"The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous." ~ Frederick Douglass ~ American abolitionist and statesman. (b. 1817 - d. 1895)

AmHis

The American Historical Christian Fiction blog hi-lights books by Christian authors who are led by the Lord to write about characters and stories set in America's past. They are exciting stories of romance, adventure and suspense, written to inspire and encourage.

If you're looking for a book for yourself, a loved one, or those who may need an uplifting message woven through an entertaining story, please consider new monthly releases in inspirational historical fiction found here--the kind that take you on a journey into our country's past (from early colonial times to WWII) and illuminates the trials, beauty and blessings of our great nation.

This week it's my pleasure to hi-light Author of the Week: MaryLu Tyndall and her latest release: "Surrender the Heart"

MaryLu Tyndall spent her early years on the shores of South Florida, where she grew to love the sea and the tropics. After attending Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma,she moved to California and graduated from San Jose State with a degree in math. During the next fifteen years, she worked for a software company, got married, and started a family. She also began pursuing a writing career, and her love of history sent her delving into the past through books and movies in search of fascinating stories and heroic characters. MaryLu now writes full-time and currently lives in California with her husband, six children and three cats.



Title: Surrender the Heart
Author: MaryLu Tyndall
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

A young mistrustful lady, desperate to save her family.

A man, burdened by guilt, desperate to please his.

Both caught in the brink of a war that could change the course of history forever

On the brink of the War of 1812, Marianne Denton must marry to unlock her inheritance. Without the money, her mother can’t receive medical care and her sister will be destitute. But Noah Brenin needs to sail his cargo to England before the war commences in order to prove his worth to his father and make enough money so he won’t have to marry at all.

But when Noah walks out on their engagement party, Marianne chases him down and ends up on his merchantman out at sea. The situation worsens when Noah’s ship encounters a British man-of-war and the couple is impressed into the British navy.

While a young lad’s prophecy of destiny looms over them both, Marianne and Noah are forced to face their darkest fears as they desperately try to find a way to escape and fulfill their destinies—destinies that could change the course of the war and history forever.

There is is a Giveaway for "Surrender the Heart"
Please leave a comment with your e-mail address.

Still interested in a giveaway for "Journey to Riverbend" by Henry Mclaughlin--last week's featured book? Please leave a comment this week, with your e-mail. You'll find it by clicking on Older Posts below.

Historic Flash Facts

Curious about what happened on your birth date one hundred years ago....(wouldn't it make a great theme for your birthday party?) Or searching for an historical event to include in a story you're writing? Check out Historic Flash Facts; new entries will be added weekly to keep you "up-to-date".

Feb. 27, 1911
Inventor Charles F. Kettering demonstrated his electric automobile starter by installing the device in a Cadillac in Detroit and starting the motor with just the press of a switch, replacing the need for hand-cranking.

Feb. 27, 1922
The Supreme Court, in Leser vs. Garnett, unanimously upheld the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guaranteed the right of women to vote.

Feb. 28, 1844
A 12-inch gun aboard the USS Princeton exploded as the ship was sailing on the Potomac River, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer and several others.

Feb. 28, 1911
President William Howard Taft nominated William H. Lewis to be the first black assistant attorney general of the United States. (Lewis took office in March 1911 and served until April 1913)

March 1, 1790
President George Washington signed a measure authorizing the first U.S. census.

March 2, 1861
The state of Texas, having seceded from the Union, was admitted to the Confederacy. The Territory of Nevada came into existence under an act signed by President James Buchanan.

March 2, 1877
Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the 1876 presidential election over Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, even though Tilden had won the popular vote.

March 2, 1917
Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship as President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones-Shafroth Act.

March 3, 1931
President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem of the United States.

March 3, 1945
The allies fully secured the Philippine capital of Manila from Japanese forces during World War II.

March 4, 1789
The Constitution of the United States went into effect as the first Federal Congress met in New York.

March 4, 1858
Sen. James Henry Hammond of South Carolina declared "cotton is king" in a speech to the U.S. Senate.

March 5, 1770
The Boston Massacre took place as British soldiers who had been taunted by a crowd of colonists opened fire, killing five people.

March 4, 1861
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th President of the united States.

March 5, 1946
Winston Churchill delivered his "Iron Curtain" speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo.

