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historyclippings.bsky.social
History Clippings
@historyclippings.bsky.social
11K followers 6K following 1K posts
Clippings found during my historical research. Showcasing the awesome primary material from around the web.

DM me for submissions.

Run by @joedragovich.bsky.social

Check out my 📖 on tea-smuggling gangsters: https://lnk.to/Hawkhurst
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historyclippings.bsky.social
History Clippings @historyclippings.bsky.social · Jul 29
I can finally reveal why this account has been on hiatus for the summer...

I've been working on a piece for the New York Times on the 1980s cola space race!

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/s...

Its been a great experience working with the Times editors on this. #nasa #space #coke #pepsi
When Coke and Pepsi Fought for Soft Drink Supremacy in Space
www.nytimes.com
historyclippings.bsky.social
Chinese Restaurant menus from the 1930s to the 1960s. Texas.

These are cool from a design perspective. They're great pieces of ephemera.

#c20th 🗃️ #illustration #design

Internet Archive
archive.org/details/CA_U...
Chinese Restaurant cover, mid 20th century. Red with black lettering and stone dragon Chinese restaurant menu page. Chinese restaurant menu cover with an American looking diner on it.
May 27, 2026 at 11:12 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Linoleum Catalog, 1932.

I love stuff like this. Not only are these patterns pretty, they really let you imagine what some people's homes looked like.

Internet Archive
archive.org/details/lino...

#c20th 🗃️ #illustration #interiordesign
Linoleum catalog page with color patterns Linoleum catalog page with color patterns Linoleum catalog page with color patterns
May 23, 2026 at 10:24 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Arch of Trajan, Benevento, 1914

I like this photo because it shows how these ancient Roman ruins were just in the middle of regular towns, and not in areas polished for tourists.

From the British School in Rome Digital Collections.

digitalcollections.bsr.ac.uk/islandora/ob...

🗃️ #c20th
Sepia toned photo for Tranjan's Arch, Benevento Italy.
May 14, 2026 at 8:50 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
World map made of instruments!

Yamaha ad, 1987.

I'm not sure two howling dogs counts as an instrument, but it is a cool image nevertheless.

Cornell Digital Collections
digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:3...

#c20th 🗃️ #maps
A map of the world made up of various instruments. for example, South America is a giant set of maracas
May 12, 2026 at 8:32 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Anti-Nuclear poster, NYC, 1984.

Love the design on this one. Very of the era.

It comes from the Cornell Persuasive Cartography collection, which has over 1000 #maps!

digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:3...

Whole collection
digital.library.cornell.edu/collections/...

🗃️ #c20th
Poster with the word "Accident", and showing a red splatter over black and white map of the New York City area
May 10, 2026 at 8:38 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
"Devit of Avarice" Russo-Japanese war propaganda cartoon, 1904.

It really looks like a children's book to me.

#c20th 🗃️
Animals in 19th-century european dress, digging while a bear in a military uniform looks on, next to two bound chickens in asian-style dress.
May 7, 2026 at 10:02 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
"One big family", a satirical management chart from the early #c20th.

So many of the jokes in this chart still land. I know I've worked places where I'm the Joe everyone asks...

Which one in this chart are you?

Cornell Digital Collections
digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:3...

🗃️ #worklife
Cartoon of a clerk hunched over a desk Cartoon of "reserach". A man looking under a bed. "Sales Manger". a cartoon businessman cracking a whip. "Stockholders" panaicked investors looking at ticker tape in waste bins, whith a chart showing a crashing stock price behind them.
May 6, 2026 at 8:03 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Nose shaping ad, 1929.

Its certainly a striking image. I'm amazed at the snake oil remedies in these pulp magazines!

Internet Archive.

archive.org/details/trip...

🗃️ #c20th
Nose Shaping Ad, 1929
May 5, 2026 at 9:40 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Clothing ad, 1896.

These are are very cool, and that looks like a very impractical amount of sleeve going on!

🗃️ #c19th #fashionhistory

LOC

www.loc.gov/resource/sn8...
Add showing images and prices for womens blouses and capes. a lot of prominent sleeves.
January 19, 2026 at 9:25 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Giant chest of drawers, NC, 2001.

