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Yesterday & Today… Memorial Day & Tariffs…
May 23, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Without a doubt, when Memorial Day arrives, the feel of summer settles in and Patriotism seems to fill the air as the Red, White & Blue flaps gracefully on the warm breezes. Life seems to take a few steps back intime as we gather with family and friends over plates full of deviled eggs and Grandma’s potato salad. On May 29, 1913, Life Magazine featured a beautiful print by Norman Price showing the passing of our heritage of Decoration Day (now Memorial Day) from one generation to the next. In an odd turn of congruency, this issue also has a political cartoon which could not be more in line with today’s headlines on Tariffs and the possible pluses and minuses they may bring to our country. How fitting for both of images to be contained in one publication as America is so much defined by push and pull, delight and difficulty, light and dark. May your Memorial Day Weekend be both lighthearted in celebration and heavy in remembrance of those who gave so much for our Freedom… and may we figure out an answer to that political cartoon.
The Continuation of a Genre… The American West Still Keeps Giving…
April 28, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Yesterday, I heard a podcast discussing the growth-arc a genre typically takes over the course of time. In this podcaster’s opinion, when a movie/TV genre begins to produce shows which are a parody of their kind, the sunset for this genre has arrived. As an example, the speaker discussed superhero movies, and although some might argue with their analysis, there seems to be a decline in quality and enthusiasm for these sorts of movies. Later in the day, as I was looking through our archives, my attention was caught by an issue of THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH from Arizona, October 31, 1880, and my mind quickly went to thoughts of the many great Westerns I’ve viewed over the decades including the 1993 blockbuster: TOMBSTONE, which told of the well-storied shoot-out at the OK Corral. In fact, from John Wayne in True Grit… Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday… to today’s hit show Yellowstone and its endless spinoff’s, unlike superhero movies, the western is still alive and well and nowhere near its final curtain-call no matter how many cowboys and their trusty steads slowly ride into the sunset.
Prior to the November 22,1963 assassination of JFK… History does repeat itself!
April 25, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
I would imagine every American is familiar with the assassination of JFK – perhaps even more so since his nephew has joined our most recent presidential survivor of a similar attempt. Additionally, the JFK Papers everyone has spent decades clamoring for may soon be released for public perusal. In light of all the newly ignited interest, the August 29, 1961, NEW YORK TIMES had an interesting article describing an earlier assassination attempt on JFK where the killer was stopped by the fact that Jackie and the kids were with Kennedy at the time. Below is a description of the event written by Smithsonian Magazine.
“On December 11, 1960, JFK was the president-elect and Richard Paul Pavlick was a 73-year-old retired postal worker. Both were in Palm Beach, Florida. JFK was there on a vacation of sorts, taking a trip to warmer climates as he prepared to assume the office of the President. Pavlick had followed Kennedy down there with the intention of blowing himself up and taking JFK with him. His plan was simple. He lined his car with dynamite — “enough to blow up a small mountain” per CNN – and outfitted it with a detonation switch. Then, he parked outside the Kennedy’s Palm Beach compound and waited for Kennedy to leave his house to go to Sunday Mass. Pavlick’s aim was to ram his car into JFK’s limo as the President-to-be left his home, killing them both.
But JFK did not leave his house alone that morning. He made his way to his limousine with his wife, Jacqueline, and children, Caroline and John, Jr. who was less than a month old. While Pavlick was willing to kill John F. Kennedy, he did not want to kill Kennedy’s family, so he resigned himself to trying again another day. He would not get a second chance at murderous infamy. On December 15, he was arrested by a Palm Beach police officer working off a tip from the Secret Service.”
For JFK collectors, this is a nice addition to the most famous issues covering Oswald’s successful attempt just 2.5 years later.
Americana at it’s best… The annual Egg Roll on the lawn of The White House…
April 20, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
I apologize upfront for the fact that so many of my posts lean heavily on nostalgia. Truth be told, I often have to apologize to my kids for how quickly I tear up when I think of the past. Keeping my soft pot for the “good” of the past in mind, it will come as no surprise that I chose the following issue for today’s installment.
The FRANK LESLIE’S ILLUSTRATED for April 23, 1887 featured a delightful full-page illustration of the annual White House Egg Roll. Whoever the artist was (it was described as being from a “staff artist”), they perfectly captured the best of America in all its innocence and deep-felt sense of community. American traditions are part of our core essence as a unified people and they build bonds between us which help us stand firm during the hardships of life. Keep in mind, as Spring and Summer arrive, we are about to be flooded with National Holidays drenched with American traditions. Especially during the upcoming year, in light of our nation’s 250th birthday, may we all pause to appreciate the small but powerful traditions which help define us as Americans.
PS “Red and yellow back and white”… playing out in 1887 🙂
PPS As much as I get weepy when thinking about the past, I do find myself very misty-eyed at what I see and experience in my present as well. Perhaps I’m just a softie?!!
A Fly on the Wall… Ben Franklin at the Printing Press…
March 21, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
This post continues the series… “I wish I could have been a fly on the wall.”
My husband, Guy, is in the middle of reading the book “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life” by Walter Isaacson. Fortunately for me, each morning over coffee, he loves to share the latest adventures of Ben Franklin – from childhood to Founding Father. His creativity, resourcefulness and brilliance which was present from a young age is inspiring, and watching Franklin mature as the pages turn is a delight.