A Thought for Today: "America is a tune. It must be sung together." Gerald Stanley Lee~ American clergyman and author (1862-1944)



"May the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: may the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Num.6:25-26 (KJV)

"The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous." ~ Frederick Douglass ~ American abolitionist and statesman. (b. 1817 - d. 1895)

AmHis

The American Historical Christian Fiction blog hi-lights books by Christian authors who are led by the Lord to write about characters and stories set in America's past. They are exciting stories of romance, adventure and suspense, written to inspire and encourage.

If you're looking for a book for yourself, a loved one, or those who may need an uplifting message woven through an entertaining story, please consider new monthly releases in inspirational historical fiction found here--the kind that take you on a journey into our country's past (from early colonial times to WWII) and illuminates the trials, beauty and blessings of our great nation.

This week it's my pleasure to hi-light Author of the Week: Henry McLaughlin and his February release: "Journey to Riverbend"



When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I dabbled in writing for many years before I got serious about it in 2002 after heart problems and surgery nearly sent me to heaven. I came out of that experience with a strong sense that I was called to write. From that point on, I changed my focus from dabbling to writing.

How did you prepare? College courses? Workshops? Books on Craft?

At first, I prepared by reading magazines and books on the craft. My next step was to complete the courses offered through the Christian Writers Guild (Apprentice, Journeyman, Craftsman). I attended mentoring clinics with DiAnn Mills, conferences, workshops, residencies and retreats. I acquired a library on the craft of writing. I joined on-line and in-person critique groups and developed a core group of critique partners on whom I rely to provide honest feedback.

Why do you enjoy writing historicals? (and anything more you want to add to this--anything special about time/settings etc.)
I majored in American history in college and historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. I’m particularly fond of Westerns. Journey to Riverbend, in its early forms, was a Western. As it went through re-writes and edits, it became clear that the novel needed a stronger romance element so the characters could fully develop. Throughout all the drafts, I attempted to anchor the story in the broader context of American history. The story is set in 1878 and the Civil War is part of the backstory along with the Panic of 1873.

Do you have other work besides writing; and if so, how do you manage to balance both?

How many years/stories did you write before the first one was accepted?
It took nearly eight years, from mid-2002 (when I decided to become serious about writing) to February, 2010 (when Journey to Riverbend was awarded the Operation First Novel award.

What's your next book/release date we can look forward to? (A quick sentence or two of what it's about to whet our appetites? :)

I recently submitted a manuscript for a contemporary novel to my agent. The working title is Mr. Latham’s Lincoln. In the story, a young wife disappears, leaving her husband and father-in-law devastated, grieving and full of questions. The reason she left could not only destroy the family but their church as well.

I am in the process of completing the manuscript for the sequel to Journey to Riverbend. The working title is Riverbend Justice. In the story, the hero attempts to clear the name of a young man wrongly hung for murder in the first novel. To achieve his goal his must overcome threats, not only against his own life, but also against the lives of dear friends and the woman he has fallen in love with. This will be in the hands of my agent by the first of March.

After that, I will begin writing a third Riverbend novel.

Title: Journey to Riverbend
Author: Henry McLaughlin
Publisher: Tyndale




A chance for redemption was something they never expected.
A chance for love was something they never dreamed of.
Sometimes the journey is only the beginning . . .

Michael Archer made a promise he intends to keep. Though he was unable to save Ben Carstairs, Michael is determined to carry out Ben’s dying wish: to be reconciled with his father. What he doesn’t know is that Sam Carstairs—one of the most ruthless businessmen on the frontier—has no use for his own son, much less a man of God seeking reconciliation.

Soon after arriving in the booming town of Riverbend, Michael meets the stunning Rachel Stone while waiting for Sam to return from a business trip. Beautiful yet guarded, Rachel is running from a past as dark as Michael’s, and the last thing she expects—or thinks she deserves—is a chance at love. Yet there’s a spark between them neither can deny.

When word reaches town that Sam has been kidnapped on the stage coach home, Michael joins the search posse. But the trail ahead is more dangerous than any had imagined, and making it back alive will require Michael to face his past and overcome his deepest fear.

I'm also pleased to add some of the comments concerning Henry's first book. Thank you Henry, and we're looking forward to many more great stories!

