Author Archives: visnow77

Clubwomen and the environment

Posted on August 16, 2019

In 1910, the official proceedings of the convention of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs reported: We read in the papers that every time one of the great Sunday journals of New York City is issued, thirteen acres of timberland are … Continue reading →

Posted in genealogy, history, Uncategorized, women's rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Clubs and women’s moral superiority

Posted on August 1, 2019

When the New York City Press Club gave a reception welcoming Charles Dickens to the U.S. in 1868, journalist Jane Cunningham Croly applied for a ticket. The all-male club treated her request as a joke. The invitation they eventually extended … Continue reading →

Posted in genealogy, history, women's rights | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

I hope my great-grandmother isn’t mad at me

Posted on July 22, 2019

Dear Great-grandmother Mary, I hope you’re not upset. You might actually be flattered that I used you as the model for Flora Bergholtz, one of the protagonists in my historical novel, Women of To-day. In 1911, Flora joins a women’s … Continue reading →

Posted in genealogy, history | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Election Day romance

Posted on October 26, 2016

Before the commercialization of Christmas took hold, before the Easter bunny was born, and before Thanksgiving became a pig-out, Election Day was America’s big, festive holiday. Amid the Election Day celebration of 1899, my great-grandparents’ courtship began. The history of … Continue reading →

Posted in genealogy, history | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Halfway Café

Posted on October 11, 2016

Here is a podcast of my short story, “The Halfway Café,” narrated by a dead woman and examining such questions as: Do our ancestors watch us? Why would they care if we mourn? An outtake from my mystery novel, Stone’s House, it … Continue reading →

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What’s a pandy? Who’s the tucker?

Posted on September 7, 2016

Wed. May 25th [1892]   ….After tea we took a walk to the coal pit from which place we could see the Pandy & Alltiago farm. We got a glass of fresh milk at the Alltiago farm….Continuing our walk we went … Continue reading →

Posted in genealogy, history | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Off to Wales with my great-grandmother’s diary

Posted on July 25, 2016

My mother gave me my first diary when I was 13. It had a yellow cardboard cover and a tiny lock and key. I welcomed the chance to put down my secrets, especially to spill out the doubts and longings … Continue reading →

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