Any resemblance to a boring history class is purely coincidental!
In honor of both Native American Heritage Month and American Thanksgiving, we are taking a look back at the life of this woman who did save lives, but not the one the (very popular animated) movie wants you to think.
For the shownotes to this episode, please click on over to 2017 HERE
For information and activities focused on Native American Heritage Month, here is a great one.
Ida Lewis was a heroine…but she was also a sister, daughter, friend, and dedicated lighthouse keeper, a job where she was uncommonly dedicated and uniquely qualified in the best way imaginable.
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In October of 2022, 44 travelers (and a flock of Seagulls) set off to head back in time to autumnal New England. These are their stories (and mini-history lessons, heartwarming life moments, trivia, and societal observations)
The leaves were peaking in golds and reds; the air was crisp (or cold if you were from a warmer climate) when Boston and Newport opened their doors for us. From our intro dinner at America’s oldest tavern, Bell in Hand, to a sailboat cruise of Newport Harbor, to our final dinner together at Ristorante Fiore in Boston we gobbled up history with each step.
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Nell, circa 1675 by Peter Lely
First off, please know that this episode contains a very loud LITTLE EARS warning, so we do ask that adults preview it to decide if it’s appropriate for the kids in their life. Nell was a woman who grew up in poverty, learned how to charm people from a very young age, and found success in the culture in which she lived as an actress and a mistress to King Charles II of England. (There is a lot of sex and quotes have words in them that we don’t ordinarily use but it’s impossible to tell her story without these elements.) (more…)
Our new podcast girlfriend and host of Significant Others Podcast, Liza Powel O’Brien (Conan is her husband) (Yes, that Conan O’Brien.)
This isn’t a new thing for us, we just thought that it would be fun to have a conversation with another female history podcaster, and Liza graciously accepted. It’s not an interview, we don’t do those, it’s more like listening to the conversation at the next table in a coffee shop. We talk podcasting and interests and…well, just give a listen. (more…)
circa 1959
When Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, her reign was in its 71st year. That alone makes her a woman we would love to cover! Alas, we don’t spotlight subjects who are still with us, and, even then, we like to give them a respectful mourning period after they pass away. This allows time for her legacy to become established–that’s when we like to dive into her life. (more…)
Doctor Walker, Post Civil War, admire her Medal of Honor and ponder why she is STILL THE ONLY WOMAN TO RECIEVE IT! cc wikicommons
Doctor Walker’s very practical but oft-ridiculed outfit. Circa 1876 wikicommons
As she aged, Dr. Walker was even more stylish than ever before circa 1911 wikicommons
Elizabeth Van Lew
Belle Boyd
Elizabeth Van Lew and Belle Boyd were both born in Virginia, both died in 1900, and both were spies during the American Civil War…for opposing sides of the conflict!
Elizabeth R. Varon, birth to death biography
Middle-Grade biography by Heidi Schoof
Compilation biography that reads like a novel by Karen Abbott
Historical Fiction by Rosemary Agonito
Richard Snow
Charles River Editors
Historical Fiction Claire J Griffin (I didn’t read it, but appreciated the information on her website so it’s a half recommendation)
My deepest apologies, I thought I read this online, but I had purchased the ebook. Autobiography by Belle, Intro by Drew Gilpin Faust and Forward by Sharon Kennedy-Nolle
A collection of Civil War-era newspaper articles about activities of women who aided soldiers in all manner of ways, during the war: Women Soldiers, Spies, and Vivandieres: Articles from Civil War Newspapers by Vicki Betts
You can visit and even worship at Historic St. John’s Church in Richmond (or just poke around online)
Don’t visit Bellvue School (unless you have a kid that can or does go there) but their website has the history of the Van Lew property and some women that lived there.
Belle Boyd’s childhood home is still standing and is now the home of the Berkely County Historical Society in Martinsburg, West Virginia. If you go, report back on the ability for a horse to go through any of the exterior doors. Thanks!
Author Claire J. Griffin’s website, she wrote a historical fiction, A Rebellious Woman, based on Belle’s life and undertook a lot of research beforehand. She has a nice collection of documents on her site.