***
“We’re so proud of Henry and his award-winning first novel. This one grabs you from the first sentence and never lets go.”
Jerry B. Jenkins, New York Times best-selling author and owner of the Christian Writers Guild

“A powerful first novel that weaves the consequences of a person’s choices with the lawlessness of the old west.”
DiAnn Mills, Christy Award-winning author of the Call of Duty series

“Journey to Riverbend is a superb debut novel. Faith, romance, action—they're all here in abundance. I look forward to more from Henry McLaughlin.”
James Scott Bell, best-selling author of Try Darkness

Henry McLaughlin is the 2009 winner of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest for Journey to Riverbend. He has a master’s degree in social work and spent many years working in the public child welfare system. Henry and his wife, Linda, live in Saginaw, Texas. They have five children, the oldest of whom is in heaven, and one grandchild. Visit his Web site at www.henrymclaughlin.org.

And from Henry's website:

"In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed.. .No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people." ~ Noah Webster ~ Preface to 1828 Dictionary

Remember to leave a comment for the drawing to receive a copy of "Journey to Riverbend."


Historic Flash Facts

Curious about what happened on your birth date one hundred years ago....(wouldn't it make a great theme for your birthday party?) Or searching for an historical event to include in a story you're writing? Check out Historic Flash Facts; new entries will be added weekly to keep you "up-to-date".

Feb. 20, 1792
President George Washington signed an act creating the U.S. Post Office

Feb. 20, 1809
The Supreme Court ruled that no state legislature could annul the judgments or determine the jurisdictions of federal courts.

Feb. 21, 1866
Lucy B. Hobbs became the first woman to graduate from a dental school, the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in Cincinnati.

Feb. 21, 1911
Composer Gustav Mahler, despite a fever, conducted the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie hall in what turned out to be his final concert. (He died the following May)

Feb. 22, 1732
The first president of the United States, George Washington, was born in Westmoreland County, in the Virginia Colony.

Feb. 22, 1924
President Calvin Coolidge delivered the first radio broadcast from the White House as he addressed the country over 42 stations.

Feb. 23, 1836
The siege of the Alamo began in San Antonio, Texas.

Feb. 23, 1861
President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrived secretly in Washington to take office, following word of a possible assassination plot in Baltimore.

Feb. 24, 1761
Boston Lawyer James Otis Jr. went to court to argue against the "writs of assistance" that allowed British customs officers to arbitrarily search people's premises; citing English common law, Otis declared: "A man's house is his castle." (Although Otis lost the case, his statement provided a source of inspiration for American independence.

Feb. 24, 1803
In its Marbury vs. Madison decision, the Supreme Court established judicial review of the constitutionality of statutes.

Feb. 25, 1836
Inventor Samuel colt patented his famous revolver.

Feb. 25, 1913
The 16th Amendment to the Constitution, giving Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Philander Chase Knox.

Feb. 25, 1940
A hockey game was televised for the first time by New york city station W2XBS, as the New york Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadians, 6-2, at Madison Square Garden.

Feb. 26, 1861
Vassar college in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. received its initial funding from its namesake, businessman matthew Vassar, who presented the newly formed board of trustees with more than $400,000 in securities. (Although created exclusivley for women, Vassar went co-educational in 1969.)


"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." ~ Edmund Burke (British Statesman and Philosopher who is generally viewed as the philosophical founder of modern political conservatism.)



"May the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: may the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Num.6:25-26 (KJV)

"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it."-- Edmund Burke; British Statesman and Philosopher who is generally viewed as the philosophical founder of modern political conservatism.


AmHis

The American Historical Christian Fiction blog hi-lights books by Christian authors who are led by the Lord to write about characters and stories set in America's past. They are exciting stories of romance, adventure and suspense, written to inspire and encourage.

If you're looking for a book for yourself, a loved one, or those who may need an uplifting message woven through an entertaining story, please consider new monthly releases in inspirational historical fiction found here--the kind that take you on a journey into our country's past (from early colonial times to WWII) and illuminates the trials, beauty and blessings of our great nation.

This week it's my pleasure to interview Author of the Week: Naomi Musch and to present her February release: "The Green Veil"








Title: The Green Veil
Author: Naomi Musch
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing



Colette loved Manason long before he came back into her life. But in Wisconsin's virgin pine country where lumber barons ruled private empires, her vow was to his enemy.

