On the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, we celebrate our American heroes and the sacrifices they made, and continue to make, for our freedom. We must never forget the bravery and selflessness of our men and women in armed service; their stories are ones that must be preserved, passed on from one generation to the next. …
Category: History
Remembering Maya Angelou: A Letter to Her Younger Self
“I am convinced that most people do not grow up … our real selves, the children inside, are still innocent and shy as magnolias,” wrote Maya Angelou. After her passing on May 28, 2014, the world remembers Maya Angelou as one of the most influential and inspiring voices in American literature and an activist who always …
Remembering the Monarchs: A Look at Rachel Carson’s Correspondence
This week, we celebrate Rachel Carson as one of the most influential advocates for environmental conservation. Her groundbreaking work Silent Spring, published on September 27, 1962, eventually led to the American government’s ban on DDT for agricultural use and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Throughout her life, Carson exchanged letters with her friend …
The Lives of Others
The past has a funny way of looping back around to land firmly in the present. When we think of time capsules we think of recorded voices on cassette tapes; thumb drives chock full of information spanning millennia; a velvet poster of Elvis Presley or an original taping of the moon landing, all buried in …
A Love of Many Colors: Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
Imagine a love fueled by both intense devotion and tumultuous passion. This was the reality for artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. During the span of their 27 year relationship, artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exchanged numerous letters that reflect the spectrum of their love, encompassing their joy, anguish, and desire. In 1922, Frida …
Illuminate Your Signature: The Story and Etiquette of Monograms
Monograms are more than just initials. It is a name stripped to its essence. A monogram tells a tale of our identity, who we are and who we want to be. The first monograms were seen on coins as early as 350 B.C. in Ancient Greece. The monograms on the coins were the first two …
After the War Ends, Love is Still There: Winston and Clementine Churchill
In times of love and war, handwritten letters reigned. For Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine, their letters acted as portals into each other’s worlds while apart during their 56 year relationship. Twenty-five years before he was to become the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Churchill, who was deeply devoted to his country, joined the …
In Matters of Diplomacy and Love: John and Abigail Adams
When we look to the past to better understand our world, we often seek the historical documents and correspondences that shaped our governments and their institutions. Yet, romance also left behind letters that continue to shape our understanding of not only the world as it once was, but of our shared humanity. John and Abigail …
Chemistry Seals the Bond: The Story of Marie and Pierre Curie
Although scientists Pierre and Marie Curie are most well-known for their discovery of the radioactive elements polonium and radium, the story of their romance is one that continues to echo outside the scientific community. Marie, originally from Poland, met French physicist Pierre when she came to Paris to pursue her studies in the physical sciences …
Imagining a Better World in Letters: Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of equality and civil disobedience. King’s vision of a world in which one is judged for her character is one that continues to inspire people in all walks of life. There is no doubt that he understood the power of the written word, as exemplified by his …