Exhibit Shows Everyday Life in Early America
Smithsonian opens a new 180 by 55 foot hall in Washington displaying domestic furnishings from seaboard America from settlement to industrial revolution. The exhibit uses four interiors a 17th century house a 19th century schoolroom and 52 cases with artifacts plus lighting and interactive elements to tell a narrative history with maps diagrams and labels.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
America
Smithsonian Institution
Seaboard America
Hall of Antiquities
Fatal Accidents Higher in 1956
United States fatalities in 1956 reached about 95 000 with a second straight annual rise. Motor vehicle deaths totaled roughly 40 000, a 2 000 increase and a new yearly high. Home and public incidents together caused about 44 000 deaths, while occupational accidents reached around 14 000, over 3 000 linked to motor vehicles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
United States
Early Artist Painted Record of Old West
Washington report describes George Catlin, Philadelphia painter and former lawyer, who sketched portraits of eminent Indians, ceremonies, dances, villages, and landscapes during the wild west era. He worked rapidly, sometimes producing four or five pictures a day, and aimed for realistic depictions challenging textbook romance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
George Catlin
Philadelphia
Wyoming Valley
Distance No Matter To True Music Lover
In rural areas long distances matter little to music lovers. Humboldt County Little Symphony members travel 130 miles weekly to rehearsals. Their group includes housewives ministers teachers and retirees. Mountain residents near Asheville drive up to 30 miles for traditional mountain ballads. In Colorado Lloyd Bader travels 60 000 miles yearly in a trailer to teach music across five towns and three rural areas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
California
Humboldt County Little Symphony
Asheville
N. C
Colorado
Lloyd Bader
Ductile Cast Iron Revolutionized Foundry Work
International Nickel announces a new ductile cast iron product in 1948. The material is not brittle, can be bent or twisted, and is expected to become a major ferrous metal by tonnage in coming years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
International Nickel
Man's Hat Gives Clew as to How He Earns Living
A Stetson Company questionnaire shows hat style reflects occupation more than spouse influence. Doctors tend toward similar hats across peers while newspapermen adopt styles resembling doctors, with journalists aligning with current trends and doctors moving to casual yet proper headgear.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia
John B. Stetson Company
New Era Seen for Management Labor
Los Angeles reports labor economist Dr George H Hildebrand predicts a new era in management and labor relations driven by automation atomic and solar power. He cites potential labor shortages aging population and rising fringe benefits as factors shaping future industrial relations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Los Angeles
George H. Hildebrand
Science Cannot Tell Exact Age of Living
Washington reports a Colombian four foot four man claiming 167 years but medical authorities say he could be 150. The piece notes several reported ages worldwide and cites 19th century life expectancy examples, illustrating the uncertainty in aging records.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
United States
Colombia
Brazil
Java
Pakistan
Egypt
Denmark
Do it yourself boom hits American homes
America’s millions join a DIY movement as spare time artisans take on redecorating, extra baths, and entire houses. In 1953 11 million amateur carpenters used 25 million power tools on 50 million square feet of plywood, lighting a city sized by Jacksonville. Amateurs bought 75 percent of paint, 60 percent of wallpaper, and 50 percent of asphalt tile.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
New York
Jacksonville
Florida
United States
Tuberculosis Drugs Cut Deaths With Improved Treatments
The New York TB progress notes medicines that reduce TB deaths include isoniazid streptomycin and para aminosalicylic acid. None eradicate all bacilli. these drugs slow or halt bacterial multiplication and refinements in surgery aid treatment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Miss Laurie Helps Make a Farm Family Complete
A widowed father and his son Tommy move to a farm where Miss Laurie, the kindly schoolteacher, brings companionship and a puppy. After Tommy loses his mother longing, Laurie becomes a neighborly figure, and the family learns to rely on community help as Tommy's joy returns. Laurie and David acknowledge Tommy’s wish for a mother, and a gentle romance grows as the farm finds its footing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tommy
Consolidated School
Miss Laurie
Dad
David
Prince
Laurie
Lassie
Shift in Public Debt Ownership Shifts Toward Government Accounts
New York report details a notable shift in the distribution of the public debt with Government controlled investment accounts rising to 53.5 billion dollars as of June 30, while commercial banks held about 57.0 billion. Savings Bonds totaling around 50 billion remain a major factor, underscoring a policy of financing debt from private and other investors to curb inflation and stabilize the economy. The gap between government accounts and banks narrows to roughly 3.5 billion, as banks had led earlier in 1955.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
U S Population Set to Reach 178 Million by 1960 Census
Metropolitan Life statisticians project a U S population of about 178 million by the 1960 census, with a 1950s rise of roughly 27 million. Since World War II, the nation added nearly 29 million, the Far West posting the fastest growth. California leads state gains, now around 13.7 million, second to New York.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
