Movements of the World From Railroads to Bathtubs
The article recalls early doubts about railroads in Lancaster Ohio with a debate in a village school. It cites Cincinnati tub controversy and early modern progress, noting how fast the world moved from steam speed to bathtubs and even photographic studies of horse motion as landmarks of rapid change.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lancaster
Ohio
Hell
Cincinnati
America
Philadelphia
Boston
Virginia
Henry Bessemer
Bessemer
California
Leland Stanford
Muybridge
The Dead Hand and Its Grim Will Shapes Public Benefactions
A critical look at the Dead Hand phenomenon where rigid wills and gifts constrain modern use of funds and public benefactions. The piece traces Muybridge’s moving horse as a metaphor for unpredictable change, then cites historical examples from Benjamin Franklin and a Bourne woman to illustrate how posthumous control persists, burdens administrations, and challenges future society.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Muybridge
Franklin’s 500000 Fund and Philadelphia’s Water Foresight
The essay recalls Benjamin Franklin’s bequest plans to fund apprentices through a $500000 endowment and seed a future water system via Wissahickon Creek. It notes no apprentices arose, no windfall occurred, and Philadelphia failed to await a century for its water future. Last May, a London case touched on the topic.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Franklin
Philadelphia
Wissahicken Creek
London
Endowments and the persistent Dead Hand in charity gifts
The piece traces the dead hand problem from historic endowments through the community trust concept, detailing how donor funds are managed to serve evolving needs. It cites New York Community Trust as a model, explains the distribution committee’s role, and notes how obsolete gifts may be redirected to fit current community aims. It also recalls long standing funds from St Louis mayoral aid to Stephen Girard estate and other historic foundations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
Community Trust
Frederick H. Goff
Cleveland Trust Company
United States
Banks
New York
United States Circuit Court of Appeals
The
Bar Association
Chamber of Commerce
Brooklyn Academy of Arts and Sciences
Academy of Medicine
St. Louis
Bryan Mullanphy
Stephen Girard
Canny Mariner and Miner
Girard College
Also Mentioned on This Page
Hollywood
Ben
Benjamin Franklin
Republic
Bourne
Prwapmriia Recorp
Endow
New York Community Trust
Church of England
Mullanphy Fund
Earth
Christ
Loundsborough Charity
England
William Bower
Dr. Richardson
Ripon
Lurgan
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!