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?
Life Preservers Blog
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]
Life Preservers Podcast: Episode 12 – Stories in the Walls: The Actor’s Temple of New York City
How many of these names do you recognize as famous entertainers? These are their given names and many of them appear on the Memorial plaques at The Actor’s Temple. If you don’t know, Google them to find out: Benjamin Kubelsky Aaron Chwatt Sonya Kalish Edward Israel Iskowitz Shirley Schrift Mendel Berlinger Mechel Saltpeter For more[Read More]
Your Daily Show: The Liberation of Routines
By Pam Pacelli Cooper Verissima Productions Riding the train from Cambridge to Downtown Boston has become a lonely business over the last 5 years. The once lively cars have quieted down as passengers dive ever more deeply into reading their texts and e-mails and zoning out to the music pulsing through their ear pods. Like[Read More]
Life Preservers Podcast: Episode 11 – Donna Blinn, Genealogist
There is much that we can learn from Donna and her journey into the past. Hearing her story will undoubtedly inspire all of us to start looking into our own family histories. What we may uncover may be beyond our imaginations!
Life Preservers Podcast: Episode 10 – Exploring Black History & The Margaret Walker Center
In honor of Black History month, a podcast about famed writer and poet Margaret Walker, oral histories of the civil rights movement, and more…with Dr. Robert Luckett of Jackson State University. Show Notes: CLICK HERE to visit the Digital Archives at the Margaret Walker Center: They include a digital archives project, book[Read More]
The Things She Carried: Treasures of the Mundane
By Pam Pacelli Cooper President, Verissima Productions She always called it her “old lady bag.” When my mother in law’s purse wore out, after 10 or 15 years of hard use, she asked for another one. It was not easy to find. Black, sturdy, short handles to be gripped with the hand rather than slung[Read More]
