Posted in Filson Favorites on 06/29/2010 05:27 pm by Robin Wallace
The Filson wishes you a Happy Independence Day!
- S.A.R. Congress, Louisville, 1911. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner and Mr. Geo. L. Danforth Pres. Ky. Society, posing with a reproduction of the McHenry Flag in front of the Louisville Free Public Library.
- A July 4th Picnic at Richlawn Stock Farm, 1905, Ralph Barker Collection
- Sons of the American Revolution Fountain at Fort on Shore, Rowan and 12th Streets, Louisville, KY, July 12, 1912, Thruston Collection
- Federal Hill, Bardstown, Ky. (Nelson County, Ky.) “My Old Kentucky Home” was built as a summer home in 1795, by John Rowan, Sr., a young lawyer of Louisville, Ky. Governor Edwin P. Morrow accepting the flag at flag pole dedication at My Old Kentucky Home (Federal Hill) July 4, 1923.
- A picnic, July 4th, 1902, Vista del Rio, St. Augustine, FL, home of Kentuckian Major William Aikin, William Aikin Collection
- Monument on the Battleground at Lexington, Massachusetts, May 19, 1912, Thruston Collection
Posted in Browsing the Collections on 05/25/2010 05:35 pm by Cassie Bratcher
In the United States, on the last Monday in May, we honor American military personnel who have died while serving their country. This holiday is called Memorial Day. Many people think of this holiday as a good reason to get together with friends and family and have a cookout, but there is also important history attached to this day.
According to the History Channel, Memorial Day began as “Decoration Day” on May 30, 1868, when people were urged to place flowers on the graves of Civil War soldiers as a special event. Now the traditional decoration for soldiers’ graves includes an American flag. For Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, in Washington, DC, a small American flag is placed on every grave. In addition, a large wreath is placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers by the President or Vice President.
As time went on, it became popular to honor those who served in all wars in which America has participated. The United States Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday in 1971, to be celebrated on the last Monday of May.
The Filson has several items concerning Memorial/Decoration Day celebrations. These include:
- Decoration Day, National Cemetery, Cave Hill, Louisville, Ky., May 30, 1882. A program of events which includes the lyrics to Samuel Francis Smith’s America.
- Memorial Address delivered at Decoration of Union Soldier’s Graves, Frankfort, Ky., May 30, A.D. 1891, by Hon. Samuel McKee. An address of exercises conducted on that day by A. G. Bacon Post, no. 31, of the Grand Army of the Republic. The G.A.R. was a fraternal order of Union Soldiers from the Civil War.
- A pamphlet titled The Unveiling of the Monument to the Confederate Dead, of Alexandria, Virginia … May 24th, 1889. One example of monuments that were erected to the confederate dead all over the South.
- On June 16, 1927 an event was held in Harrodsburg, Kentucky called Kentucky Pioneer Memorial Day. The Filson has a program from the event that talks of a plan to build the Pioneer Memorial State Park designed by the Olmstead Brothers.
Posted in Filson Favorites on 03/31/2010 01:56 pm by Robin Wallace
Using your dog to win an Easter egg hunt is not allowed, kids!
- Easter Egg Hunt, Al Blunk, 4 April 1947, Louisville, KY
Or perhaps she is simply auditioning for the role of the Cadbury Easter Bunny!
Posted in Filson Favorites on 02/16/2010 02:26 pm by Robin Wallace
An image from The Filson’s print collection, depicting a Mardi Gras celebration in Louisville:
Illustration from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 22 March 1873, depicting a Mardi Gras ball in Louisville, KY