Lumberman's daughter, Colette Palmer has always loved timber cruiser Manason Kade -- even though he only remembers her as a child. Leaving Michigan to settle with her family in the Wisconsin wilderness, and separated from him by miles and years, compassion compels her to marry another.

Manason longs to plant roots of his own in Wisconsin Territory. But when he stakes his claim and challenges the illegal log harvesting of a rival company, Colette's husband will stop at nothing to ruin him. Then one day Manason and Colette meet again. Now, she will have to choose between her first love and her commitment to her marriage vows, while her faith and an empire in pine hang in the balance.

As hi-lighted author on American Historical Christian Fiction this week, Naomi has graciously offered to share some thoughts about her journey as a writer and author.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was 10 years old when I began announcing my plans to become a writer. I submitted horribly written ghost stories to my 4th grade teacher, and went on to write equally atrocious Nancy Drew-esque mysteries in later grades. I moved on to romantic tragedies in Jr. High. Thank the Lord, He grew me after that! But the cool thing is that I did learn a lot about story structure in those childhood years, simply because I loved storytelling as an art.


How did you prepare? College courses? Workshops? Books on Craft?

I've gobbled up books on craft galore, and I've huge archives of The Writer magazine. In early adulthood, my focus moved to journalistic and essay style writing, and I focused most of my high school and college courses around those things. But I've always come back to writing fiction, then re-writing, and re-re-writing. That's how you learn.


Were you writing fiction before you got published?

Is this the correct spelling for "drawersful"? Or is it "drawers full"? 


How many years/stories did you write before the first one was accepted?

I didn't try submitting the first 3 novels I wrote. To me, those were training ground. The 4th I published by print-on-demand out of a pure need for closure. (I'd only submitted it one time, and had what writers consider a very "good" rejection. But I was impatient.) It took me more years than average, uh... whatever average is... because writing time was intermittent between homeschooling my five kids through high school.


Why do you enjoy writing historicals? (and anything more you want to add to this--anything special about time/settings etc.)


School is very good at teaching you to dislike things. In grade school, I learned to dislike history -- or at least I thought I did. As a newlywed, I began reading more historical fiction and realized I really loved history when it was set before me in a palpable way. I began to think about historical occurrences in light of what they really meant to the people who lived through them.

Certain periods of history really jump out at me, and usually they're periods that aren't heavily written about in terms of historical or inspirational fiction. I love the broad canvas I'm finding in writing about the pioneer logging era in my state of Wisconsin. What a time rich with historical fabric -- as much so as the gold or land rushes of the west!

Another time I love studying is the early American period of the French and Indian Wars. My book The Casket Girl is set during that time. I also am intrigued by the Voyageurs of the Great Lakes, and have a book spinning around in my head that I intend to eventually write in that time period.


What's your next book/release date we can look forward to? (A quick sentence or two of what it's about to whet our appetites? :)


The Green Veil just released in January, and the sequel The Red Fury will release in October of 2011. They're part of a 3-book, Empire in Pine series from Desert Breeze Publishing. (The 3rd, The Black Rose, is scheduled for summer 2012.)

The Red Fury picks up 20 years after The Green Veil. In the story, Colette's daughter Lainey believes herself a shrew. Breaking society's rules, and living life on the edge to defy a string of heartaches, she strikes up a camaraderie with a pair of brothers who are civil war veterans fighting their own levels of "soldier's heart" (post traumatic stress). As their relationship begins a confusing firestorm in her heart, the most devastating conflagration in American history strikes the young state of Wisconsin. Millions of acres are destroyed in the fury, thousands of lives taken. Will either brother be able to overcome his own torment to break through the walls around Lainey's heart? Can they escape Peshtigo's flames? And what of the fury in a heart afraid to love?


Thank you, Naomi. A giveaway of "Green Veil" in a downloaded e-book format is available to the winner of a drawing at the end of the week if you leave a comment!


Historic Flash Facts

Curious about what happened on your birth date one hundred years ago....(wouldn't it make a great theme for your birthday party?) Or are you searching for an historical event to include in a story you're writing? Check out Historic Flash Facts; new entries will be added weekly to keep you "up-to-date".

Feb. 13, 1861
Abraham Lincoln was officially declared winner of the 1860 presidential election as electors cast their ballots.

