Stop scrolling & post two characters who bring you happiness.

Next week "at" the JCB, we have two virtual events! First, Boston University Professor Joe Rezek will discuss Common Sense and more with JCB Director Karin Wulf on 3/31 at 4 p.m. And JCB Reads continues with a discussion of Katharine Gerber's book Archival Interruptions. More at jcblibrary.org!

The announcement yesterday that Trump’s signature will appear on American paper currency reminded me of when P.T. Barnum was a bank president from 1851-1855. He would have signed notes like this one with his portrait as well as his Moorish home, Iranistan. Pequonnock Bank, Bridgeport, CT, $3, 18-.

The announcement yesterday that Trump’s signature will appear on American paper currency reminded me of when P.T. Barnum was a bank president from 1851-1855. He would have signed notes like this one with his portrait as well as his Moorish home, Iranistan. Pequonnock Bank, Bridgeport, CT, $3, 18-.

Sky over Yellowstone shot by my daughter.

PennPress is having a sale on ALL BOOKS today and tomorrow.

Queen Elizabeth granted Sir Walter Raleigh a patent OTD in 1584 to colonize the area that became Virginia. It didn't go so well for him, but he appeared on this NC bank note next to Washington as well as smoking on the back of $2 National Bank Notes. Bank of Cape Fear, NC, $3, July 1, 1849.

And you thought crab was the only imitation that whitefish could handle? It has range.

Queen Elizabeth granted Sir Walter Raleigh a patent OTD in 1584 to colonize the area that became Virginia. It didn't go so well for him, but he appeared on this NC bank note next to Washington as well as smoking on the back of $2 National Bank Notes. Bank of Cape Fear, NC, $3, July 1, 1849.

Political parties in the early US came and went, including the once-powerful Federalists. Their last presidential candidate in 1816 was NY Senator Rufus King, whose birthday is today. Here is an early bank note made out to him or bearer payable in NYC from a CT bank. Hartford Bank, CT, $5, 180-.

Political parties in the early US came and went, including the once-powerful Federalists. Their last presidential candidate in 1816 was NY Senator Rufus King, whose birthday is today. Here is an early bank note made out to him or bearer payable in NYC from a CT bank. Hartford Bank, CT, $5, 180-.

📣 🎉Today is the official release day of my book, even tho many of you have it in hand already. 🙏 to all who purchased. Availability: Amazon has the paper w/ discount, Bookshop/OUP on back order. Should be an e-version that is missing. I will check w/ my press. More: www.annaolaw.com/book-migrati...

During a speech on this day in 1775, Patrick Henry reportedly delivered his "Give me liberty or give me death!" line to rally Virginia Convention support for the Revolution. The slaveholder and later Antifederalist appears with glasses on his head on this bank note. Bank of Cheraw, SC, $50, 18--.

What’s the perfect GIF for your Bluesky persona?

During a speech on this day in 1775, Patrick Henry reportedly delivered his "Give me liberty or give me death!" line to rally Virginia Convention support for the Revolution. The slaveholder and later Antifederalist appears with glasses on his head on this bank note. Bank of Cheraw, SC, $50, 18--.

Went outside this morning and a copy of The Epoch Times had been delivered to everyone on the block. Oy.

We've got a new edition of Sally Franklin's Bookshelf for you this Sunday, as Jordan Smith discusses his new book, The Invention of Rum. #VastEarlyAmerica www.cliodigital.media/sally/jordan... Sign up to receive the newsletter: benfranklinsworld.com/newsletter-s... @morganmccullough.bsky.social

Helter Skelter

The hot weather in Pasadena means that our pomegranate trees are blooming.

It is Fred Rogers' birthday today, so here is a bank note from Pittsburgh to celebrate. It doesn't have a trolley on its way to Make-Believe (my favorite part of the show), but it does feature a lovely vignette of a train traveling across a bridge. Mechanics Bank of Pittsburgh, PA, $1000, 18--.🗃️

It’s real! When the Declaration of Independence Was News, coming soon to a bookstore or mailbox near you. Today I discovered a new benefit of working as a public historian: sometimes, the copies for the museum gift shop arrive before your author copies!

Explore Colonial Virginia Portraits, an interactive database of pre-1776 Virginia oil portraits. Browse by sitter, artist, location, and more to uncover the stories behind these images. Explore: 🔗 colonialvirginiaportraits.org Portrait: Warner Lewis II & Rebecca Lewis by John Wollaston

It is Fred Rogers' birthday today, so here is a bank note from Pittsburgh to celebrate. It doesn't have a trolley on its way to Make-Believe (my favorite part of the show), but it does feature a lovely vignette of a train traveling across a bridge. Mechanics Bank of Pittsburgh, PA, $1000, 18--.🗃️

It is John C. Calhoun's birthday. The 7th VP was a Nullifier, defender of slavery, and comic book villian (via his hair, scowl, and neckbeard). He appears here with a vignette of enslaved men and women cultivating and transporting cotton. Farmers & Exchange Bank, Charleston, SC, $5, April 22, 1861.

