Category: History

Casting a Movie with Thirty Years of Presidential History

July 31, 2012

In 1952 an African-American man named Eugene Allen joined the White House staff as a “pantry man,” washing dishes, stocking cabinets, and shining silverware for $2400 a year. Thirty-four years later, he retired as the Head Butler of the most famous residence in the United States, having served under Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, (LB) Johnson, … More Casting a Movie with Thirty Years of Presidential History

iPhone

The Spread of Technology since 1900

July 30, 2012

Earlier this year, according to one study, the smart phone reached an important milestone: 50% market penetration in the United States. It’s a remarkably quick ascent, but just how remarkable? I’m no historian of technology, but Atlantic editor Alexis Madrigal (author of Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology) recently looked at a … More The Spread of Technology since 1900

Jews in Paris, 1942

This Day in History: The Rafle du Vel d’Hiv

July 16, 2012

July 16-17, 1942 – Over 13,000 Jews are arrested in Paris, including four thousand children More than half were crammed into a Paris velodrome known as the “Vel d’Hiv.” There were no bathrooms; the only food came from too-rare visits by Red Cross and Quaker relief workers; and the only water came from a single … More This Day in History: The Rafle du Vel d’Hiv

The Byrds, Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Evangelicals and Popular Music: Philip Jenkins on The Byrds

July 12, 2012

Earlier today I continued my series revisiting parts of my CD collection I haven’t listened to in a while by blogging about a terrific 1988 album by the Minneapolis alternative rock band Soul Asylum. Throughout the whole series, not once had it occurred to me that — were this a different time — no professor … More Evangelicals and Popular Music: Philip Jenkins on The Byrds

Persevere, Läsare, and Clarion

Between Commemoration and Criticism: The Challenge of Institutional History

July 11, 2012

At the end of June, Jared Burkholder had an interesting post over at The Hermeneutic Circle, in which he reflected on the challenge of doing institutional histories. Specifically, the challenge of editing a new history of Grace College and Seminary with fellow Grace history professor Mark Norris. Especially as they reached the chapter dealing with … More Between Commemoration and Criticism: The Challenge of Institutional History

The Kilns

This Week in History

July 9, 2012

It’s not quite MacArthur hitting the beach at Leyte, or M.J. winning three post-baseball NBA Finals, but after a 37-week hiatus, behold the triumphant return of “This Week in History”! July 9, 1850 – Millard Fillmore succeeds Zachary Taylor as U.S. president This after the former war hero died of acute gastroenteritis, likely caused by … More This Week in History

4th of July Fireworks Display

Best of The Pietist Schoolman: Pledging Allegiance

July 4, 2012

I wrote this last year for the United States’ Independence Day. Still seems right… Though, for a slightly different take — one more amenable to a celebration of American independence by Christians — see the new Christianity Today interview with Os Guinness and Catholic philosopher Gary Gutting’s most recent post at The Stone. Both contend that … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: Pledging Allegiance