#OTD 1776 This ad appeared in the PA Evening Post. Scottish immigrant and publisher Robert Bell offered a pamphlet titled COMMON SENSE for sale at his store in Third Street. Thomas Paine's name was not yet associated with the history-making document, which Bell sold for two shillings. #ushistory

In today's edition of "Where in the Revolutionary World is Denise..." Took this photo while out and about with the amazing Beowulf Sheehan. That fence and the area it surrounds play a big part in "Obstinate Daughters." Any guesses? #history #onlocation #ushistory

Thanks to Parade Magazine for naming "Obstinate Daughters " to their list of the "20 Most Anticipated Books of 2026"! Woo-hoo! #booksky #history parade.com/books/most-a...

In today's edition of "Great Texts from History..." 250 years ago today, bookseller-turned-artillery-whiz Henry Knox wrote his young wife, Lucy Flucker Knox from Albany. He was on his way back from Fort Ticonderoga, NY, transporting captured munitions to HQ in Cambridge, MA... #writingcommunity

Half-cock firelock! Shut pan! Draw hammer! Poise firelock! All this and much more to do before "aim" and "fire." #history #revolutionarywar #army

"On the day of the second battle of Saratoga, the American women followed close after the American soldiers, as they were advancing and even exposed themselves where the shot were flying, to strip the dead. I saw one woman while thus employed, struck by a cannon ball and dashed to pieces. "

In the "New-York Gazette," on DECEMBER 25, 1775: "His Majesty's Ships the Phoenix and Asia now lie in the East River; the latter opposite Murray's Wharff; and the former near Burling's Slip..." See Burling Slip here: "Plan of the City of New York." @librarycongress.bsky.social #history #ushist

While on the road researching "Obstinate Daughters" I stopped by the Litchfield Historical Society in Connecticut. Highly recommended. I love the mosaic depiction of the town's map on the floor of their collection space. #art #museum #travel #history

Valley Forge, Christmas 1777, from the diary of Dr. Albigence Waldo: "Dec 25, Christmas.—We are still in Tents—when we ought to be in huts—the poor Sick, suffer much in Tents this cold Weather. .. #history #revolutionarywar #christmas

Meet me under the missile toad… HappyMerryJollyJoy #MerryChristmas #goodmorning

“He gave orders that all be finished by Christmas, and begged us to say how the rooms would be divided….Our plan was presented, and, to our great surprise, we were able to eat our Christmas pie—with which the English always celebrate Christmas—in our new house, although the timber... #Christmas

Holiday newsletter is out... Valley Forge, Dobermans in elf hats, 251-year-old gingerbread recipes...You know, the usual... buff.ly/HlJrOqV #history #sistercentennial #christmas #dogsky

This is a #Christmas entry from a favorite read & important part of my book OBSTINATE DAUGHTERS: THE DIARY OF ELIZABETH DRINKER. A Quaker woman living in Philadelphia during the #RevolutionaryWar, Drinker's observations lent relatability and depth to the war experience. A separate holiday entry ...

"The bitterness of Puritan hatred of Christmas celebration is difficult for us to conceive in this day." This is from the preface of a 1910 book titled, "COLONIAL HOLIDAYS Being a Collection of Contemporary Accounts of HOLIDAY Celebrations in Colonial Times... #history #christmas #books

Happy #solstice! Let's lean back into that sun. 250 years ago, Dec. 21, 1775, the solstice occurred at 5:43 PM LMT. In 18th-century America, the solstice played a key role in marking the progression of time—as it had for ages. Here are some images from LACMA to start the season:

More T Paine (not to be confused with T-Pain ), taken from his pamphlet "The American Crisis (No. 1)." "Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." From 249 years and one day ago today. #history

"These are the times that try men's souls..." These words, written by Thomas Paine, are often assumed to be from Paine's famed pamphlet, "Common Sense." But the quote comes from an essay titled "The American Crisis," which Paine published on this day, DEC 19, in 1776. #history #OTD #books

Revisiting the USA 250 years ago, I like to think about events taking place beyond these shores as well. It's a great big world. On Dec 16 1775, a notice in the LONDON GAZETTE sought volunteers for "His Majesty's Marching Regiments of Foot" to fight the "Rebellion" in #America. That same day...

