Tag: appreciating history

colored drawing of the White House in the winter, with the official White Christmas Tree , Washington Monument and the Potomac River in the background

History Nuggets: The skinny on John Q and where was Christmas?

Published on by goldenbrodie5 Comments

John Quincy Adams (No.6) spent four Christmases in the White House and yet there is very little written about his Christmas celebrations, if indeed there were any.

President Adams was known to follow the same routine every day. He would arise early, swim nude in the Potomac, read several newspapers during breakfast and hold meetings. In the evening dinner was at 5 PM and then he would write in his diaries. He had been raised in Massachusetts where the Puritan distaste for Christmas celebrations may have affected his outlook and he would not have allowed Christmas day to interfere with this practice. However, First Lady Louisa Adams probably celebrated the Christmas holiday in a more prominent way for the children’s sake. There is no historical evidence of Christmas parties at the Adams White House, but Louisa was a very good hostess and may have sent invitations for Christmas dinner at the White House to further her husband’s political connections.  Bah, humbug…

Read from the personal diary of John Quincy Adams.

Inspirational photo by Pinterest

Pilgrim man and woman in black and white

History Nuggets: Colorful Pilgrims

Published on by goldenbrodie4 Comments

Pilgrim men did not wear black breeches, square white-collar and cuffs, wide buckled belts, black steeple hats with a buckle, nor did Pilgrim women wear full black skirts, white aprons and dark capes. Pilgrim adults and children wore bright solid colors since their religion did not object to colorful clothing.

The Pilgrims, in fact, wore a wide variety of colors. We know this because when a person died, an inventory stated their belongings  for the purpose of probate: and the color of garments often appeared.   For example, long-time church member, Mary Ring, died in Plymouth in 1633, and her estate included a “mingled-color” waistcoat, two violet waistcoats, three blue aprons, a red petticoat, a violet petticoat, blue stockings, and white stockings. In addition, she owned gray cloth, blue cloth and red cloth, ready to make additional clothing. Plymouth’s Church Elder William Brewster, who died in 1644, owned green pants, a red cap, a violet coat, and a blue suit. And Governor William Bradford, when he died in 1657, owned a green gown, violet cloak, and a red waistcoat.  Fascinating…

Inspirational photo by Pixabay

A covered walkway at The University of Virginia

Haiku: Steps

Published on by goldenbrodie4 Comments

Walk in the foot prints
Know the past through your own steps
Walk through history

Haiku by PamelaWLucas 10/5/17

Inspirational photo taken by Ashley Morgan Lucas at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 9/30/17

The University of Virginia will celebrate its bicentennial of the laying of its cornerstone on October 6, 1817, in a Masonic ritual attended by current and former Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe.