historybecomesyou

Preservation By The People

In almost every community there is a place that everyone still talks about. They reminisce about their fond memories or strange events. They share their passion for a building, a bridge, or a site that formed and shaped their homes, schools, and experiences. In almost every community there are people who, in the midst ofContinue reading “Preservation By The People”

30 Seconds and 100 Years

April 1949 Just before noon on April 13, 1949, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked western Washington state. Still regarded as the one of the most powerful earthquakes to shake the Puget Sound region, this rattler left largescale chaos and destruction in its wake. From homes to businesses and everything in between, the damage from thisContinue reading “30 Seconds and 100 Years”

Growth in a Desert

For many people of the past, the idea that people in the center of civilization lacking access to food would have seemed impossible to fathom. Scenes of starvation during the Dust Bowl or of bread lines during the Great Depression offer a stark comparison to what appears to be convenient access to food today, butContinue reading “Growth in a Desert”

Invaluable

For many generations, families have relied upon gardens in, around, or near their homes. Predating the prevalence of grocery stores, gardens of all sizes have helped to make ends meet for people all over the world. And, in times of economic uncertainty or political upheaval, the ability to feed oneself or family members was anContinue reading “Invaluable”

Highly Skilled

From the Mind of a Woman For many Americans, World War II was a distant thought until the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. However, for U.S. Representative Edith Nourse Rogers (Mass.), the looming likelihood of U.S. entry into the war spurred an idea that would forever change the role of women inContinue reading “Highly Skilled”

The Beating Heart

Since its founding in 1881, the American Red Cross has seen generations of women serve as the beating heart of the organization’s relief work. From its founder, Clara Barton (a wartime nurse and one of the first women to work for the federal government) to the countless women who have served as Red Cross staffContinue reading “The Beating Heart”

Fore!

“Fore” score and many MANY of years ago, the game of golf changed forever as women stepped onto the greens. So, although many people may think of women golfing as a relatively new phenomenon, the truth is that women have been swinging clubs for AT LEAST 300 YEARS! Some sources put the advent of womenContinue reading “Fore!”

Forged

Blacksmithing is perhaps one of the most widely experienced types of folk art. Not only is it made up of traditional skills which are passed down through generations, but the creations are also used by more people than almost any other kind of folk art. From doorknobs to horseshoes and from hinges to fishing gear,Continue reading “Forged”

Blues on Canvas

When asked how he might describe folk art, painter and sculptor Pharoah Baker responded that he though of folk art as a native thing. “If it’s something people have been doing for generations and generations, that becomes folk art.” – Pharoah Baker January 12, 1984 interview But unlike many of the other folk artists discussedContinue reading “Blues on Canvas”

A Stitch In Time

Quilting is a technique, pastime, and tradition that has existed amongst various cultures for CENTURIES. From the protection and warmth to the communal nature of early quilting, this practice and folk art represents a wide variety of lived experiences and cultural identities as well as the changes brought on by broader historical themes and events.Continue reading “A Stitch In Time”