Revolutionary War Encampment At The Valley Forge National Historical Park In Pennsylvania

The Valley Forge National Historical Park hosted an Encampment with various demonstrations today. I arrived very late due to massive traffic on Route 76 West.  Despite this, I did get to see a few sights. The parking lot was filled ... there was a really great turnout. Here are some photographs of the tail end of the event ...



















The Valley Forge National Historical Park has more fine events in future weeks and months. Information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/vafo and http://www.facebook.com/ValleyForgeNHP

Iranian Protesters Set To Take To The Streets On February 20, 2011

Mere hours from now, the freedom fighters in Iran will once again take to the streets. Rallies, demonstrations and protests in honor of Sanee Zhale and Mohammad Mokhtari (two brave protesters who were killed this past Monday) are scheduled all across the country. This day is specifically known as 1 Esfand in Iran (February 20 on my calendar).

This has been a very incredible week for the protesters. The crowds have been the largest in number since December of 2009.

Here are a few videos from this past week's rallies and street protests ...

Here is a brief clip showing an incredible rally in Iran. Listen to the slogans! I wish I was there for this!


Here is a regime sympathizer or a plain-clothes Basij agent. He tried saving a poster which featured the image of Iran's "Supreme Leader" Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. The crowd did not take kindly to his support of the gang of thugs currently holding their nation hostage.


Iranian Protesters tear down a large poster of Khamenei. They are chanting "Mubarak, Ben Ali, Now It’s Seyed Ali". The Freedom Fighters have broken a major taboo. Absolutely amazing. The fall of the regime is at hand.


As I was typing this entry, I was informed of some truly amazing news ... a regime diplomat had defected! A high ranking diplomat working for Iran's Consulate in Milan, Italy had joined the Green Movement and expressed his solidarity with the pro-democracy opposition. This is an extraordinary development and will only aid in the growing tide in favor of the freedom fighters in Iran. Here is the article (in Persian/Parsi): http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2011/02/117912.php

In a final note, when one thinks the regime cannot sink any lower than it has to this point, it outdoes itself. At the funerals of the aforementioned Sanee Zhale and Mohammad Mokhtari, the regime claims that they were on the side of the Islamic Republic and were killed by opposition forces. Evidence proves otherwise ... here is one article: http://www.payvand.com/news/11/feb/1164.html and another article by my friend Potkin Azarmehr: http://azarmehr.blogspot.com/2011/02/despicable-regime.html. As I stated in a previous blog entry (http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2011/01/islamic-republic-of-iran-spins-recent.html), the regime is known for being extremely delusional. In this case, they are delusional and disgusting. As for Sanee and Mohammad themselves ... NEVER FORGET the matryrs who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom! To Sanee, Mohammad and the steadfast freedom fighters of Iran, I am with you in spirit. Azadi Baraye Iran!

UPDATE (July 23, 2024): All of the old videos can no longer be accessed.  Flash is no longer supported, and one of the accounts that hosted a video needs a sign-in to be seen.

Vinegar Valentines - A Different Kind Of Valentine's Day Card

Today is Valentine's Day 2011 and I am going to introduce you to a different kind of Valentine Card. They are referred to as Vinegar Valentines. They are nothing like the lovely and beautiful cards I showed you the past two years (at http://michaeltheresearcher.blogspot.com/2009/02/victorian-era-valentines-day-cards.html and http://michaeltheresearcher.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines-day-2010.html). These cards featured sarcastic, caustic and insulting messages for their respective recipients. Valentine's Day has not always been rosy and pretty! I only have two of these in my collection at present. One is called "Sugar Poppa" and the other is titled "The 'Regular' Fellow". The first dates to about 1940 and second dates to around the 1910s.

Here is a video discussing them in detail:

The url for the above video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIlf3R-A_Go

Here are some photos of the Vinegar Valentines ...

As you can see, I am shocked by the content:




The "Sugar Poppa" example is one of a series of sixteen made by the Panoco/Doubl-Glo Company:


The "The 'Regular' Fellow" example was published by the Auburn company as part of its Comic Knock Valentine series (Number 2117):


These messages are obviously far from sentimental ... they are, in fact, quite acetic. Still, they represent the diversity of cards and ephemera available and the different intentions people have had with new inventions and technologies. Vinegar Valentines are no doubt a very interesting area of collecting. I look forward to acquiring more of these in the future.

Albert Woolson - The Undisputed Last Surviving Civil War Veteran

In previous posts, I mentioned 2011 will be the 150th Anniversary of the America's War Between The States. I am planning on posting many entries and videos pertaining to the Sesquicentennial and I decided to start with the last ... I am beginning my Civil War Sesquicentennial series with the last survivor of the Civil War, Albert Woolson. Woolson was born on this day, February 11, in the year 1850 (he lied about his age to get into the service which is why he is commonly listed as being born in 1847 or 1848) and lived to the year 1956. The vast majority of the items exhibited in this blog entry are from the 1950s period.

I will begin with three press photos. These were once part of the archives of an old newspaper publishing company ...

This picture was taken at the unveiling of a bust dedicated to Woolson:


Here is Albert Woolson reading one of the many cards he received during his lifetime:


He is with a sculptor in this one:


The next group of photographs features items signed by Woolson ...

You will note the very interesting and historic reference to James Hard (the last Combat Veteran of the War - he fought in the Battle Of Bull Run among other skirmishes) in the post script. Woolson acknowledges Hard's recent amputation (Hard passed away eight days later):
















A previous owner lists Albert's age as 109. A review of census records revealled he was three years younger than he claimed.


Here are some First Day Covers (FDC's) - these are specifically known as Add-On Cachets because they start out as original genuine FDC's, and then have had items added to them years later. Only the covers themselves, the stamps and the postmarks are original ... all Woolson and Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) decorations have been added recently.