Feb. 13, 1935
A jury in Farmington, N.J. found Bruno Richard Hauptmann guilty of first-degree murder in the kidnap-slaying of the son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. (Hauptmann was later executed).

Feb. 14, 1778
The American ship Ranger carried the recently adopted Stars and Stripes to a foreign port for the first time as it arrived in France.

Feb. 14, 1912
Arizona achieves statehood.

Feb. 14, 1920
The League of Women Voters was founded in Chicago; its first president was Maud Wood Parker.

Feb. 14, 1929
The "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" took place in a Chicago garage as seven rivals of Al Capone's gang were gunned down.

Feb. 15, 1820
American suffragist Susan B. Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts.

Feb. 15, 1879
President Rutherford B. Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court.

Feb. 15, 1898
The U.S. battleship Maine mysteriously blew up in Havana Harbor, killing more than 260 crew members and bringing the United States closer to war with Spain.

Feb. 15, 1944
Allied bombers destroyed the monastery atop Monte Cassino in Italy.

Feb. 16, 1862
During the Civil War, some 14,000 confederate soldiers surrendered at Ft. Donelson, Tenn. (Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's victory earned him the nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.)

Feb. 16, 1868
The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks was organized in New York City.

Feb. 17, 1801
The U.S. House of Representatives broke an electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, electing Jefferson president; Burr became vice-president.

Feb. 17, 1864
During the Civil War, the Union ship USS Housatonic was rammed and sunk in Charleston Harbor, S.C., by the Confederate hand-cranked submarine H.L. Hunley, which also sank.

Feb. 17, 1897
The forerunner of the national PTA, the National Congress of Mothers, convened its first meeting in Washington, D.C.

Feb. 17, 1947
The Voice of America began broadcasting to the Soviet Union.

Feb. 18, 1861
Jefferson Davis was sworn in as provisional president of the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Alabama.

Feb. 18, 1885
The first edition of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published in the U.S.

Feb. 18, 1911
The world's first officially sanctioned airmail flight was completed as Fred Wiseman, carrying three letters, arrived in Santa Rosa, Cal. in his biplane a day after leaving Petaluma, Cal. (engine trouble forced an overnight stop).

Feb. 19, 1942
President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the military to relocate and intern U.S. residents, including native-born Americans of Japanese ancestry.

Feb. 19, 1945
During WWII, some 30,000 U.S. Marines began landing on Iwo Jima, where they commenced a successful month-long battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces.




"May the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: may the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Num.6:25-26 (KJV)

"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it."-- Edmund Burke; British Statesman and Philosopher who is generally viewed as the philosophical founder of modern political conservatism.


AmHis

The American Historical Christian Fiction blog hi-lights books by Christian authors who are led by the Lord to write about characters and stories set in America's past. They are exciting stories of romance, adventure and suspense, written to inspire and encourage.

If you're looking for a book for yourself, a loved one, or those who may need an uplifting message woven through an entertaining story, please consider new monthly releases in inspirational historical fiction found here--the kind that take you on a journey into our country's past (from early colonial times to WWII) and illuminates the trials, beauty and blessings of our great nation.

This week it's my pleasure to interview Author of the Week: Golden Keyes Parsons and to present her February release: "Where Hearts Are Free".




When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I grew up in a family of newspaper editors and authors, so writing was very natural to me. So I guess my answer would be that I've always written. I won some essays in high school and had some small pieces published here and there. However, I did not begin to try to get a book published until I started speaking professionally in 1996.

How did you prepare? College courses? Workshops? Books on Craft?

No college courses. I've availed myself of many workshops and seminars at writers conferences. I'm not very good at learning from books on writing. I need a hands-on type of learning experience.

Were you writing fiction before you got published?

Okay, true confessions time here. I wasn't even reading Christian fiction. I had read a lot of historical fiction as a teen-ager, but the Christian fiction I had picked up didn't hold my interest. When I was trying to get a non-fiction contract, I had a rather snobby attitude toward fiction writers. "Humph! They are just writing stories. I'm writing biblical truth!" And then the Lord reminded me that's how Jesus taught truth -- He told stories.

I realized that most non-believers would never pick up a Christian non-fiction book, but they might pick up a Christian novel. I was hooked.

Then I found the published genealogy of my family and wanted to tell that story. And here we are!

How many years/stories did you write before the first one was accepted?