This is one of my favorite #gratitude quotes from the 18th century. I included it in my latest newsletter, which contains all the details about my new book, travels etc. newsletter.denisekiernan.com/p/the-big-re... #history #revolution250 #SisterCentennial

So thrilled to share the cover for my upcoming book OBSTINATE DAUGHTERS, arriving 23 June 2026!!! 13 colonies. Countless amazing women. One compelling story. #history #ushistory #sistercentennial

So excited to share the cover for my upcoming book with you all!!! Keep your eyes on this feed at 2PM ET!!! #booksky #history #writingcommunity

I love how poetry was used during the Revolutionary Era to convey pride, despair, anger, joy.. This snippet is taken from an elegiac poem dedicated to Bunker Hill: "What shall we say when 'tis decreed, By fate it must be so? To cause our dearest brethren's blood From ev'ry vein to flow..."

For Hanukkah: Believed to be the first-ever Jewish sermon published in the American colonies. Raphael Hayyim Isaac Carregall, a rabbi visiting from Hebron, delivered the sermon on May 28, 1773, at the Touro synagogue in Newport, RI, the oldest synagogue in the US. #history #ushist #hanukkah

"The 18th century saw the print industry boom, with annual newspaper circulations of 2.4 million copies in 1713, and 16 million in 1801..." I consulted MANY newspapers and broadsides while researching my upcoming #book. Love this article at English Heritage by Tim Clayton: buff.ly/MMjxxZG #history

Few things bring me as much joy as spotting a monarch #butterfly in my #garden. I plant all the attractors, yet each year, fewer and fewer appear. But…this year I spotted three hanging out together on my tithonia. Yay. #BlueSkyArtShow #FavoriteThings #gratitude #photography #naturephotography

In keeping with my love of Revolutionary Era restrooms...Sort of... Bathroom signs from Colonial Williamsburg, one of the many stops on my #RevolutionaryRoadTrip while researching my latest #book. #booksky #history #AmericanRevolution #Revolution250

Latest newsletter is out: Meteor showers, Manhattan Project, mailbox mysteries, making merry and, of course, Bruno. You know. The usual. buff.ly/UmNh7eC #booksky #writingcommunity #hollyjolly #dogs

Archival research means spending a lot of time inside, and often in rooms with no windows. But the Charleston Library Society, the second-oldest circulating library in the country, is a place I love to return to again and again. (Its outside looks pretty good, too.) HIGHLY recommend. #writing #books

206 days until #America celebrates its 250th anniversary. Today I'm sharing a print from 250 years ago titled, "The Scotch butchery, Boston, 1775." The print includes a key identifying, among others, the "Scotch Butchers," & "English Soldiers struck with Horror..." From the British Museum. #history

The Battle of Great Bridge was 250 years ago today. This map—"A view of the Great Bridge near Norfolk in Virginia where the action happened between a detachment of the 14th Regt: & a body of the rebels"—is from the collection @clementslibrary.bsky.social #history #OTD #ushistory #booksky

One of my favorite places in New York City, and I got to include it in my new book about the #AmericanRevolution. Any guesses? #history #travel #NYC

One of my favorite stops on my research travels: Boston's Beantown Pub, across from the Granary Burial Ground which is, as the sign says, "The only place where you can drink a COLD SAM ADAMS while looking at a COLD SAM ADAMS." #revolutionaryroadtrip #writerslife #history

Baking helps me edit. Seriously. Focus. Clear mind. Centering. Important to keep flour off the keyboard, however. #foodphotography #stunday #photography #foodsky #writingcommunity #booksky

"THEY who adventure to impart their Works to publick view must resolve at the same time to have as many Censurers as Readers." A line that still rings true today. From "Logic, Or, the Art of Thinking," by philosophers and theologians Antoine Arnaud & Pierre Nicole. #amwriting #history #philosophy

