If you’re gathering with family this holiday season, there is likely to be discussion about what to do with those old cassette tapes of grandma telling family stories, or whether to keep the VHS tapes of your college graduation. We think this podcast, originally published in December of 2016 will provide valuable information and help[Read More]
Life Preservers Blog
A Simple Kindness That Saves Lives
by Pam Pacelli Cooper President, Verissima Productions I’ve been wracking my brain for the last few weeks, trying to think about what to write for my December blog. There are thousands of excellent blogs about gift giving and personal history including more “Listicles” than I can count. I don’t have any better ideas that those[Read More]
Life Preservers: November Podcast | Histories from an Historian
What was the unlikely alliance between mill girls and factory overseers? Did the immigrants of the 19th century just melt easily into American culture? Labor historian Bob Forrant of UMass Lowell begins this season of storytelling and listening with some stories of his own.
Why Bother to Seize the Moment? A Reminder for the Holiday Season
“Procrastination is the thief of time,” was one of my great grandmother’s favorite sayings. She would trot it out when she wanted me to finish a task for her, complete a homework assignment, or write a long neglected thank you note to an elderly relative. I ignored her quite often, and no dire results ensued.[Read More]
Life Preservers: October Podcast | Privies, Prostitutes, and Personal History Part II
What happened to the women of 29 Endicott Street? See Part 2 of our conversation with Jade Luiz, archaeologist ,”Privies, Prostitutes and Personal History.”
Life Preservers: October Podcast | Privies, Prostitutes, and Personal History
Prostitutes in 19th century Boston? Women-owned businesses or “soiled doves?” Or both? Join Archaeologist and historian Jade Luiz as we explore what can be learned about these women from a combination of archaeological artifacts and genealogical research. Podcast Part I: Who were they?
The Hubble Telescope and Family History Month
by Pam Pacelli Cooper President, Verissima Productions Memoirists in Video, Audio and Print Last week I watched an Episode of “60 Minutes” in which two female astronomers described the astounding amount of information coming back to us on Earth through the Hubble Telescope from the myriad of stars and galaxies in outer space. “Light comes[Read More]
Turn, Turn, Turn
It seems our world has been turning faster than usual these past few months. On the world stage, events of huge magnitude—the melting of the Western Antarctic ice, the decision of Britain to leave the European union, the enormous migration of displaced persons from Syria and other countries—plus the 24-hour news cycle have made staying “informed” and keeping connected seem more difficult than ever.
Salem Surprise: Myth Busting about the Witch Trials – Life Preservers Podcast: Episode 13
Interview with Lori Stokes, Scholar Books about Salem: “ A Storm of Witchcraft” by Emerson Baker “ Entertaining Satan,” by John Putnam Demos Excellent app by Emerson Baker and others on itunes: The Salem Witch Trials The Puritans were more exciting than you think: John Winthrop’s journal: Available from many different sources, including Google Books[Read More]
Poems and Personal History
Four hands, turning in coordinated motions. The swish and slap of two ropes on the concrete playground, two girls leaping in unison to the rhythm: Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack All dressed in black, black, black With silver buttons, buttons, buttons All down her back, back, back… A grandmother takes a restless child in her[Read More]
