Lenora Rogers's Blog, page 23
September 22, 2017
Franco Moschino: Anti-Elitist Haute Couture?
On the 18th of September 1994, Italian fashion designer Franco Moschino died in Annone di Brianza, Italy. He is still seen as “the irreverent enfant terrible of the fashion industry who poked fun at the excesses of the 1980s with his “tongue in chic” designs, most memorably creating suits festooned with cutlery, jackets with faucet handles or dice used as buttons, coats and hats made from teddy bears, expensive linen shirts embroidered with outrageous puns and slogans, dresses th...
The Prince of Wales’ visit to Liverpool in September 1806
During the autumn of 1806, the Prince of Wales (later George IV) and his brother William, Duke of Clarence (later William IV), undertook a tour of several of the counties of England. We are going to look at just one of their destinations today, their visit to the city of Liverpool and their stay at Knowsley, where they arrived on 16th September.
Knowsley Hall by an unknown artist; Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery
The royal brothers were travelling with a large retinue,...
England’s Freemasons: Modern Times
The two World Wars had taken their toll on English Freemasonry. Between 1918-1921 some 350 new lodges were created, and between 1945-1948 a further 600 new lodges came into existence. Many of the new lodges had been created by servicemen wishing to continue the camaraderie, which they had built up in service to their country.
Winston Churchill
In 1902, Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, was initiated into the Freemason order. He would be remembered as England’s Prime Minis...
September 18, 2017
Theban Legion Martyrs
In the spring of 285AD, Emperor Maximian forces, included the Theban Legion consisting of six thousand, six hundred and sixty-six Christian soldiers from Thebias in Egypt, marched to Gaul, to put down an uprising.
After the revolt had been quelled, the Emperor issued an order, to his whole army, to offer sacrifices to the Roman Gods, for a successful victory.
The Thebian Legion refused to take part in such rituals, and withdrew to their encampment near Aguanum.
When...
Historical Fashion: Georgian Women’s Hairstyles
I recently tweeted the following picture, showing a fashion plate from France, 1778, showing a huge elaborate hairstyle that was often popular with French and English women of this time period. These hairstyles are very evocative of the period, and significantly different from many other time periods, so I thought I would explore what types of hairstyles were popular, and how some of the more extravagant styles were achieved.
The French plate mentioned above.
At the beginn...
September 14, 2017
Harriet Lane and the James Buchanan Statue
Portrait of James Buchanan by G.A. Healy.
James Buchanan has been the cellar dweller among Presidents for more than 150 years.
JB: The Balance Sheet
The asset side. Pennsylvania’s James Buchanan (1791-1868) came to the presidency in 1857 with a forty-plus-year resume of solid achievement: successful attorney, state legislator, congressman, senator, cabinet member, foreign diplomat. He was popular with his peers and short-listed for the Democratic presidential nom...
September 11, 2017
William McKinley: The Sneezing Fit
William McKinley was one of the best liked Presidents.
President William McKinley was a genial and popular man. He had a long list of personal friends.
William McK: Mister Nice Guy
William McKinley (1843-1901) was a nice fellow – and a good fellow. At 18, he enlisted in the Union Army and served the entire four years, rising from private to major.
A devout Methodist, young Billy did not smoke, drink, play cards, gamble, dance, swear or chase women. Despite this ab...
Historic Painting: “San Francisco Fire” by William A. Coulter, 1906.
This painting came across my Twitter feed this week, and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to share it in the Historic Painting series. Like a CGI scene out of a modern disaster movie, this view of San Francisco during the fire of 1906 is an eye-popping spectacle. The city lies in flames in the background, with the shadowy outlines of major landmarks barely visible against the fire. Residents are fleeing the port city in anything that will float. (An alternate title of this pai...
Madeleine L’Engle: A New Perspective on Science and Girls
Madeleine L’Engle, author of the groundbreaking children’s novel A Wrinkle in Time, was a clumsy girl, born to older parents who loved her and wanted her but weren’t sure quite what to do with her after twenty years of childless marriage. Her father, Charles Camp, was a journalist who had been exposed to mustard gas during WWI and caught pneumonia frequently. Her mother was often in frail health. When Madeleine was born in New York City in 1918, antibiotics hadn’t been discovered. Madeleine...