250 years ago today, Henry Knox wrote his wife, Lucy—who features prominently in my upcoming #book—that he will "over Lake George to Ticonderoga." His goal? secure weaponry for the Continental Army & and haul it to Cambridge, MA. Via the awesome @gliamericanhistory.bsky.social buff.ly/qrjnifx

That's it. I can't take it anymore. The word "Soccer" originated in Oxford, ENG (known for its formative role in the English language) in the 19th century. IT IS NOT AN AMERICAN WORD!!!!! Here's a sample from a little article titled "Oxford Slang" in London's "Daily Telegraph" in 1899: #WorldCupDraw

Yet another reason to love and be thankful for @archive.org

@barryglendenning.bsky.social Very much relying on the levity of your live @us.theguardian.com coverage of the #WorldCup draw. It is keeping me from hurling my stuffed "Footix" from the '98 WC at the television.

As the holiday season is upon us, I share Sarah Fayerweather's #recipe for gingerbread from her 1764 cookbook. I came across this while researching my new #book at the wonderful Schlesinger Library @rad-institute.bsky.social. #history #sistercentennial #cooking

Woke to very chilly temps and a light dusting this morning. Broke out Bruno's @ruffwear winter gear. #dogs #pets #winter #doberman #petphoto

For #GivingTuesday: A 1769 map of "ye great town of Boston" including, among other sites, the Alms House. These charitable institutions have a fascinating #history, and were an important part of colonial communities. From ARGO, my fave portal for maps of the #Revolutionary Era. buff.ly/IQdmtRd

250 years ago today: Here are some prices out of #Boston, from calves feet & apples to water-bread & rum & "every other kind of necessaries in proportion." From "American Archives: Fourth Series. Containing a Documentary History of The English Colonies in North America..." #OTD #history #amwriting

Was reorganizing albums—yes, vinyl—and came across my copy of "The Fifes & Drums of Williamsburg." The 1975 album had extensive liner notes—remember those?—which included this 1775 ad from the "Virginia Gazette" offering to "learn" boys the "military musick of the fife and drum." #history #music

A widowed mother of five with no formal education, who remarkably went on to become one of the most powerful magazine editors in America: Sarah Joseph Hale, daughter of a #RevolutionaryWar veteran, whose obsession with #thanksgiving was instrumental in creating the modern American tradition.

"By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation...." Oct 3, 1789, George Washington proclaimed Thursday, Nov. 26, 1789, to be a national day of "public #thanksgiving." He gave thanks for, among other things, the "civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed.." #history

#Thanksgiving from the #Revolutionary Era continues: General Orders issued Nov. 27, 1779, from Head-Quarters, Moores House at West Point: "Therefore Resolved—That it be recommended to the several States to appoint thursday the ninth of December next to be a day of public and solemn Thanksgiving..."

#Thanksgiving from the archives: "In Congress December 3rd 1778... The Honorable The Congress ... to appoint Wednesday the 30th instant as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise for the great and numerous Providential Mercies experienced by the People of These States in the course of the present War..."

In 1777, soldier Joseph Plumb Martin wrote of "a Continental thanksgiving ordered by Congress...We had nothing to eat for two or three days previous, except what the trees of the fields and forests afforded us." And for #thanksgiving? "...a half a gill of rice, and a table spoon full of vinegar!!"

224 days 'til July 4, 2026. My countdown continues! As American #Thanksgiving nears, I'm sharing iterations of "thanksgiving" proclaimed by the Continental Congress and others during the Revolutionary era: July 24, 1766, John Adams wrote: "Thanksgiving for the Repeal of the Stamp-Act." #history

Front page of the "Pennsylvania Evening Post" 250 years ago today. The article evokes the fight for independence as a horse race between "Tyrant" and "Liberty." Spoiler alert: In the final stretch, it's Liberty by a nose. #History #OTD #Revolution250