Encyclopedia of Virginia has a write-up about Belle and LOTS of state history!
Here’s an interesting conversation about four women of the Van Lew house.
Break music: Secret Place, by Merry Ellen Kirk; End song: Queen of the Underground by Michael Joy used with permission by ilicensemusic
Whether she’s styled as Lady Elizabeth Chudleigh or Countess of Bristol or Duchess of Kingston, she should be remembered as a woman who, right or wrong, made her own choices in her world during a time when women had very few options. She dealt with all that life threw her way by being witty and charming and aware of the social norms of the day. Her story is a lesson in dealing with the consequences of one fateful decision.
Elizabeth’s trial!
**************UNDER CONSTRUCTION, COME BACK A LITTLE LATER FOR ALL THE MEDIA RECOMMENDATIONS! ************
Catherine Ostler
Claire Gervat
Want to learn more about the Royal Hospital at Chelsea (or visit if Covid ever goes away)? It’s where the Chelsea Flower Show is held each year! Royal Hospital
Kingston House, formerly Chudleigh House, pretty swanky love nest!
Ahhhh! This is a wide-open field and there are several story arcs in here to play with, Dear Movie Producer!
Of course, we had to pose in front of Highclere Castle! (Yes, that’s “Downton Abbey.”)
Once upon a time a couple of chicks and a group tour expert thought it would be fun to plan a tour around our former subjects… finally, three years, four reschedules, 56 people went on that eight-day trip. These are their stories. (And historical trivia, travel and book recommendations, societal observations, and even a lesson in gas exchange…there’s a lot to learn in this one.)
Our Poundland haul!
Some finds at Blenheim Palace:
Gladys Deacon sphynx at Blenheim Palace
Winston Churchill’s curls from his first big boy haircut
Nobody puts Wallis in the corner!
The Superbloom at Tower of London was a favorite for A LOT of us
Head on over to our Instagram, The History Chicks Field Trips, for the motherlode of trip photos!
The history pub tour that Beckett and her dad took was through Liquid History Tours; the Jack the Ripper tour Susan took was through RipperVision, her guide was Richard (although some Seagulls took the tour with a different guide from the same company and loved it just as much.)
Susan and our Jack The Ripper Tour guide, Richard! (He said he was going to look scary for this, he was a perfectly charming gentleman!)
Our tea etiquette lesson was delightfully presented by Eileen Donaghey at Fortnum and Mason where, you too, can stock up on Jubilee-themed tea and biscuits from wherever you are!
Tea at Fortnum & Mason, Susan and Beckett’s table.
Beckett and her dad visited the Bate Collection of musical instruments at the University of Oxford.
Finding a pub in England is…not hard, but when we were in Oxford, this is where we enjoyed dinner and drinks (and more drinks): The Chequers.
“Other” Susan: Learn more about Saint Frideswide, an Abbess at Christchurch Chapel in Oxford
Starr: The book that Starr nerded out to and gave her visit to Jane’s world added depth:
By Helena Kelly
Susie: The public art installation of giant corgis are dotted throughout Westminster (where we were staying so it was hard NOT to see one.) Here is a map of them, and the one that she referenced, Susan, represents Queen Elizabeth’s first corgi and the grandma of many of the ones she called for walkies in the Queen’s life. Funny story: this piece was created by the class of one of our Traveler’s daughters!
One of the many corgis! This one is named Susan who was Queen Elizabeth’s original corgi and the matriarch of the many corgis she’s had over the years.
June enjoyed her time at the Postal Museum!
Find yourself near Victoria Station on a Sunday evening and fancy a game of Trivia? Our Trivia Teams really enjoyed the Sunday evening game with Johnny the Fox at The Warwick!
The Superbloom music that Diana referenced was this, Music For Growing Flowers, by Erland Cooper.
If you’re excited to join us on another Field Trip, we would love to have you join us on our October Boston and Newport adventure! Click on over to Like Minds Travel for information, or if you are going to be in Boston and would like to join that trip’s Local’s Meet Up, find out more here!