While I am sure any moment in Ben Franklin’s life is worthy of an, “I wish I could have been a fly on the wall” moment, today, a particular one came to mind which ironically involved newspapers:
THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, July 19, 1753 is a highly sought after collectible issue regardless of the printer; however, the addition of “Printed by B. FRANKLIN, Post-Master, and D. HALL at the New Printing Office, near the Market” on the back of the newspaper (*when present) makes it even more so. I can just imagine Franklin pouring over his printing press – ruminating over a plethora of ideas for clever articles, puzzles, and tidbits of world-altering wisdom, and then watching some burst forth onto the pages of what was undoubtedly the most popular newspaper of the day, and the 2nd-most sought after publication (his Poor Richard’s Almanac claimed the top spot for a number of years). The image this solicits in my mind certainly leads me to include his “Franklin imprint” in the “I wish I could have been a fly on the wall” category. 
* His imprint, whether it was just his name or included D. Hall’s (depending upon the ownership status of the publication), was always printed at the bottom of the back page. Unfortunately, some issues tacked on an extra advertising leaf in which it was printed, and most of these were handled in the same manner as the advertising inserts of today. They were read and then thrown away. Thankfully, although increasingly rare, some of the issues containing these desirable imprints can still be found.
FACT OR FICTION? St. Patrick Drives Snakes Out of Ireland…
March 17, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Myth & lore are always fascinating and are usually some combination of fact & fiction. St. Patrick’s story certainly falls into this category. Did he in really drive all snakes out of Ireland? Were there even snakes in Ireland to be driven out? Were these metaphoric serpents? Did he instead drive out cults who worshiped snakes? So many questions with no tangible evidence for answers; however, as with most lore, the essence is often true: He was a bold man bravely standing against evil in an area of the World which desperately needed light. Whatever your thoughts of St. Patrick and his story might be, perhaps this St. Patrick’s Day we can all celebrate the themes of “good over evil” and bravely taking a stand. Now those are ideas I can raise a pint to. Enjoy the following full-page print which was found in a Chicago Sunday Tribune from 1935:
Setting the Mood – Music Content in Newspapers…
February 21, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
We often receive calls from collectors requesting an issue with content concerning an individual musician or group. Without a doubt, as the search of our data base begins, so does the artist’s/group’s “top 10 songs list” on my Spotify account… most definitely if the genre is Jazz. After all, who doesn’t want to be transported to a dimly lit scat club in the middle of the workday? Such was the case the afternoon a request came for a newspaper with coverage of the death of jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. As I type this post, his version of “Love is Here to Stay” is quietly playing in our Rare Newspapers office. While the LOS ANGELES TIMES, from Dec. 25, 2007 was quickly snapped up, we do have an additional copy for anyone interested in this master of “setting the mood”. If Jazz isn’t your thing, I am sure we have a newspaper with content from almost any artist and genre you can imagine. While you are pondering what your favorite might be, why not give Oscar Peterson a listen. You won’t be disappointed!
Celebrating Our History – Washington’s Birthday…
February 17, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
On a chilling February day during the Revolutionary War, the battle stopped long enough for Martha Washington and General Washington’s men to serenade him on his birthday. Although he would not become president for many years to come, no one can argue this was a (ok, an) historic celebration of Washington’s birthday. [Note: From this point on varying states did celebrate Washington’s birthday to honor our 1st Commander and Chief, however, Congress didn’t solidify this as a national holiday until 1879, and it wasn’t until 1885 the observance was extended to provide a day off for Federal workers (i.e., when it became a Federal Holiday). Many decades later Washington’s Birthday was combined with Lincoln’s to create what we now observe as President’s Day.
On February 20, 1885, THE NEW YORK TIMES had an interesting article noting that local Assemblymen had requested 3 1/2 days off to fully recover from the festivities. Perhaps it was this mindset which later caused the Federal Government to permanently link some holidays to a weekend, therefore allowing for plenty of time for all citizens to recover from the revelry and other raucous activities which are commonplace with such celebrations.
Confession: To-date I have yet to wake-up the morning after President’s Day with bloodshot eyes. It appears I need to up my celebratory game.
A Time of Transition… Washington’s Funeral…
January 20, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
As I sit down to write this post, I wonder if there has ever been the death of a former president within 2 weeks of the inauguration of another. It is a lot of change for a country to lay to rest a former president (President Carter) while welcoming in a new leader (President Trump), however, it must have been significantly more unsettling for a nation to put to rest their 1st president. His legacy and wisdom were now gone from public discourse and there was still so much to be done. The blend of sadness and uncertainty must have been quite unsettling – yet, the nation moved forward.
We are now entering our own days of transition with hope that the upcoming weeks may not be days of tumult and that our new leaders will guide our nation with the same steady hand and heart General George Washington demonstrated during the early, formative, first-steps-era in our nation’s history. My prayer is that they look for wisdom and guidance from the same Source General Washington did so that 225 years from now, their life stories are also shared with pride and provide inspiration.
Let Freedom Ring. . . The Emancipation Proclamation …
January 13, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · 2 Comments
Free Speech, whether in verbal or written form is the underpinning of our union and the lifeblood of our republic … a gift to humanity and while all speech should be protected, there is something particularly irresistible about some words. Poetry can offer a respite for the soul while lyrics coupled with melody can cause the spirit to soar. Similarly, words of freedom spoken by someone who has the power to bring them to pass ushers in hope and therefore courage for a new day.
Such is the case with The Emancipation Proclamation. . . speech breaking chains, setting captives free and restoring hope to the human soul. For this reason, when we have the opportunity to see these words in print, we are witnessing a powerful moment for good in our country’s (albeit imperfect) varied history. While taking decades longer than we may have wished for, the power of this pivotal moment should not be lost on America’s people; but rather, give us courage and boldness to guard its foundational gift.
PS Thanks goes out to our friends in Great Britain for helping to pave the way.
