The end of every year brings the promise of a better year to come. Many begin to plan out their obligatory, “New Year’s Resolutions,” which usually range somewhere between losing weight to quitting their job and volunteering in Kenya. No…
Blog Archives
A Holiday Mystery
Ah yes, it’s that time of year again, the holiday season is officially upon us. Christmas music is playing in all the stores, Santas are appearing in every mall and hoards of people are clamoring to find the right gifts…
Thanksgiving Thoughts
All too often Thanksgiving can feel like a pit stop on in the holiday highway starting at Halloween and ending at New Year’s. The Christmas decorations are up before we slice the pumpkin pie and people are waiting in line…
The case of the fallen mummy
Like the ghosts and jack-o-lanterns we see everywhere this time of year, mummies have become an icon of Halloween. Although mummies make their appearance alongside the werewolves, vampires, zombies, and Frankensteins in all of the Scooby-doo cartoons, they are rarely…
The History of Peanut Butter in the U.S.
The origins of certain food items usually make for good conversation. Potato chips were invented in 1853 when a customer complained that his french fries were too thick. Ketchup is a derivative of a Chinese fish sauce. Sliced bread became…
The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition: Portland’s “World’s Fair”
World’s Fairs are an unforgettable event in a city’s history, bringing scores of tourists, revenue and prestige for years after the fair. If you’ve ever seen Meet Me in St. Louis, you’ve experienced Hollywood’s take on the World’s Fair in…
Searching for Love in All the Right Pages: Personal Ads in Historic Oregon Newspapers
These days, posting a personal ad or joining an online dating site is common and (generally speaking), a culturally accepted way to find a potential relationship. Online dating sites like Match.com like to boast that one-in-five new relationships begins from…
Oregon On Two Wheels: The History of Cycling in Our Historic Newspapers
Whether it’s mountain bikes on our high desert trails, hybrid commuters on our city streets, or balloon-tire beach cruisers on our public coastline… Oregonians love riding their bicycles! The Beaver State is a well-known “hub” of self-powered transportation in policy…
Great Quotes About Newspapers
Over the course of the ODNP project, I have been collecting historical quotes about newspapers and the newspaper business. I thought this would be a good time to share some of my favorites with readers of the blog… Enjoy! “This…