A tantalising find in an online archive reveals a family conversation hidden in plain sight for nearly 200 years
Cracking a 19th Century Cross-Written Letter
Category: Americas
The Brevoort Family Commonplace Book
A beautifully illustrated 1837 commonplace book kept by the Brevoort children reveals their distinct personalities, youthful ambitions, and family tragedies
New York’s First Grand Costume Ball of 1840
In February 1840, New York hosted its first grand masked ball, organised by Henry and Laura Brevoort, captivating society and setting a new standard for extravagant celebrations
Poor Cottages in the Wilderness
John Coolidge (1604–1691) left Cambridgeshire in 1630 to help establish the Puritan settlement of Watertown in early colonial Massachusetts
Twins and the Paths of Poverty and Prosperity
Henry Mayhew (1812-1881) and Priscilla Mayhew (1812–1886): born together, lives apart - twins in an age of change
The Man Who Bent New York’s Broadway
Henry Brevoort (1747–1841) resisted change, influencing Manhattan's layout while practicing Native American folk medicine
A woman before her time
Meta Brevoort (1825-1876) an intrepid Victorian mountaineer and the first female climber to wear trousers
Off and on the beaten path
Reflections on the relative wilderness and popular destinations in and around the Banff National Park, Canada
Alberta’s playground
Following the path less travelled through Kananaskis Country, with a hike to Karst Spring a scenic drive through the mountains
A snakes and ladders life
William Mayhew (1882-1918): Against the odds, a disadvantaged Englishman embarks on a journey to secure a better future for his family in the US