The owner must be trying to one up their neighbour, the old lady who lives in a shoe...

Too silly not to post. Looking it up, its just one of those mid-century tourist traps?

LOC
flic.kr/p/2rdmYmf

#c21st 🗃️
January 6, 2026 at 9:37 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Pie ad, 1947.

President's day is coming up in a few weeks, so why not remember that time that George Washington braved the pie slices in the Delaware...

Delightfully goofy.

LOC

flic.kr/p/2rGFqA7

#c20th #advertising
ad parodying Washingtons crossing of the Delaware. but instead of ice in the river, it is Giant slices of pie.
January 5, 2026 at 9:33 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
For all those #filmmakers looking for a last-minute holiday project.

The internet archives is running a short film contest that celebrates all the great material in the public domain.

Top prize is $1500.

🎥

blog.archive.org/2025/12/01/2...
Public domain short film contest ad
December 20, 2025 at 8:48 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
If you're struggling to find a last minute gift for that crime lover in your life, check out my book.

It's a different kind of gangster book. Way more wigs and tea than the usual mafia!

thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/...

#booksky #c18th 🗃️
Hawkhurst Book Cover
December 15, 2025 at 11:13 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Check out my appearance on BBC Secret Kent!

I talk about the Battle of Goudhurst, Kent's gunfight at the OK Corral.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

#c18th #smuggling 🗃️ #podcasts
Secret Kent - Shootout at the Goudhurst Corral - BBC Sounds
A story of smuggling, violence and the Hawkhurst Gang.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
The Internet Archive just released tens of thousands of seed catalogs, spanning over two centuries!

They are both lovely and interesting. Check them out!

archive.org/details/usda...

🗃️ #c18th #c19th #c20th #illustration
Seed catalogue from 1896. Color illustration of watermellons, corn, onions, radishes, and lettuce. Seed catalogue cover, 1909. Color illustrations of onions.
November 26, 2025 at 8:45 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
If you're 42 years old, we're as far away from your birth as your birth is from the invention of antibiotics!

History is weird.

What we consider modernity is way closer than we think...

1941

LOC
lccn.loc.gov/sn82016181

#c20th #histmed 🗃️
Deadly Enemy to Bacteria Found in Common Mold A common mold, of the same group that spoil oranges and other fruits, has been found to secrete a substance that is deadlier to bacteria than even the almost miraculous new sulfa drugs. Discovery of this property was made by an English bacteriologist, Prof. A. Fleming of St. Mary’s Hospi- tal, London. Reports of Prof. Flem- ing’s work have just reached this country. The mold belongs to the genus Peni- cillium, and the germ-killing sub- stance it secrets is called penicillin.
November 16, 2025 at 10:53 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Portraits from Photoplay Magazine, Jan 1915.

This is a great source for actors of the period, and I suspect some in the #geneology community will love it as well.

archive.org/details/Phot...

UPenn also has a list of available issues.
onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/seria...

🗃️ 📷 #c20th
portrait of an early 20th century actor in an illustrated, ornate frame. Male, looking broody. portrait of an early 20th century actor in an illustrated, ornate frame. Female, smiling at the camera.
November 8, 2025 at 10:32 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Stop Smoking ad, 1929.

I suppose i shouldn't be surprised that there were people in the 20s looking to stop smoking, but I am.

This is in an old copy of Triple-X magazine, which is a pulp magazine that's far tamer than it sounds.

Internet Archive.

archive.org/details/trip...

#c20th 🗃️
stop smoking ad, 1929. picture of smoking man with large "quit tobacco headline"
October 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
I'm designing some new business cards for myself and I thought, instead of using some lame clip art, I would find something cool in an old newspaper.

Voila! A really cool typewriter illustration from 1911.

Is that a tiny pencil on the top?

#c20th 🗃️

www.loc.gov/resource/sn8...
a 19th century line illustration of a typewriter thre are lots of exposed mechanisms on what looks like a ceramic body.
October 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Chinese, Italian, Swedish, frog's legs and a "succulent roast duckling" for good measure. Here's a President's Day restaurant guide from 1941.

some cool stuff in here, particularly the international style places.

