WRITING & RESEARCH
Research is the bread and butter of what I do. The following works represent some of the many interesting people and places I’ve come across in my research–from my beginnings as a college student, to current articles, presentations, and other materials produced for work or my own interest.
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Lest We Forget: A Brief History of Memorial Day’s Roots
is Memorial Day, we at the Wayne Museum decided to dive into the history behind this somber holiday. Where did the name “Memorial Day” originate? Why is it on the last Monday of May? When was Memorial Day first observed in Wayne Township? Join us as we explore the roots and traditions of a day…
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Kings of The Hill: The Year Wayne Won the Little League World Series
Four New Jersey teams have been crowned Little League World Champions: Hammonton, in 1949; Lakewood, in 1975; Toms River, in 1998; and last (but certainly not least) our very own Wayne Township, in 1970. This week, we’ll flash back to August 1970 and follow the story of the Wayne All-Stars, “a group of shaggy-haired teenagers…
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This Month in Wayne History: Hamburg Turnpike is Incorporated
While not the oldest road in New Jersey, Hamburg Turnpike can certainly boast over its history. Its story forms one part of the larger narrative of our relationship to travel, and the technological advancements that unleashed a whirlwind of industrial and urban development in northern New Jersey. Today, join us as we take an in-depth look at…
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From Trash to Treasure: Reading a ca. 1855 Dress
WM.2022.755 is one of the lucky dresses in the Wayne Museum’s collection; we have an entry for it in our accession records. According to these records, WM.2022.755 was “worn by Rachael Bowden” around 1860. It was also noted to be in “poor condition” when it arrived at the museum, in 1965. Just how much can we…
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All that Glitters: The Coming-Out Party of Mae Anderson Bell
ONE-HUNDRED and thirty-two years ago, on a cold, snowy December night, the peal of laughter and the sound of Christmas carols rang through the streets of Paterson. The cause for such celebration? Miss Mae Anderson Bell, one of Paterson’s “fairest daughters”[1], made her grand appearance to dozens of the city’s most elite and distinguished citizens—the…