Photo: Harriet Frothingham. Credit: McCord Stewart Museum, Canada.

Relics of Our Ancestors (part 4)

By Melissa Berry on January 19, 2024

Melissa Davenport Berry writes about more of the men who donated a relic from America’s past, a silver tankard gifted to Rev. Samuel Deane in 1775... (Read More)

Photo: front view of the silver tankard gifted to Rev. Samuel Deane, 1775, showing the Latin inscription. Credit: First Parish Church, Portland, Maine.

Relics of Our Ancestors (part 3)

By Melissa Berry on January 16, 2024

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about another relic from America’s past, a silver tankard gifted to Rev. Samuel Deane in 1775... (Read More)

Illustration: witchcraft trial at Salem Village. The central figure in this 1876 illustration of the courtroom is usually identified as Mary Walcott. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Relics of the Salem Witch Trials Era (part 3)

By Melissa Berry on October 26, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes more about the Salem witch trials of 1692, focusing on the case of George Jacobs... (Read More)

Relics of the Salem Witch Trials Era (part 2)

By Melissa Berry on October 20, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes more about the Salem witch trials of 1692, focusing on objects from that time preserved to this day... (Read More)

Relics of the Salem Witch Trials Era (part 1)

By Melissa Berry on October 13, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about the Salem witch trials of 1692, focusing on objects from that time preserved to this day... (Read More)

Photo: souvenir spoon from Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C. Credit: John Phelan; Wikimedia Commons.

Did Your Ancestor Collect Souvenir Spoons?

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on June 8, 2023

In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about her collection of souvenir spoons, begun by her mother... (Read More)

Illustration: the Salem Witch House, famous for its connection to Judge Corwin and the witch trials of 1692, located at 310 Essex Street, Salem, Massachusetts. The lot was first occupied by Roger Williams, then Captain Richard Davenport and his wife, Elizabeth Hathorne. From “The Whole History of Grandfather’s Chair; or, True Stories from New England History, 1620-1803” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1898. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Relics of Our Ancestors (part 2)

By Melissa Berry on May 9, 2023

Melissa Davenport Berry writes about relics from America’s past, focusing on a compass and watches owned by Roger Williams in the 17th century... (Read More)

Illustration: portrait of Deacon Benjamin Titcomb (1726-1798). Signed, dated and inscribed “Painted by John Brewster 1798.” Courtesy of Skinner Auction House. Read more history at Trio Of Americana Collections Drives $1.3 Million Sale At Skinner.

Relics of Our Ancestors (part 1)

By Melissa Berry on April 25, 2023

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about relics from America’s past, focusing on family heirlooms from the Quinby family of Massachusetts... (Read More)

Photo: snow globes. Credit: Gena Philibert-Ortega.

Family Treasures: Snow Globes

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on January 24, 2022

In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about her love of collecting snow globes, and shows some samples from her collection... (Read More)