Yesterday I had a pleasant conversation with retired IUP sociology professor Jim Dougherty on labor history. He is the founder of the Center for Northern Appalachian studies. When he retired his center ended so he took the sign and put it on his door. We spoke about the history of labor struggles in the area,Continue reading “Jim Dougherty on Labor History”
Tag Archives: History
A Commemoration of the 1922-23 Windber Coal Strike
The Battle of Homestead Foundation and the Pennsylvania Labor History Society held a commemoration of the 1922-23 coal mine strike in Windber, PA. The next day they held a commemoration of a failed 1924 Ku Klux Klan raid on the coal mining town of Lilly. This post will focus on the first day. The meetingContinue reading “A Commemoration of the 1922-23 Windber Coal Strike”
Mom’s for Liberty Working to Ban Woke Curricula in PA
Watching a Cambria/Somerset Tea Party meeting broadcast live on Facebook by John DeBartola (I cannot embed the video here), I heard discussion of the group Mom’s for Liberty. They are working to stop the “woke” curricula in our schools. The image above shows where they have chapters located in Pennsylvania. As of this writing theyContinue reading “Mom’s for Liberty Working to Ban Woke Curricula in PA”
Kourtney Square on the Upcoming Centennial of the Rosedale Incident
I spoke with Kourtney Square who is organizing the upcoming centennial of the Rosedale incident in Johnstown. On September 7, 2023, Square, her aunt Dr. Carol Francois, Banished from Johnstown author Cody McDevitt, and local photographer Jackie Gunby will hold a panel discussion on the incident at the Johnstown Area Heritage Association. The flyer forContinue reading “Kourtney Square on the Upcoming Centennial of the Rosedale Incident”
Paul Douglas Newman on Native Americans in Pennsylvania
This evening I had a nice conversation with Pitt-Johnstown Professor of History Paul Douglas Newman (no relation to that other Paul Newman) about the history of Native Americans in Pennsylvania. From around the year 1 AD to the 1400s there was a vibrant Native American civilization in the Mississippi region that extended up the OhioContinue reading “Paul Douglas Newman on Native Americans in Pennsylvania”
Banned Books Week
This week (Sept. 18-24) has been declared banned books week by the American Library Association. Above is a graphic from them detailing the complaints to local libraries, schools and other institutions about certain books, signings by authors, and films. This Friday I will be at the Cambria County Library to give a reading from myContinue reading “Banned Books Week”
Cambria Arts and Heritage Festival Introduction
I am here at the Cambria County Arts and Heritage Festival covering the event. I am also here selling my book Wuthering Depths in Johnstown: By the Numbers. The event has Civil War reenactors, Medieval reenactors, an antique car show, carriage rides, food, and vendors galore. The above video is an interview with Confederate reenactors.Continue reading “Cambria Arts and Heritage Festival Introduction”
Peace & Social Justice Advocate, Molly Rush
Molly Rush is a longtime peace and social justice advocate in Pittsburgh. She is a co-founder of the Thomas Merton Center in Pittsburgh and Healthcare for all PA. The Thomas Merton Center is having its 50th anniversary this year. It has served as an umbrella organization for many progressive organizations in the Pittsburgh area. AtContinue reading “Peace & Social Justice Advocate, Molly Rush”
Recent Musings: Florence and Ben
I know that I have been slow in posting lately. Sometimes life is so draining that it’s hard to find inspiration. COVID numbers have been dying down. I’m still waiting for the County Health Rankings numbers. I did show this video from Drunk History about Florence Nightingale to my classes. Many of my students wereContinue reading “Recent Musings: Florence and Ben”
Russia and Dependency Theory
The unthinkable has happened. Russia has invaded Ukraine. I was clinging to the hope that their actions would not go beyond saber rattling. Unlike they were in Iraq, U.S. leaders were right in warning about the threat posed by an outsider nationContinue reading “Russia and Dependency Theory”