United States
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Far West
California
New York State
Washington Emerges as Global Diplomatic Center
Washington hosts 75 foreign embassies in the capital, a 40‑embassy rise since World War II, among 81 diplomatic missions. Six legations remain headed by ministers, including Switzerland, Yemen, Hungary, Romania, Latvia, and Lithuania. New top‑rank envoys arrive from newly independent states Morocco Sudan and Tunisia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Morocco
Sudan
Tunisia
Switzerland
Yemen
Hungary
Romania
Latvia
Lithuania
Tidal Flats Vital for Marine Life and Fisheries
Tidal mud flats in estuaries and bays support nurseries for many species. Nutrient flows from rivers sustain multi million dollar fisheries. Oysters, clams, menhaden, shrimp, striped bass, salmon, shad, mullet and milk fish rely on brackish waters to complete their life cycles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
America
Europe and Coal Will Be Mainstay of European Energy
Washington report notes that Western Europe faces a growing shortfall between energy supply and demand. The Organization for European Economic Cooperation asserts coal will remain the energy mainstay for many years, shaping policy and markets across Europe.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Europe
Washington
Organization For European Economic Cooperation
Suez Passage Inevitablely Difficult For Ships
The article notes that the Suez Canal traffic is tricky even in normal times due to narrow banks and water currents. It cites Maj. Gen. Glen E. Edgerton and a National Geographic piece describing how ships can swerve from currents and risk touching the bank, with incidents rising when delays occur.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Suez Canal
Mediterranean
Red Seas
Port Said
Glen. E. Edgerton
Suez Canal Company
International Board of Engineering Advisors
National Geographic Magazine
Brazil Builds Inland Capital Brasilia Seeks Center of Power
Brazil moves its government to a central plateau site in Goias about 600 miles northwest of Rio de Janeiro. Construction begins on a Presidential Palace as groundwork for a new capital to host atomic power and air traffic growth.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Brazil
Brasilia
Rio de Janeiro
Rio
Goias
Industry Growing Faster Out West
New York reports the 1954 Census of Manufactures showing western manufacturing output rising 90 percent from 1947 to 1954 while eastern output rose 50 percent. The national gain was 57 percent. Still, about two-thirds of U S manufacturing remains east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
U. S. Bureau
Mississippi
Ohio River
Mexico's burro fades from rural scenes
Washington reports Mexico's faithful burro is declining as machines take over farm work. The drowsy-eyed beasts now total about 2,500,000, far fewer than in the past when they symbolized old Mexico and appeared in most visits to rural areas. Burros trace to North African donkeys brought by Spanish conquistadors.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Mexico
North
Africa
New World
Lansing Named Michigan’s Capital Origin Tale
In 1847 Detroit legislators battled for months over a permanent capital. A prank suggested the township of Lansing, then a frontier site with a sawmill and a log house. The idea broke the deadlock and the choice was made.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lansing
Whch
Detroit
Michigan
Magnetic tape speeds Social Security data from GE
A plate sized magnetic tape replaces a 900 page quarterly report, delivering GE employee Social Security data from Schenectady to Baltimore. GE expects broad savings in time, materials, and storage as more employees are covered. The system reduces preparation from thousands of typewriter pages to a lightweight reel.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Schenectady
N. Y
General Electric Company
Baltimore
General Electric
Socis&’ Security
Honey Bees Share And Share Alike
Washington reports that honey bees share nectar or sugar from foragers among all colony members, a practice that spreads common odor and forms a scent language. Dr Romalia Ribbands of Cambridge University notes experiments with radioactive sugar showing a marked bee can be traced by a geiger counter as it distributes the labeled syrup within a hive.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Romalia Ribbands
Cambridge University
Ribbands
1956 Best Year for Life Insurance in the Nation
The Institute of Life Insurance reports 1956 as record year for life insurance in the United States. New policies totaled about 55.6 billion dollars, up roughly 7.2 billion from 1955, with aggregate policies owned reaching about 415 billion by year end. Average life in force per policy holder tops 3,900, with families holding over 7,500 and insured families over 9,000 per household.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
The
Institute of Life Insurance
Three Considerations When Buying House
New York guidance lists three key factors: cost, size, and equipment and materials. It notes approaching a 1,500 square foot size, at least two bathrooms, 150 square feet for the kitchen, three to four bedrooms, and a family room setup. Emphasis on built in appliances, modern fixtures, durable ceramic tile, copper plumbing, and seasoned lumber.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Factory grown timbers enable huge engineered beams
Man made timbers replace natural growth by gluing small pieces of seasoned lumber into large timbers. Fabricators can produce factory grown beams of virtually any size or shape, limited only by transport handling of the finished product.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Also Mentioned on This Page
Early
Pee Ma Sto
U. S
Washington Is
Suez
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!