#c20th 🗃️ 🍜

www.loc.gov/resource/sn8...
TAKE your Washington's Birthday guests to JENE'’S . , . this is one of the most popular restaurants in town, famous for its American and Italian dishes, with such specialties as chicken cacciatora, scaloppine of veal a la Marsala and veal cutlets a la Parmegiana. For his spaghetti Jene has 10 different sauces, and his American steaks are supreme! Din- ners $1 and $1.50. You'll be interested in Jene’s rare imported wines and famous cocktails. 1707 DeSales-st nw. Just around the corner from the Mayflower Hotel. The Smorgishord ID YOU know that you can help yourself to Hl you can Hai at the SMORGASBORD .... this is Washington's original Swedish din- ing spot with a smorgasbord laden with intriguing dishes. Don’t let your holiday go by without dropping in at 1625 K-st nw. Today and to- morrow very special dinners will be on the menu for 85¢c, $1 and $1.25, so join the crowds and make 1625 K-st nw one of your stops. HAVE you tried the big Louisiana frog legs served day in and day | out at PARCHEY’S? Their flavor is more delicate than chicken and this mid-town restaurant serves them to suit every size budget. Frog leg plates with one, two or three pairs are 50c, T5c and $1... complete din- ners with frog legs, French fries, cream cole slaw and sliced tomatoes, 75 cents. Hurry in! 19th and K streets now, food you'll never forget is served at THE CHINESE LANTERN in its true na- tive style. Here's where Hl official and diplomatic Washington feasts on breaded shrimps, fried chopped chicken and Chinese mushrooms or almonds, fresh lotus nut soup and fried fresh lobster. Holiday dinners, T5e to $2. 6 Massachusetts-av nw.
October 6, 2025 at 9:43 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Baseball player "Germany" Schaefer using a handheld camera. 1911

I love this photo. The juxtaposition of the baseball player and this oversized camera is really cool and kinda funny to my modern eyes.

A smart phone has a 1 inch square camera...

🗃️ #c20th #baseball

LOC Flickr
flic.kr/p/4i78qX
Turn of the century baseball player holding a large, old camera with both hands. One of his hands is in a baseball mitt.
September 29, 2025 at 8:41 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
How do people feel about using AI (LLMs like chatGPT) to generate alt text for images in bsky posts?

I've used tesseract to OCR newspaper clips for alt text before, but I'm thinking that an LLM will do a better job of visually describing images, and will better serve visually impaired readers.
September 28, 2025 at 9:30 AM
historyclippings.bsky.social
"Soul Winning Revival Center"

I love the juxtaposition of mid century architecture and that very American expression of a religious revival.

1977, California

🗃️

LOC
flic.kr/p/2rvzfix
Photo of building that looks like a gas station that says "Soul Winning Revival Center, George and Hattie Maunder Ministers"
September 28, 2025 at 9:21 AM
historyclippings.bsky.social
Of course, Victorians were a very reserved people and never, ever even hinted about sex...

Well done to the #c19th ad man that made me do a double take 131 years later.

However I'm not sure chewing tobacco and kissing go together. yikes.

1894

LOC
www.loc.gov/resource/sn9...

#advertising

🗃️
Picture: a drawing of a man and woman kissing. Text: 3 of enjoyment is found by every lover of good chewing tobacco in LORILLARD’S famous Climax Plug This tobacco represents. the result of 134 year’s experience in blending and preparing tobacco to suit a universal taste. A delicious flavor has been imparted to it without the addition of any harmful element. In substance it is unequalled by any chewing tobacco ever prepared. When you want a delicious satisfying chew, try CLIMAX PLUG.
September 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
historyclippings.bsky.social
I've been diving into some #shortstories I've found in some #c19th newspapers.

This one, "Mr.Wilson" is a cool story that reads more modern than 1890.

And is a fun source that says $65 was 1,300 glasses of (presumably cheap) beer in 1890!

🗃️

www.loc.gov/resource/sn9...
“I dare say you didn’t look up into the rolling cloud of smoke to see the good fairy of the hoboes.”’ “Fairy!” “Cert. You didn’t expect the guardian fairy of the hoboes to tear around the country in all kinds of weather with a little white robe and some ostrich feather wings?” He counted the money from one pocket and found that it amounted to $65, or 1,300 glasses of beer.
September 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM