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historic newspapers, and why I love them
Washington's Anniversary Birthnight BallThe ball will be given at Maspero's Coffee House and commence at seven o'clock. Supper to be served at twelve o'clock....Nobody is permitted to dance in boots.
The undersigned takes leave to notify the publick that he intends to open, on the first day of March next, A SEMINARY for the instruction of youth in the classicks and the other subordinate branches of education.
J. Barteau informs his friends and the public that he removed his beeswax and tallow candles factory to the corner of Royal and St. Peter streeets, where he continues to make wax candles for persons who having wax have neither mould or conveniences.
Wanted -- a good journeyman biscuit baker, to whom liberal wages will be given.
The firing of guns and pistols in the streets are prohibited by a corporation law, under the penalty of a heavy fine--- heretofore this law has not beeen rigidly inforeced; in future it certainly will be and the citizens are cautioned against violation of it. The beating of a drum or drums and playing of fife or fifes through the streets after night is unmilitary, and it collects crowds of idle boys, servants, slaves, etc etc to the great annoyance of the citizens. The officers are requested to prevent a repetition of this disorderly inconsiderate practice, as they regard the peace, good order, and safety of the city. signed: a candidate for aldermanI get such a sense of what it was like to live in the city from reading these newspapers, it's almost as good as a time machine. Is this an oddity of mine? Do other people find these as interesting as I do?
February 24, 2005 05:42 PM
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I have been remiss, but I've been busy - love the new setup, but it took a while to get used to it, and then you were away.
I love reading old newspaper articles, and the advertisements are most interesting too. I am the happy keeper of an archive at my place of employ, and it contains clippings from newspapers as far back as 1904. We are 100 years old last year. I think it's pretty neat to read about the times, and also to see what was clipped out, and to wonder why the company thought they were important back then. Most times, it's the story on the backside of the clipping that draws your attention! Great stuff. Often the clippings will lead me to look up things at the library to see the whole story. Thank goodness for microfiche, although they are a poor substitute for the scent of history in the soft, frayed yellow fragments taped into the scrapbooks in our vault. I am often grateful I do not suffer from allergies to dust.
I wonder if my children will ruminate over the smell of the microfiche reader's light burning into plastic as I do over the smell of old newsprint. But no. They will likely never see a microfiche reader (since they can't even read yet...CD-Rom files will likely be their first "archive" viewing source).
Posted by: Pam at February 24, 2005 11:12 PM
Do other people find these as interesting as I do?
'Fraid so.
Posted by: HSR at February 25, 2005 02:17 AM
Pam, so, what's the best bit you've come across? Out of curiosity..
And:
HSR:
'cause why?
Posted by: sara at February 25, 2005 06:48 AM
'cause why?
because in the case of you and your research.......we all know the continuation of "our" story will hopefully come out of it. Where is Jennet? Where will Luke and Hannah go? What happens in New Orleans?
This is great stuff for my routine life.
Thank you for all this Sara.
Cynthia in Florida
Posted by: Cynthia at February 25, 2005 03:13 PM
Ha! I absolutely find this stuff fascinating. I lived in New Orleans for four years and loved getting to peek into bits of the city's colorful history. I can't WAIT for the next book.
Oh and thanks for introducing me to getupgrrl. I get an immense amount of enjoyment from reading her blog - she cracks me up. Love it.
Posted by: Christy at February 26, 2005 07:14 PM