Here is a 1960s-era postcard featuring the Woolson Memorial that stands in Gettysburg, PA:


Here is a guide to the city of Duluth from 1955 (the inside page briefly discusses Woolson):




An article from Life Magazine dated June 1, 1953:


An article from Life Magazine dated August 13, 1956:


Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dated March 14, 1953 and the inside page article pertaining to Woolson:






Duluth Herald (from August 2, 1956) announcing his passing with the bold headline "Albert Woolson Dies":


An excerpt from Life Magazine dated August 20, 1956:


Despite the two photographs discussing his death immediately above, this is a day to celebrate the life of Albert Woolson, the last of the Boys In Blue! I am going to go into greater depth with some of these items in future posts (including a Signature Study for Albert Woolson).

By the way, I am ALWAYS buying Albert Woolson artifacts and memorabilia (especially signed items!!)!! Here is my "Card":


A video showing the items posted above (with my verbal introduction):

The url in case the video does not embed properly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evXZm0e1yXc

Ronald Wilson Reagan Centennial 1911 - 2011

Today is February 6, 2011. On this day one century ago, Ronald Wilson Reagan was born. I vaguely recall the Presidential Election of 1980 (when I was six years old) - the only memory that I have of it (and my earliest memory of Reagan) was seeing the TV Guide cover featuring cartoon images of the three main candidates: Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and the Independent John Anderson. For Reagan's 100th Birthday, I brought out two items from my collection: a letter from 1967 [with an autopen signature (unfortunately)] when he was Governor of California and a Presidential Campaign Button from the State of Michigan from the 1980s. I hope that you like them.





My video commemoration of Ronald Reagan's Birth Anniversary:

The url in case the video does not embed properly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5mI_xm5g0

Freedom For Egypt Rally Held In New York City On February 5, 2011

On Saturday, February 5, 2011, I was back in Manhattan, New York for a rally in support of the Protesters in Egypt. This was the third rally that I attended this year (blog entries for the other two rallies can be found at http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2011/01/freedom-for-egypt-rally-held-in-jersey.html and http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2011/01/freedom-for-egypt-rally-held-in-new.html). It was raining, it was cold, and it was many miles from home (my drive to the train station was about 40 minutes, the train ride to get to New York City was about 90 minutes and the walk to the Rally itself was a little over 30 minutes ... all one way); I had to be present to show my support for this all-important movement and to the protesters and freedom fighters who are making this extraordinary movement happen. The rally was held at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. Some of the photographs will show interference by the rain and have some blurring due to my trying to wipe the wetness off of the camera.

Here is a shot of the United Nations Building near where the Rally was being held:














Here are some signs that were used during the Rally:


Here you see what I believe to be the Egyptian Goddess Bast along with two Ankhs and the phrase "MUBA-RATS OUT!" ... a play on the phrase "Mubarak Out" in reference to the current President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak.




This video includes excerpts from some fine speeches. I want to point out the words of one of the speakers featured in this video. I was not recording when he made this statement.  I would like it to be known ... he envisioned an Egypt where Muslims, Christians and Atheists (and everybody else) were all guaranteed equal rights under the law. It is this kind of unifying spirit that should influence all of us in North America and all around the world to take notice and support this campaign. This movement is about everybody being represented and finally living in peace. All of the naysayers and pessimists should really give the Egyptians a chance. They have already made a(n) incredible and monumental first step. We should support them with their subsequent steps. I wish that I could have filmed more.  I was going back and forth with the video camcorder and the photograph camera. You will see some interference from the rain.  All in all, it turned out well.

The url for the video above is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHNvc0QX1kI

The Egyptian Association For Change hosted the Rally. Their website is: http://eacusa.org

Horace Greeley's 200th Birth Anniversary!

February 3, 2011 is the 200th Birth Anniversary of Horace Greeley. Horace Greeley was a significant figure in nineteenth-century America. He was a(n) abolitionist, suffragette, prohibitionist, vegetarian and newspaper editor. He ran for President against Ulysses S. Grant in the year 1872. To celebrate Horace's 200th Birthday, I wore my facial hair in his style and brought a few artifacts out to show.

First, here is an envelope featuring a stamp from 1961 which commemorated Horace's 150th birthday. It was oddly postmarked in 1999. A card discussing his life is included.


Very fitting for his Birthday ... here is a postcard showing his Birthplace:


The reverse of the postcard - it is from the "Undivided Back" era (postcards became "Divided" aka had a line printed in the middle for a message and an address on March 1, 1907) and dated after the beginning of the "Divided Back" era (April 9, 1907).


Three photographs are next: a stereoview (also a Birthplace view) dating from between 1900 and 1930, a close-up of the title and the reverse with information:






Finally, here is a CDV image of Greeley dating to the 1860s or 1870s:


A video ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TCmOJMg7i4

"Go West, Young Man". Have you ever heard that phrase? Horace Greeley is the man who is credited for giving that now legendary advice. Despite the claim that he did not make such a statement, he is still touted as the purveyor. What is known is that today, February 3, 2011, is categorically the Bicentennial of Horace Greeley ... he was born two hundred years ago on this day. Happy 200th Birthday!

Frank Woodruff Buckles, America's Last Surviving World War I Veteran, Turns 110 Today!

Frank Buckles, the United States of America's sole remaining Great War Veteran, is now a super-centenarian. The man who joined the Army at the age of 16 is now 110 years old.

I actually met the man who once shook hands with none other than General John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing two years ago. Here is my blog entry describing that incredible and wonderful day: http://michael-the-researcher.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-108th-birthday-to-frank-woodruff.html

His current project can be seen at this link - http://pershingslastpatriot.com

Let us give a hearty salute and the finest birthday wishes to the Last of the Doughboys!!