by Kathleen Denly | Apr 10, 2019 | American History, Fun & Games
When it comes to nineteenth-century slang, are you a ninny or smart as a steel trap? Keep reading to find out! Did you know, that if you called me a Kate, I would give you Jesse? I might even plant a sockdollager on your snout and knock you into a cocked hat....
by Kathleen Denly | Jan 21, 2019 | American History
I am in the midst of another round of research, this time looking into certain aspects of the Civil War, when I stumble across a letter written by Clara Barton that makes me wish I could go back in time and high-five her. I am sure many of you recognize the...
by Kathleen Denly | Oct 8, 2018 | American History, California History, San Diego History
According to its website, the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala was “the first Franciscan mission in the Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.” I recently had the opportunity to visit this beautiful, if controversial, and historic...
by Kathleen Denly | Jul 23, 2018 | American History
As a historical researcher, I still occasionally come across a word which I don’t recognize, but in the beginning, there were two words I saw repeatedly in the newspapers which absolutely drove me bonkers. I could not, just from the context, figure out exactly...
by Kathleen Denly | Mar 25, 2018 | American History
I love pretty much anything to do with history, but it’s no secret that my favorite part of history is nineteenth-century American history. Today, we’re going to play a game to see how much you know about the different decades of the nineteenth century in...
by Kathleen Denly | Sep 19, 2017 | American History, My Works
“[Researchers] found that in 1860, the average age of the onset of puberty in girls was 16.6 years. In 1920, it was 14.6; in 1950, 13.1; 1980, 12.5; and in 2010, it had dropped to 10.5. Similar sets of figures have been reported for boys, albeit with a delay of...
by Kathleen Denly | Jan 20, 2017 | San Diego History
If you visit the McCoy House located in Old Town San Diego and wander through its museum exhibits toward the back, you will discover a hidden gem. This is where I first encountered Lt. George Horatio Derby and his humorous writings. Later, I came across his name again...
by Kathleen Denly | Jan 13, 2017 | California History
As I have mentioned before, I am a bit of an odd duck. Fortunately, my husband is also an odd duck and we are raising a small group of odd little ducklings. (It’s a secret plan for us odd ducks to take over the world. Shh!) Being a family of odd ducks makes many...
by Kathleen Denly | Feb 4, 2016 | American History
I am in the midst of another round of research, this time looking into certain aspects of the Civil War, when I stumble across a letter written by Clara Barton that makes me wish I could go back in time and hi-five her. I am sure many of you recognize the name of...
by Kathleen Denly | Dec 15, 2015 | San Diego History
Built in 1880, this Italianate Revival building is located on the northeast corner of Fifth and Market Street. Occupied first by a dry-goods store, the building is best remembered for the Ferris and Ferris Drug Store, an all-night pharmacy, which operated on the...
