite) - postcard with Barbara Fritchie, her house and flag. The message starts out “9-14-1904 The story of Barbara is only a myth but we must hope there is some truth in what is said of this old lady.”
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While we’re talking about her, how about adding to our Fritchie word cloud? What words do you think of when you hear “Barbara Fritchie?” How would you describe her or her legend?
Memorial Day started as Decoration Day very shortly after the Civil War, when people in many communities across the country decorated the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers in the spring, usually on May 30. The name gradually changed to Memorial Day by the end of the 1800s, and after World War I, it became a day to honor those who fell during all of America’s wars. It officially became a federal holiday in 1971.
Diarist Jacob Englebrecht noted Decoration Day several times in his diary, first in 1870:
Decoration day — this afternoon at 3 o’clock (Monday May 30, 1870) the graves of the Union soldiers, who were killed in battle or died of wounds &c were decorated in Mount Olivet Cemetery & the church grave yards in Frederick. Captain William Glessner was the commander assisted by Captain Walter Saunders and ladies. Prayer by the Reverend Robert H. Williams and an address by Doctor Lewis B. Steiner. Singing at the graves and at the conclusion “Shall we know each other there” was sung by a special choir. Monday May 30, 1870 6 o’clock PM
The Rebels had a decoration this afternoon at Mount Olivet Cemetery where 500 Rebel dead are buried. They were principally such as were wounded at the battle of Antietam, Gettysburg, Monocacy &c. Saturday June 4, 1870 6 o’clock PM
Pictures above are
- GN0227 - New Jersey Memorial, Monocacy Battlefield
- P1763 - Confederate graves at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick
- GN0192 - Gathland Civil War Correspondents Memorial Arch, Crampton’s Gap
All rights reserved by HSFC. For information about photo reproductions or research services see the Research Services page.
How did you remember those who have fallen in service to our country today?
An utterly charming gallery of Victorians smiling
Happy Afternoon, Internet!
I saw the above and had to share a couple wee smiling Victorians (Byerly children, whose pictures were taken by their dad) from our collection:
For more, search our catalog for “Byerly” and check the box for search results that contain images at http://frederickhistorical.crewnoble.com/. Happy browsing!
All rights reserved by HSFC. For information about photo reproductions or research services see the Research Services page.
We got a range of reactions to our recent series on the Homestead Act’s 150th anniversary - from angry to enthusiastic to, well, bummed out.
The Homestead Act is a difficult document. When we think of homesteaders, most of us probably think of “Little House on the Prairie” and not the Trail of Tears*. In many cases those recent immigrants who may have been disenfranchised at home and eager for opportunities of their own were now participating in the dispossession of another culture. It’s hard not to be conflicted.
But as the National Archives, we are supposed to present the records in our safekeeping. Our job is not interpret them beyond explaining the context of the time, although we exist for researchers, historians, and the public to use our records to research, understand, and interpret the past. However, we don’t always have the records from both sides—a challenge faced by many researchers and historians. As it was we could only allude to the impact on Native Americans with the digitized items that we found on short notice (thanks to some amazing colleagues who came through in a pinch), so this is a reminder to us to delve more deeply into our holdings to give a fuller idea of the documents that we hold, even if this part of history is difficult one to acknowledge.
Yes, history can get us down too: it’s full of stolen land, genocide, child labor, war, disasters and murder. But we’re obligated to present the records of U.S. history—the good, bad & ugly. If you’re not bummed out sometimes by our posts, then we’re probably not doing our job.
Of course we hope that’s not always the case—and we appreciate everyone that took time to comment, reblog or retweet with their own opinions on these posts.
(* Admittedly the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and Trail of Tears predate the Homestead Act but the effects are similar.)
Our latest “Look Back” article from Frederick Magazine:
Wicked Weather
By Rebecca Crago, Research Center Coordinator, Historical Society of Frederick County
The unfortunate day of May 2, 1929, began with looming dark clouds, gusting winds and torrential downpours that lasted well into the afternoon. By 3 p.m., news of a tornado that had wreaked havoc in the Midwest was warning local residents that the storm was heading toward Maryland. Farmers and residents began preparing for disaster as the Potomac River rose at a rate of one foot per hour. The tornado touched down in Brunswick and Mt. Pleasant, causing two deaths and several injuries. By the time it was over, the storm had hit 11 states, including the town of Rye Cove, Va., where 19 children were killed in a schoolhouse.
This scene shows workers from the Potomac Edison Company attempting to repair one of many damaged utility poles after the storm, which disabled power and telephone service throughout the county. Because of the power outage, the Frederick News-Post had to delay its print of the newspaper for the first time by four hours. Outside of Frederick City, crops and barns from surrounding farmlands were destroyed, while cattle and other livestock were injured.
The roof of “Richfield,” home to Maryland’s first governor, Thomas Johnson, and the birthplace of war hero Adm. Winfield Scott Schley, was torn from the building, where a clock from the second story was found 75 feet from the house. The time had stopped at 8:30 p.m.
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This video is one of the many odd / creepy things we’ve found while putting together our 2012 special exhibit on Barbara Fritchie (or “Babs,” as we affectionately call her).
Have any of you come across Fritchiana you’d like to share?