It is John C. Calhoun's birthday. The 7th VP was a Nullifier, defender of slavery, and comic book villian (via his hair, scowl, and neckbeard). He appears here with a vignette of enslaved men and women cultivating and transporting cotton. Farmers & Exchange Bank, Charleston, SC, $5, April 22, 1861.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I am celebrating today with this 1820s shinplaster redeemable in TN or AL bank notes since one of the issuing merchants was named Ireland. I also love the attempt at a design border on the signs. Wallace & Ireland Cheap Cash Store, Tuscumbia, AL, $.6 1/4, Nov 25, 1825. 🗃️

As I mentioned yesterday, it seems almost scandalously easy to do research about the USA c. 1870s-1920s. Nothings under copyright, so much has been digitized, there were SO MANY newspapers. The only hard part is remembering how much hasn't been digitized. And not getting distracted by ads

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I am celebrating today with this 1820s shinplaster redeemable in TN or AL bank notes since one of the issuing merchants was named Ireland. I also love the attempt at a design border on the signs. Wallace & Ireland Cheap Cash Store, Tuscumbia, AL, $.6 1/4, Nov 25, 1825. 🗃️

It is James Madison's birthday today, so I thought I would post a bank note with his portrait. Like Elvis on a stamp, Madison could appear in either his hip, young or grumpy, old versions depending on the bill. Bank of Tennessee, Nashville, TN, $5, 18-- and Wisconsin Bank of Madison, WI, $2, 18--. 🗃️

It is James Madison's birthday today, so I thought I would post a bank note with his portrait. Like Elvis on a stamp, Madison could appear in either his hip, young or grumpy, old versions depending on the bill. Bank of Tennessee, Nashville, TN, $5, 18-- and Wisconsin Bank of Madison, WI, $2, 18--. 🗃️

Philly area folks--exciting upcoming event on Friday, March 27! World premiere, “American Martyr,” inspired by the book *Murder in a Mill Town,* by Bruce Dorsey @profbrucedorsey.bsky.social, Lang Concert Hall, Swarthmore College. Free and open to the public.

This seems alarming. It is just hovering.

Hot off the press! I wrote an article that got published in the Journal of American History. It explores how abolitionists used runaway slave advertisements to ridicule slaveowners and slaveowners' northern allies. 🗃 academic.oup.com/jah/article/...

Funky sky tonight in Pasadena.

A heat advisory is in effect in Pasadena as we begin a week of high temperatures, so I am thinking of this War of 1812 shinplaster from a Philly bar. It features a polar bear just chilling on some sea ice. Benjamin Millard at the Sign of the White Bear, Philadelphia, PA, $.12 1/2, Nov. 21, 1814. 🗃️

A heat advisory is in effect in Pasadena as we begin a week of high temperatures, so I am thinking of this War of 1812 shinplaster from a Philly bar. It features a polar bear just chilling on some sea ice. Benjamin Millard at the Sign of the White Bear, Philadelphia, PA, $.12 1/2, Nov. 21, 1814. 🗃️

What kind of work goes into finding the final resting place of people without clearly marked graves? In a fascinating new piece for Commonplace, Beth van Duzer explores the search for the historic Black community's burial sites in Concord, Massachusetts. 🗃️🪦 commonplace.online/article/the-...

As a companion to his #Winter2026 #EAS article, Anders Bright examines a 19th-century morality tale about the lottery. He shows how this story reveals the ways Americans used popular literature to debate luck, risk, & the dangers of speculation. https://bit.ly/47pM3E2 @mcneilcenter.bsky.social

We have a great new piece up on Commonplace by Beth van Duzer about the search for lost Black graves in Concord, so today I am posting this bank note also from Concord. It combines a Jacob Perkins design with side vignettes of Moneta and the seal of Massachusetts. Concord Bank, MA, $500, 18--.

If you see this, post an eye!

Today's release of the Canal Dreamers audio book made me realize that I should pin a thread with links related to the book. Starting with the @uncpress.bsky.social website: uncpress.org/978146969055...

We have a great new piece up on Commonplace by Beth van Duzer about the search for lost Black graves in Concord, so today I am posting this bank note also from Concord. It combines a Jacob Perkins design with side vignettes of Moneta and the seal of Massachusetts. Concord Bank, MA, $500, 18--.

What kind of work goes into finding the final resting place of people without clearly marked graves? In a fascinating new piece for Commonplace, Beth van Duzer explores the search for the historic Black community's burial sites in Concord, Massachusetts. 🗃️🪦 commonplace.online/article/the-...

Since @dael.bsky.social has just introduced me to the Pine Cone Wizard sold by Holt's Nut Wizard, Inc., a remarkable product for picking up pine cones, I am posting this bank note for him. It has some lovely pine trees next to a waterfall. Watervliet Bank, West Troy, NY, $100, Sept 3, 1836. 🗃️

Since @dael.bsky.social has just introduced me to the Pine Cone Wizard sold by Holt's Nut Wizard, Inc., a remarkable product for picking up pine cones, I am posting this bank note for him. It has some lovely pine trees next to a waterfall. Watervliet Bank, West Troy, NY, $100, Sept 3, 1836. 🗃️

With Kristi Noem out at DHS, I am featuring bank notes with vignettes of good dogs. The first has a dog guarding a safe and the second (in German for the local PA community) has a lumberjack petting his companion. Omaha & Chicago Bank, NE, $2, May 1, 1861 and Lumbermens Bank, Warren, PA, $10, 18--.

With Kristi Noem out at DHS, I am featuring bank notes with vignettes of good dogs. The first has a dog guarding a safe and the second (in German for the local PA community) has a lumberjack petting his companion. Omaha & Chicago Bank, NE, $2, May 1, 1861 and Lumbermens Bank, Warren, PA, $10, 18--.

John Sayles version of The Octopus: A Story of California

Vermont became the 14th state OTD in 1791, so I am celebrating with these Vermont bank notes featuring cow vignettes. The first has a black and white with long horns and the second includes an absolute unit. Bank of Rutland, VT, $1, May 23, 1825 & Passumpsic Bank, St. Johnsbury, VT, $1, May 1, 1858.

Vermont became the 14th state OTD in 1791, so I am celebrating with these Vermont bank notes featuring cow vignettes. The first has a black and white with long horns and the second includes an absolute unit. Bank of Rutland, VT, $1, May 23, 1825 & Passumpsic Bank, St. Johnsbury, VT, $1, May 1, 1858.