Counting the non-fiction attempts, it took me about ten years and many, many rejections.

Why do you enjoy writing historicals? (and anything more you want to add to this--anything special about time/settings etc.)

I love history, and I always loved reading historicals and being swept away to another time. So I suppose it was natural that I would want to write historicals. And delving into the exciting history of my ancestors fascinated me. I cannot even imagine the courage it took for the French Huguenots in 17th century France to stand up to the persecution of the government of King Louis XIV. I love the research. I love seeing historical figures come to life in a story--moving from flat, dusty names on a page to vibrant, colorful characters in a book, or a movie. I love historical movies as well.

What's your next book/release date we can look forward to? (And maybe a quick sentence or two of what it's about to whet our appetites?:)

We are very excited about this next book. It is set during the Civil War in Texas, and is about torn loyalties. The female protagonist falls in love with a Union officer before the war when he is stationed near her home on the coast of Texas. Then the war comes and he leaves to fight for the Union, while her brother enlists in the Confederate Army. Can they overcome the formidable obstacles to their love? The title is His Steadfast Love and it will be out in the Fall of 2011.


Where Hearts Are Free
Author: Golden Keyes Parsons
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishing




Bridget is in love with one man … and promised to another. Amid the liberty and promise of the New World, Bridget Barrington and Philippe Clavell fall in love. But nothing about their love seems possible. To pay for the Clavell family’s passage from France, Philippe, a former member of French royalty, worked as an indentured slave to the Barringtons. Bridget is the heiress of the prominent plantation.

When Bridget’s parents discover the budding romance between their daughter and their servant, they quickly orchestrate her engagement to an older, more advantageous match. But Edward Moorehead has a secret. And he’s anything but a good match for Bridget.

Separated from her true love and in danger from her betrothed, Bridget must rely on God to deliver her from Darkness into Light.

Other Books by Golden Keyes Parsons:
Prisoner of Versailles




In the Shadow of the Sun King



Thank you, Golden for sharing some of the your experiences, and Blessings on your future writing endeavors!

Please leave a comment with your e-mail address for a chance at a giveaway of Golden's latest release, "Where Hearts Are Free."


Historic Flash Facts

Curious about what happened on your birth date one hundred years ago....(wouldn't it make a great theme for your birthday party?) Or are you searching for an historical event to include in a story you're writing? Check out Historic Flash Facts; new entries will be added weekly to keep you "up-to-date".

Feb. 6, 1911
Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States was born in Tampico, Illinois.

Feb. 6, 1778
The United States won official recognition from France with the signing of a Treaty of Alliance in Paris.

Feb. 7, 1936
President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized a flag for the office of the Vice President.

Feb. 8, 1910
The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated.

Feb. 8, 1693
A charter was granted for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in the Virginia Colony.

Feb. 9, 1861
Jefferson Davis was elected provisional president of the Confederate States of America at a congress held in Montgomery, Alabama. (He was inaugurated on Feb. 18.)

Feb. 9, 1870
The U.S. Weather Bureau was established.

Feb. 9, 1943
The World War II Battle of Guadalcanal in the southwest Pacific ended with an Allied victory over Japanese forces.

Feb. 10, 1942
The former French liner Normandie capsized in New York Harbor a day after it caught fire while being refitted for the U.S. Navy.

Feb. 10, 1949
Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman opened at Broadway's Morosco Theater with Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman.

Feb. 11, 1861
President-elect Abraham Lincoln bade farewell to his adopted hometown of Springfield, Illinois, as he headed to Washington for his inauguration. The same day, The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution guaranteeing non-interference with slavery in any state.

Feb. 11, 1812
Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a re-districting law favoring his party--giving rise to the term "gerrymandering".

Feb. 11, 1937
A six-week-old sit-down strike against General Motors ended, with the company agreeing to recognize the United Automobile Workers Union.

Feb. 11, 1945
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin signed the Yalta Agreement during World War II.

Feb. 12, 1809
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born in present-day Larue County, Kentucky.

Feb. 12, 1908
The first round-the-world automobile race began in New York. (It ended in Paris the following July with the drivers of the American car, a Thomas Flyer, declared the winners over teams from Germany and Italy.)

Feb. 12, 1909
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded.




"May the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: may the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Num.6:25-26 (KJV)